PROGRAM TO ENHANCE AND IMPROVE LAUNCH SUPPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

SEC. 1609. [10 U.S.C. 2273 note] PROGRAM TO ENHANCE AND IMPROVE LAUNCH SUPPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE. (a) In General.—In support of the policy described in section 2273(a) of title 10, United States Code, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, may carry out a program to enhance infrastructure and improve support activities for the processing and launch of Department of Defense small-class and medium-class payloads. (b) Program.—The program under subsection (a) shall include improvements to operations at launch ranges and Federal Aviation Administration-licensed spaceports that are consistent with, and necessary to permit, the use of such launch ranges and spaceports by the Department. (c) Consultation.—In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Secretary may consult with current and anticipated users of launch ranges and Federal Aviation Administration-licensed spaceports, including the Space Rapid Capabilities Office. (d) Cooperation.—In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Secretary may enter into a contract or agreement under section 2276 of title 10, United States Code. (e) Report.—Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report describing a plan for the program under subsection (a). (f) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.—In this section, the term “appropriate committees of Congress” means— (1) the congressional defense committees; (2) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and (3) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives.