Johnson Space Center could be upgraded for Mars missions

Driving the news: Cornyn's bill, filed Tuesday, would upgrade the space center's training facilities, research labs and Mission Control Center, modernizing the site for crewed missions beyond low-Earth orbit and allowing researchers to review samples from the moon and Mars.

• The bill also calls for transforming the Neutral Buoyancy Lab for commercial space and Department of Defense operations, plus refurbishing astronaut training aircraft and buildings at Ellington Field.

What they're saying: "I am proud to lead this legislation to not only send humans back to the moon, but to the next frontier of Mars, where technological advancements and untold scientific discoveries await," Cornyn said in a statement.

The intrigue: It's the latest space-focused push from Cornyn, who also sponsored a bill this year to send space shuttle Discovery to Houston and another calling for more coordination on spacecraft orbiting Earth.

Between the lines: In announcing the legislation, Cornyn said the bill is crucial to keeping the United States competitive as the space race with China "accelerates."

• Cornyn's also introduced the FIGHT China Act and another bill to study the security threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party this year.

What's next: The bill, which has no co-sponsors, was referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, chaired by fellow Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz.

• It's unclear whether it has broad support.