[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4621 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4621

   To establish a National Academy of Space, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 21, 1994

Mr. Traficant introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
              Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To establish a National Academy of Space, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SPACE.

    (a) Establishment of Academy.--The Administrator shall establish a 
National Academy of Space for the instruction and preparation of 
selected individuals for service in a space-related capacity in the 
employ of the United States or a United States corporation. The Academy 
shall consist of a program of instruction leading to baccalaureate 
degrees in science, mathematics, and engineering at not less than 6 nor 
more than 10 universities selected under subsection (b)(3), with 
uniform curriculum criteria established by the Board, in conjunction 
with the Director. The Academy shall establish a permanent headquarters 
within 85 miles of an existing National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration facility for its administrative staff and for use by the 
Board.
    (b) Board.--
            (1) Membership.--The Administrator shall appoint a Board of 
        the National Academy of Space (in this section referred to as 
        the ``Board'') consisting of a broadly representative group of 
        scientists, engineers, educators, and businessmen representing 
        space-related industries, along with the president of each 
        university selected under paragraph (3).
            (2) Functions.--The Board shall--
                    (A) develop an exam for secondary students testing 
                knowledge in science, mathematics, and engineering, or 
                select an exam from among existing national exams, and 
                annually administer such exam;
                    (B) establish uniform curriculum criteria for 
                Member Institutes;
                    (C) provide for the placement at one of the Member 
                Institutes of students awarded scholarships under this 
                section at the Academy;
                    (D) administer the awarding of such scholarships; 
                and
                    (E) establish a placement program to assist 
                recipients of awards under this section in obtaining 
                positions described in subsection (k)(1)(A).
            (3) Selection of universities for academy.--The Board shall 
        select not less than 6 nor more than 10 State universities that 
        are regional in scope and that have outstanding degree programs 
        in science, mathematics, and engineering to be designated as 
        Member Institutes of the Academy. The selections shall come 
        from universities that have applied to the Board and that have 
        demonstrated the willingness and capability to provide room, in 
        a separate dormitory or portion of a dormitory, and board to 
        scholarship winners and to offer the Academy's uniform 
        curriculum.
    (c) Results of Exam.--The Board shall annually certify the top 10 
scorers in each congressional district on the exam developed or 
selected under subsection (b)(2)(A), and award to the top 2 scorers in 
each State, and to the top scorer in each district who is not one of 
the top 2 scorers in the State, a scholarship under this section.
    (d) Scholarships Authorized.--(1) The Board shall establish a 
scholarship program for students to attend the Academy who are willing 
to commit themselves to service described in subsection (k).
    (2) A student who satisfies the requirements of subsection (f)(1) 
may receive a scholarship for a period of 1 academic year of 
undergraduate study at the Academy.
    (3) A student who satisfies the requirements of subsection (f)(2) 
may receive additional scholarships, each awarded for a period of 1 
academic year, in order to complete his or her undergraduate course of 
study to a maximum of 3 such additional awards.
    (4) The individuals awarded scholarships under this section shall 
be referred to as the ``Space Corps''.
    (e) Disbursal of Scholarship Proceeds.--Scholarship proceeds shall 
be disbursed on behalf of students who receive scholarships under this 
section to the institutions of higher education at which the students 
are enrolled. No scholarship proceeds shall be disbursed on behalf of a 
student unless the student is enrolled at an institution of higher 
education.
    (f) Eligibility.--
            (1) Initial eligibility.--Only individuals who are--
                    (A) citizens or nationals of the United States, or 
                aliens lawfully admitted to the United States for 
                permanent residence;
                    (B) majoring in the physical, life, or computer 
                sciences, mathematics, or engineering; and
                    (C) enrolled in an institution of higher education 
                as a full-time undergraduate student (as determined by 
                the institution of higher education),
        shall be eligible for awards under this section.
            (2) Requirements for continuation awards.--A student who 
        has received a scholarship under this section may receive a 
        continuation award under subsection (d)(3) for a subsequent 
        academic year of undergraduate education if the student--
                    (A) maintains a high level of academic achievement, 
                as determined in accordance with the regulations of the 
                Administrator;
                    (B) continues to major in one of the physical, 
                life, or computer sciences, mathematics, or 
                engineering; and
                    (C) continues to be enrolled at an institution of 
                higher education as a full-time undergraduate student 
                (as determined by the institution).
    (g) Waiver of Full-Time Attendance Requirement.--The Administrator 
may waive the full-time attendance requirements in this section in 
unusual circumstances.
    (h) Failure To Meet Eligibility Requirements.--In the event that 
the student fails to meet the requirements of this section, the 
student's eligibility to receive further scholarships (or scholarship 
proceeds) under this section shall be suspended in accordance with the 
regulations of the Administrator.
    (i) Reinstatement or Eligibility.--The Administrator shall 
determine circumstances under which eligibility of a scholarship 
recipient under this section may be reinstated if the recipient seeks 
to reenter school after an interruption of schooling for personal 
reasons, including, but not limited to, pregnancy, child-rearing, and 
other family responsibilities.
    (j) Scholarship Amount.--
            (1) Amount of award.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
        the amount of a scholarship awarded under this section shall 
        cover the full tuition and fees of the student at the Academy.
            (2) Adjustments for insufficient appropriations.--In the 
        event that funds available in a fiscal year are insufficient to 
        fully fund all awards under this section, the amount paid to 
        each student shall be reduced proportionately.
    (k) Service Requirement.--
            (1) Space scholarships.--Each recipient of an award under 
        this section shall, as a condition of the receipt of such 
        award, agree to complete 4 years of--
                    (A) service in a space-related capacity in the 
                employ of the United States or any corporation or other 
                entity, organized under the laws of the United States 
                or of a State of the United States, at least 50 percent 
                of which is owned by United States nationals, and which 
                is engaged in space-related research or endeavor;
                    (B) postgraduate education in physical, life, or 
                computer science, mathematics, or engineering at an 
                institution of higher education; or
                    (C) a combination of service and education 
                described under subparagraphs (A) and (B).
            (2) Repayment obligation.--As part of the agreement 
        required under paragraph (1), each recipient shall agree, in 
        the event of failure to complete the service obligation 
        described in paragraph (1), to repay an amount equal to--
                    (A) the total amount of awards received by such 
                individual under this section; plus
                    (B) the interest on such amounts which would be 
                payable if at the time the amounts were received the 
                amounts were loans bearing interest at the maximum 
                legal prevailing rate, as determined by the Treasurer 
                of the United States.
        Such repayment shall be made within 1 year after the recipient 
        has ceased to perform the service obligation described in 
        paragraph (1).
            (3) Exceptions.--The Administrator may provide for the 
        partial or total waiver or suspension of any service obligation 
        or payment by an individual under this section in the same 
        manner as is permitted under section 558 of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965 with respect to scholarships under 
        subpart 1 of part D of title V of the Higher Education Act of 
        1965, except that pregnancy, child-rearing, or comparable 
        family responsibilities shall also be grounds for deferral.
    (l) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section--
            (1) $9,000,000 for fiscal year 1996, of which $5,000,000 
        shall be for the establishment of a permanent headquarters for 
        the Academy pursuant to section 1(a);
            (2) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 1997;
            (3) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 1998;
            (4) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 1999; and
            (5) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2000.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this Act--
            (1) the term ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of 
        the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
            (2) the term ``institution of higher education'' has the 
        meaning given such term in section 1201(a) of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965; and
            (3) the term ``State'' means each of the 50 States and any 
        other Commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United 
        States represented in the Congress by a Member or Delegate.

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