Congressmen Propose Designating Space Systems as Critical Infrastructure

Lawmakers have introduced legislation that would require the federal government to develop guidelines for protecting American space systems.

Introduced by Reps. Ted Lieu and Ken Calvert, the Space Infrastructure Act would add space systems to the 16 sectors designated by the Department of Homeland Security as critical infrastructure, the lawmakers said in a press release.

“American assets in space play a vital role in our economic and national security. That’s why officially designating space as a critical infrastructure sector is a logical step,” Lieu said in a statement.

Lieu and Calvert defined space infrastructure as including satellites, space vehicles, space-related terrestrial systems, launch infrastructure, space-related production facilities and relevant information technology.

The proposed legislation would also direct the DHS secretary to designate an agency that would be responsible for space systems, services and technology.

Within 90 days of the bill’s passing, the secretary would need to provide Congress a report on the federal government’s guidance on the critical infrastructure designation.

The guidance must be formed in collaboration with relevant federal agencies, presidential advisers and DHS leaders, according to the full text of the bill.

DHS defines critical infrastructure sectors as those whose assets, systems and networks are essential for security, national economic security or national public health and safety, according to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

The current list of critical infrastructure sectors includes the chemical; commercial facilities; communications; critical manufacturing; dams; defense industrial base; energy; financial services; food and agriculture; government facilities; health care and public health; IT; nuclear reactors, materials and waste; transportation systems; and water and wastewater systems sectors.