Annual briefing on government processing of commercial space launch and reentry licenses

(a) Requirement Not later than March 31 each calendar year, the Secretary shall brief the appropriate committees of Congress on the licensing and permitting process for space activities required by section 50905 of title 51, United States Code. (b) Elements The briefing required by subsection (a) shall include, with respect to the preceding calendar year, the following: (1) The average number of days that elapsed between the date on which an application is submitted and the date on which an applicant receives final approval or denial of the application. (2) The frequency and average duration of tolling against submitted applications. (3) The number of applications reviewed that exceeded the statutorily provided review timelines. (4) A description of efforts made by the Secretary to streamline, under section 50905(d) of title 51, United States Code, the processes required for review of applications. (5) A summary of the information generated by the digital licensing, permitting, and approval system established under section 50905(e) of title 51, United States Code, including any additional information the Secretary considers relevant with respect to the function or processes of such system. (6) An assessment as to whether the application review process operates in a manner that encourages the global competitiveness of the commercial space industry of the United States. (c) Appropriate committees of Congress defined In this section, the term appropriate committees of Congress means— (1) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and (2) the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.