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PLEASE OPPOSE HR 8255 AND S.3639 – bills would accelerate satellite deployment, with no environmental review or safeguards

15 Sept 26, https://ncstd5li.quorum.us/campaign/169331/

Why It Matters:

US Congress is fast-tracking two bills — HR 8255 and S.3639 — to launch of hundreds of thousands of satellites without any meaningful health or environmental review.

These bills would accelerate satellite deployment despite a myriad of potential yet unexamined harms.  Applications for a million orbital data centers have already been submitted to the FCC.  The number of total satellites under review by the FCC for all purposes is much greater. Yet the FCC has no meaningful process for health or environmental review.  The FCC has NEVER assessed the health or environmental impacts of satellites, and the GAO has already found that this outdated approach needs to be reexamined.  These bills would further incentivize the FCC to continue to ignore otherwise legally required analysis and public involvement on environmental and human health impacts.

Effects from satellites include:

• Significant increase in electromagnetic radiation, which in turn raises the risk of harm to people, animals and plants 
• Toxic metals released when satellites burn up, poisoning air, food and water
• More rocket‑fuel pollution already appearing in ecosystems
• Severe orbital crowding — Starlink logged 25,000 collision‑avoidance maneuvers in 6 months
• Hundreds of thousands of satellites falling back to Earth each year polluting the earth
• Loss of dark, night skies with adverse ecological, biological, cultural and scientific effects
• More rare-earth mining, which is linked to unsafe conditions for workers and child labor
• No meaningful process for health or environmental review

What We’re Asking For:

Urge your U.S. Senators and Representatives to oppose HR 8255 and S.3639 by filling out the form. 

Your Voice Matters:

Your outreach as a constituent directly influences how Congress evaluates and prioritizes legislation. By speaking up, you can help ensure satellite expansion doesn’t outpace health and environmental protections — and that these bills aren’t advanced without the safeguards our communities and planet need.

September 19, 2026 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Events, space travel, USA