119-S-3029 Journalist Public Summary

DOE and NASA Interagency Research Coordination Act (S. 3029) — Public Summary

Headline Summary: The bill aims to get the Department of Energy (DOE) and NASA working more closely—formally setting up joint research projects in areas from spacecraft propulsion to space weather, with added guardrails on security and reporting. [3]Congress.gov — Text of S.3029 (Introduced in Senate)

What It Does: It authorizes DOE and NASA to team up on research through memoranda of understanding and competitive, merit‑reviewed awards. Focus areas may include nuclear and electric propulsion, high‑energy physics and cosmology, Earth and environmental science, quantum information science, radiation health, and technologies for beaming solar power collected in space down to Earth. It requires a joint report to Congress and applies federal research‑security rules. The Senate version also lets other federal agencies transfer research funds to NASA for space‑exploration‑related science and education, with annual disclosure to Congress. [3]Congress.gov — Text of S.3029 (Introduced in Senate)

• Who’s For It: Sponsored by Sen. Dan Sullivan (R‑AK) with Sen. Adam Schiff (D‑CA) as the listed co‑sponsor—signaling bipartisan backing in the Senate. [3]Congress.gov — Text of S.3029 (Introduced in Senate)
• House counterpart: Led by Rep. Nick Begich (R‑AK) and co‑sponsored by Rep. George Whitesides (D‑CA); it passed the House on March 24, 2025. [2]Congress.gov — H.R.1368 — DOE and NASA Interagency Research Coordination Act (B…[4]House of Representatives (Rep. Begich) — Rep. Nick Begich press release on Hous…
• House Science Committee leaders described the measure as improving interagency coordination between DOE and NASA. [5]House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology — House Science Committee (Re…

• Who’s Against It: As of October 24, 2025, no organized opposition is publicly noted on Congress.gov or recent committee releases. [1]Congress.gov — S.3029 — DOE and NASA Interagency Research Coordination Act (Bil…[5]House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology — House Science Committee (Re…
• Potential concerns (not yet tied to specific opponents): possible overlap with existing programs, safeguards around research security and data sharing, and the new authority to transfer other agencies’ research funds to NASA.

What’s Next: The bill was read twice and referred to the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee on October 22, 2025. If advanced from committee and passed by the Senate, any differences with the House‑passed version (H.R. 1368) would need to be resolved before a final bill goes to the President. [1]Congress.gov — S.3029 — DOE and NASA Interagency Research Coordination Act (Bil…[2]Congress.gov — H.R.1368 — DOE and NASA Interagency Research Coordination Act (B…