[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 309 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 309

 To enable the United States to maintain its leadership in aeronautics 
and aviation by instituting an initiative to develop technologies that 
  will significantly lower noise, emissions, and fuel consumption, to 
 reinvigorate basic and applied research in aeronautics and aviation, 
                        and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            February 5, 2003

  Mr. Allen (for himself and Mr. Dodd) introduced the following bill; 
    which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To enable the United States to maintain its leadership in aeronautics 
and aviation by instituting an initiative to develop technologies that 
  will significantly lower noise, emissions, and fuel consumption, to 
 reinvigorate basic and applied research in aeronautics and aviation, 
                        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. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Aeronautics Research and Development 
Revitalization Act of 2003''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) It is in the national interest to maintain leadership 
        in aeronautics and aviation.
            (2) The United States is in danger of losing its leadership 
        in aeronautics and aviation to international competitors.
            (3) Past Federal investments in aeronautics research and 
        development have benefited the economy and national security of 
        the United States and the quality of life of its citizens.
            (4) Future growth in aviation increasingly will be 
        constrained by concerns related to aircraft noise, emissions, 
        fuel consumption, and air transportation system congestion.
            (5) Current and projected levels of Federal investment in 
        aeronautics research and development are not sufficient to 
        address concerns related to the growth of aviation.
            (6) International competitors have recognized the 
        importance of noise, emissions, fuel consumption, and air 
        transportation system congestion in limiting the future growth 
        of aviation and have established aggressive agendas for 
        addressing each of these concerns.
            (7) An aggressive initiative by the Federal Government to 
        develop technologies that would significantly reduce aircraft 
        noise, harmful emissions, and fuel consumption would benefit 
        the United States by--
                    (A) improving the competitiveness of the United 
                States aviation industry through the development of new 
                markets for aviation services and the development of 
                superior aircraft for existing markets;
                    (B) improving the quality of life for our citizens 
                by drastically reducing the level of noise due to 
                aircraft operations;
                    (C) reducing the congestion of the air 
                transportation system by allowing departures and 
                arrivals at currently under utilized airports through 
                the use of environmentally compatible aircraft;
                    (D) reducing the rate at which fossil fuels are 
                consumed;
                    (E) reducing the rate at which greenhouse gases and 
                other harmful gases and particulates are added to the 
                atmosphere by aircraft; and
                    (F) reinvigorating the human capital needed to 
                maintain international leadership in aeronautics and 
                aviation by providing a set of extremely challenging 
                and socially beneficial goals to the next generation of 
                engineers and scientists.
            (8) Long-term progress in aeronautics and aviation will 
        require continued Federal investment in fundamental 
        aeronautical research.
            (9) The European competitors of United States aircraft 
        companies have invested heavily in new wind tunnels. These new 
        tunnels are better than their older United States counterparts 
        and give European aircraft manufacturers an advantage over 
        United States aircraft manufacturers in the highly competitive 
        civil aircraft sales business. As a result, United States 
        aircraft companies are forced to perform tests in Europe's 
        superior wind tunnels. The security of United States data 
        obtained in these and other foreign test facilities can easily 
        be compromised. New and upgraded United States aeronautical 
        test facilities are needed to support a revitalized aeronautics 
        research and development program, and should be a high national 
        priority.
            (10) Continued research is needed into the flight crew and 
        controller training needed to accommodate new aircraft and air 
        transportation system technologies and procedures.
            (11) It is in the interest of the United States to maintain 
        a vigorous capability in basic and applied research and 
        development of technologies related to rotorcraft.
            (12) Maintenance of United States leadership in aeronautics 
        and aviation will require the productive collaboration of NASA, 
        the Department of Defense, the FAA, the aviation industry, and 
        the Nation's universities.
            (13) Improvements to our understanding of convective 
        weather phenomena and of aircraft wake turbulence would 
        significantly improve the performance of the Nation's air 
        transportation system.
            (14) The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, have 
        imposed new requirements for research on aviation security. 
        NASA's aviation safety research must be expanded to include 
        methods that provide for an air transportation system that is 
        both safe and secure from terrorist attacks.
            (15) It is important for NASA to continue at a healthy 
        level its cooperative research efforts with the Department of 
        Defense regarding military aviation technologies. These efforts 
        have been all but eliminated in recent years and must be 
        restored. The Nation must take advantage of the synergy between 
civil and military aviation research.
            (16) The report entitled ``The NASA Aeronautics Blueprint--
        Toward a Bold New Era of Aviation'' provides an excellent 
        statement of the problems facing aviation today, and presents 
        an exciting vision of what can be achieved by investments in 
        aeronautics research and technology. It does not, however, 
        provide a program plan to actually achieve the vision, nor does 
        it address the huge mismatch between current NASA aeronautics 
        funding and what is required to realize the vision.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) FAA.--The term ``FAA'' means the Federal Aviation 
        Administration.
            (2) FAA administrator.--The term ``FAA Administrator'' 
        means the Administrator of the FAA.
            (3) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given that 
        term by section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001).
            (4) NASA.--The term ``NASA'' means the National Aeronautics 
        and Space Administration.
            (5) NASA administrator.--The term ``NASA Administrator'' 
        means the Administrator of NASA.

           TITLE I--NASA AERONAUTICS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

SEC. 101. ENVIRONMENTAL AIRCRAFT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.

    (a) Objective.--Not later than 10 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the NASA Administrator shall develop and demonstrate, in a 
relevant environment, technologies that result in the following 
commercial aircraft performance characteristics:
            (1) Noise.--Noise levels on takeoff and on airport approach 
        and landing that do not exceed ambient noise levels in the 
        absence of flight operations in the vicinity of airports from 
        which such commercial aircraft would normally operate.
            (2) Fuel efficiency.--A 10 percent improvement in fuel 
        efficiency, compared to aircraft in commercial service as of 
        the date of enactment of this Act, in each of the following:
                    (A) Specific fuel consumption.
                    (B) Lift to drag ratio.
                    (C) Structural weight fraction.
            (3) Emissions.--Nitrogen oxides at less than 5 grams per 
        kilogram of fuel burned.
    (b) Implementation.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the NASA Administrator shall provide to the 
Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a plan for the 
implementation of the initiative described in subsection (a). Such 
implementation plan shall include--
            (1) technological roadmaps for achieving each of the 
        performance characteristics specified in subsection (a);
            (2) an estimate of the 10-year funding profile required to 
        achieve the objective specified in subsection (a);
            (3) a plan for carrying out a formal quantification of the 
        estimated costs and benefits of each technological option 
        selected for development beyond the initial concept definition 
        phase; and
            (4) a plan for transferring the technologies to industry, 
        including the identification of requirements for prototype 
        demonstrations, as appropriate.
    (c) Review.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the NASA Administrator shall enter into an arrangement with 
the National Research Council to review the adequacy of the 
implementation plan provided under subsection (b) to achieve the 
objective described in subsection (a). In addition, the NASA 
Administrator shall enter into an arrangement with the National 
Research Council for the review, every 3 years after the initial review 
under this subsection, of NASA's progress in achieving the objective 
described in subsection (a), including recommendations for changes to 
NASA's research and development program. The results of each review 
shall be provided to the Committee on Science of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate within 30 days after the review is 
completed.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--Of the amounts authorized to be 
        appropriated under section 107, there are authorized to be 
        appropriated to the NASA Administrator to carry out this 
        section--
                    (A) $125,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
                    (B) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;
                    (C) $175,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
                    (D) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
                    (E) $225,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
            (2) Amounts to certain entities.--Of the amounts authorized 
        to be appropriated in paragraph (1), the percentage of the 
        annual appropriation that shall be used to fund research and 
        development conducted at universities, industrial research 
        entities, and not-for-profit research consortia is--
                    (A) 20 percent for fiscal year 2004;
                    (B) 30 percent for fiscal year 2005;
                    (C) 40 percent for fiscal year 2006; and
                    (D) 50 percent for fiscal years 2007 and 2008.

SEC. 102. ROTORCRAFT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.

    (a) Objective.--Not later than 10 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the NASA Administrator shall develop and demonstrate, in a 
relevant environment, technologies that result in rotorcraft with the 
following improvements compared to rotorcraft operating on the date of 
enactment of this Act:
            (1) 80 percent reduction in noise levels on takeoff and on 
        approach and landing as perceived by a human observer.
            (2) Factor of 10 percent reduction in vibration.
            (3) 30 percent reduction in empty weight.
            (4) Predicted accident rate equivalent to that of fixed-
        wing aircraft in commercial service.
            (5) Capability for zero-ceiling, zero-visibility 
        operations.
    (b) Implementation.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the NASA Administrator shall provide a plan to 
the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate for 
the implementation of the initiative described in subsection (a). The 
implementation plan shall include--
            (1) technological roadmaps for achieving each of the 
        improvements specified in subsection (a);
            (2) an estimate of the 10-year funding profile required to 
        achieve the objective specified in subsection (a);
            (3) a plan for carrying out a formal quantification of the 
        estimated costs and benefits of each technological option 
        selected for development beyond the initial concept definition 
        phase; and
            (4) a plan for transferring the technologies to industry, 
        including the identification of requirements for prototype 
        demonstrations, as appropriate.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Of the amounts authorized to 
be appropriated under section 107, there are authorized to be 
appropriated to the NASA Administrator to carry out this section--
            (1) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
            (2) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;
            (3) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
            (4) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
            (5) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.

SEC. 103. CIVIL SUPERSONIC TRANSPORT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
              INITIATIVE.

    (a) Objective.--Not later than 20 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the NASA Administrator shall develop and demonstrate, in a 
relevant environment, technologies to enable overland flight of 
supersonic civil transport aircraft with at least the following 
performance characteristics:
            (1) Mach number of at least 1.6.
            (2) Range of at least 4,000 nautical miles.
            (3) Payload of at least 150 passengers.
            (4) Lift to drag ratio of at least 9.0.
            (5) Noise levels on takeoff and on airport approach and 
        landing that meet community noise standards in place at 
        airports from which such commercial supersonic aircraft would 
        normally operate at the time the aircraft would enter 
        commercial service.
            (6) Shaped signature sonic boom overpressure of less than 
        1.0 pounds per square foot.
            (7) Nitrogen oxide emissions of less than 15 grams per 
        kilogram of fuel burned.
            (8) Water vapor emissions for stratospheric flight of no 
        greater than 1,400 grams per kilogram of fuel burned.
    (b) Implementation.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the NASA Administrator shall provide to the 
Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a plan 
for the implementation of the initiative described in subsection (a). 
Such implementation plan shall include--
            (1) technological roadmaps for achieving each of the 
        performance characteristics specified in subsection (a);
            (2) an estimate of the 10-year funding profile required to 
        achieve the objective specified in subsection (a);
            (3) a plan for carrying out a formal quantification of the 
        estimated costs and benefits of each technological option 
        selected for development beyond the initial concept definition 
        phase;
            (4) a plan for transferring the technologies to industry, 
        including the identification of requirements for prototype 
        demonstrations, as appropriate;
            (5) a plan for research to quantify, within 3 years after 
        the date of enactment of this Act, the limits on sonic boom 
        parameters, such as overpressure and rise time, that would be 
        acceptable to the general public; and
            (6) a plan for adjusting the noise reduction research and 
        development activities as needed to accommodate changes in 
        community noise standards that may occur over the lifetime of 
        the initiative.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Of the amounts authorized to 
be appropriated under section 107, there are authorized to be 
appropriated to the NASA Administrator to carry out this section--
            (1) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
            (2) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;
            (3) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
            (4) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
            (5) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.

SEC. 104. NASA AERONAUTICS SCHOLARSHIPS.

    (a) Objective.--The NASA Administrator shall establish a program of 
scholarships for full-time graduate students who are United States 
citizens and are enrolled in, or have been accepted by and have 
indicated their intention to enroll in, accredited Masters degree 
programs in aeronautical engineering at institutions of higher 
education. Each such scholarship shall cover the costs of room, board, 
tuition, and fees, and may be provided for a maximum of 2 years.
    (b) Implementation.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the NASA Administrator shall publish regulations 
governing the scholarship program.
    (c) Cooperative Training Opportunities.--Students who have been 
awarded a scholarship under this section shall have the opportunity for 
paid employment at one of the NASA Centers engaged in aeronautics 
research and development during the summer prior to the first year of 
the student's Masters program, and between the first and second year, 
if applicable.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--Of the amounts authorized to 
be appropriated under section 107, there are authorized to be 
appropriated to the NASA Administrator to carry out this section--
            (1) $500,000 for fiscal year 2004;
            (2) $750,000 for fiscal year 2005;
            (3) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
            (4) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
            (5) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.

SEC. 105. AVIATION WEATHER RESEARCH.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the NASA Administrator 
$10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2004 through 2008 for 
collaborative research with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration on convective weather events, with the goal of improving 
the reliability of 2- to 6-hour aviation weather forecasts to a level 
of at least 0.75.

SEC. 106. AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.

    (a) Objective.--The FAA Administrator and the NASA Administrator 
shall participate in a national initiative with the objective of 
defining and developing an air traffic management system designed to 
meet national long-term aviation security, safety, and capacity needs. 
The initiative should result in a multiagency blueprint for acquisition 
and implementation of an air traffic management system that would--
            (1) build upon current air traffic management and 
        infrastructure initiatives;
            (2) improve the security, safety, quality, and 
        affordability of aviation services;
            (3) utilize a system of systems approach;
            (4) develop a highly integrated, secure common information 
        network to enable common situational awareness for all 
        appropriate system users; and
            (5) ensure seamless global operations for system users.
    (b) Implementation.--In implementing subsection (a), the FAA 
Administrator and the NASA Administrator shall work with other 
appropriate Government agencies and industry to--
            (1) develop system performance requirements;
            (2) determine an optimal operational concept and system 
        architecture to meet such requirements;
            (3) utilize new modeling, simulation, and analysis tools to 
        quantify and validate system performance and benefits;
            (4) ensure the readiness of enabling technologies; and
            (5) develop a transition plan for successful implementation 
        into the National Airspace System.
    (c) Authorization.--Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated 
under section 107--
            (1) there are authorized to be appropriated to the NASA 
        Aerospace Technology Program to carry out this section--
                    (A) $50,000,000 in fiscal year 2004;
                    (B) $50,000,000 in fiscal year 2005;
                    (C) $100,000,000 in fiscal year 2006;
                    (D) $100,000,000 in fiscal year 2007; and
                    (E) $50,000,000 in fiscal year 2008; and
            (2) there are authorized to be appropriated to the FAA 
        Research, Engineering, and Development account to carry out 
        this section--
                    (A) $20,000,000 in fiscal year 2004;
                    (B) $30,000,000 in fiscal year 2005;
                    (C) $40,000,000 in fiscal year 2006;
                    (D) $40,000,000 in fiscal year 2007; and
                    (E) $20,000,000 in fiscal year 2008.

SEC. 107. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Authorization.--The total amounts authorized to be appropriated 
for aeronautics research, development, and demonstration activities at 
NASA, including the amounts authorized by sections 101 through 106 of 
this Act, are--
            (1) $675,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
            (2) $750,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;
            (3) $900,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
            (4) $1,050,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
            (5) $1,150,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
    (b) Limitation.--All amounts authorized to be appropriated by this 
title are for research and development activities and do not include 
amounts required to support the labor, travel, environmental 
compliance, and nonprogrammatic construction of facilities activities 
of the Office of Aeronautics.

   TITLE II--FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

SEC. 201. UNIVERSITY-BASED CENTERS FOR RESEARCH ON AVIATION TRAINING.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 449 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 44921. Grants for university-based centers for research on 
              aviation training
    ``(a) In General.--The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall award grants to institutions of higher education 
(or consortia thereof) to establish 1 or more Centers for Research on 
Aviation Training.
    ``(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Centers for Research on Aviation 
Training shall be to investigate the impact of new technologies and 
procedures, particularly those related to the aircraft flight deck and 
to the air traffic management functions, on training requirements for 
pilots and air traffic controllers.
    ``(c) Application.--An institution of higher education (or a 
consortium of such institutions) seeking funding under this section 
shall submit an application to the Administrator of the Federal 
Aviation Administration at such time, in such manner, and containing 
such information as the Administrator may require, including, at a 
minimum, a 5-year research plan.
    ``(d) Award Duration.--An award made by the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration under this section shall be for a 
period of 5 years and may be renewed on the basis of--
            ``(1) satisfactory performance in meeting the goals of the 
        research plan proposed by the Center for Research on Aviation 
        Training in its application under subsection (c); and
            ``(2) other requirements as specified by the Administrator.
    ``(e) Institution of Higher Education.--In this section, the term 
`institution of higher education' has the meaning given that term by 
section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).''.
    (b) Chapter 449 Table of Sections.--The table of sections at the 
beginning of subchapter I of chapter 449 of such title is amended by 
adding at the end the following:

``44921.  Grants for university-based centers for research on aviation 
                            training.''.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the FAA Administrator to carry out this section 
$5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2004 through 2008.

SEC. 202. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Amounts Authorized.--Section 48102(a) of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (7);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (8) and 
        inserting a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(9) for fiscal year 2004, $366,100,000, including--
                    ``(A) $25,500,000 for weather projects and 
                activities;
                    ``(B) $81,600,000 for aircraft safety technology 
                projects and activities;
                    ``(C) $27,300,000 for human factors and aviation 
                medicine projects and activities; and
                    ``(D) $30,000,000 for environment and energy 
                projects and activities;
            ``(10) for fiscal year 2005, $410,000,000, including--
                    ``(A) $30,600,000 for weather projects and 
                activities;
                    ``(B) $90,100,000 for aircraft safety technology 
                projects and activities;
                    ``(C) $30,200,000 for human factors and aviation 
                medicine projects and activities; and
                    ``(D) $37,500,000 for environment and energy 
                projects and activities;
            ``(11) for fiscal year 2006, $462,000,000, including--
                    ``(A) $37,000,000 for weather projects and 
                activities;
                    ``(B) $99,800,000 for aircraft safety technology 
                projects and activities;
                    ``(C) $33,500,000 for human factors and aviation 
                medicine projects and activities; and
                    ``(D) $47,000,000 for environment and energy 
                projects and activities;
            ``(12) for fiscal year 2007, $520,000,000; and
            ``(13) for fiscal year 2008, $550,000,000.''.
    (b) Research Priorities.--Section 48102(b) of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs:
    ``(4) Of the amount authorized under subsection (a)(9)--
            ``(A) $2,000,000 shall be made available for wake 
        turbulence research; and
            ``(B) $10,000,000 shall be made available for information 
        security research.
    ``(5) Of the amount authorized under subsection (a)(10)--
            ``(A) $3,000,000 shall be made available for wake 
        turbulence research; and
            ``(B) $12,000,000 shall be made available for information 
        security research.
    ``(6) Of the amount authorized under subsection (a)(11)--
            ``(A) $4,000,000 shall be made available for wake 
        turbulence research; and
            ``(B) $13,200,000 shall be made available for information 
        security research.
    ``(7) The Administrator is authorized to use amounts authorized 
under subsection (a), regardless of the appropriations account through 
which the amounts may be provided, for making grant awards for support 
of research and development activities.''.

                           TITLE III--STUDIES

SEC. 301. STUDY OF MARKETS ENABLED BY ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR 
              FUTURE AIRCRAFT.

    (a) Objective.--The NASA Administrator shall conduct a study to 
identify and quantify new markets that would be created, as well as 
existing markets that would be expanded, by the incorporation of the 
technologies developed pursuant to section 101 into future commercial 
aircraft. As part of the study, the NASA Administrator shall identify 
whether any of the performance characteristics specified in section 
101(a) would need to be made more stringent in order to create new 
markets or expand existing markets. The NASA Administrator shall seek 
input from at least the aircraft manufacturing industry, academia, and 
the airlines in carrying out the study.
    (b) Report.--A report containing the results of the study shall be 
provided to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives 
and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate within 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the NASA Administrator $500,000 to carry out this 
section.

SEC. 302. ASSESSMENT OF WAKE TURBULENCE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
              PROGRAM.

    (a) Assessment.--The FAA Administrator shall enter into an 
arrangement with the National Research Council for an assessment of the 
FAA's proposed wake turbulence research and development program. The 
assessment shall include--
            (1) an evaluation of the research and development goals and 
        objectives of the program;
            (2) a listing of any additional research and development 
        objectives should be included in the program;
            (3) any modifications that will be necessary for the 
        program to achieve the program's goals and objectives on 
        schedule and within the proposed level of resources; and
            (4) an evaluation of the roles, if any, that should be 
        played by other Federal agencies, such as NASA and the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in wake turbulence 
        research and development, and how those efforts could be 
        coordinated.
    (b) Report.--A report containing the results of the assessment 
shall be provided to the Committee on Science of the House of 
Representatives and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the FAA Administrator for fiscal year 2004, $500,000 to 
carry out this section.

SEC. 303. ASSESSMENT OF FUNDAMENTAL AERONAUTICS RESEARCH CAPABILITIES.

    (a) Assessment.--In order to ensure that the Nation retains needed 
capabilities in fundamental aerodynamics and other areas of fundamental 
aeronautics research, the NASA Administrator shall enter into an 
arrangement with the National Research Council for an assessment of the 
Nation's future requirements for fundamental aeronautics research and 
the Nation's needs for a skilled research workforce and research 
facilities commensurate with the requirements. The assessment shall 
include an identification of any projected gaps and recommendations for 
what steps should be taken by the Federal Government to eliminate those 
gaps.
    (b) Report.--The NASA Administrator shall transmit the assessment 
described in subsection (a), along with NASA's response to the 
assessment, to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives 
and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the NASA Administrator $500,000 for fiscal year 2004 to 
carry out this section.
                                 <all>