[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 148 (Monday, September 23, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5606-H5623]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1800
                    NASA REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2024

  Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 8958) to reauthorize the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 8958

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``NASA 
     Reauthorization Act of 2024''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.

                TITLE I--AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS

Sec. 101. Fiscal year 2025.

                         TITLE II--EXPLORATION

Sec. 201. Continuity of purpose for space exploration.
Sec. 202. Artemis program.
Sec. 203. Reaffirmation of the Space Launch System.
Sec. 204. Human-rated lunar landing capabilities.
Sec. 205. Advanced spacesuit capabilities.

                      TITLE III--SPACE OPERATIONS

Sec. 301. Report on continued United States presence in low earth 
              orbit.
Sec. 302. International Space Station.
Sec. 303. Nongovernmental missions on the International Space Station.
Sec. 304. Report on suborbital crew missions.
Sec. 305. United States deorbit capabilities.
Sec. 306. Commercial low-earth orbit development.
Sec. 307. Risk of losing access to low-earth orbit.
Sec. 308. Maintenance of service for International Space Station.
Sec. 309. Orbital debris research and development.
Sec. 310. Restriction on Federal funds relating to certain Chinese 
              space and scientific activities.

                       TITLE IV--SPACE TECHNOLOGY

Sec. 401. SBIR phase II flexibility.
Sec. 402. Lunar power purchase agreement program.
Sec. 403. Cryogenic fluid valve technology review.
Sec. 404. Lunar communications.
Sec. 405. Celestial time standardization.

                          TITLE V--AERONAUTICS

Sec. 501. Definitions.
Sec. 502. Experimental aircraft demonstrations.
Sec. 503. Hypersonic research.
Sec. 504. Advanced materials and manufacturing technology.
Sec. 505. Unmanned aircraft system and advanced air mobility.
Sec. 506. Advanced capabilities for emergency response operations.
Sec. 507. Hydrogen aviation.
Sec. 508. High-performance chase aircraft.
Sec. 509. Collaboration with academia.
Sec. 510. National student unmanned aircraft systems competition 
              program.
Sec. 511. Decadal survey for national aeronautics research and 
              priorities review.
Sec. 512. Making advancements in commercial hypersonics.

                           TITLE VI--SCIENCE

Sec. 601. Maintaining a balanced science portfolio.
Sec. 602. Implementation of science mission cost-caps.
Sec. 603. Reexamination of decadal surveys.
Sec. 604. Landsat.
Sec. 605. Private earth observation data.
Sec. 606. Commercial satellite data.
Sec. 607. Greenhouse gas emission measurements.
Sec. 608. NASA data for agricultural applications.
Sec. 609. Planetary science portfolio.
Sec. 610. Planetary defense.
Sec. 611. Lunar discovery and exploration.
Sec. 612. Commercial lunar payload services.
Sec. 613. Planetary and lunar operations.
Sec. 614. Mars sample return.
Sec. 615. Hubble space telescope servicing.
Sec. 616. Great observatories mission and technology maturation.
Sec. 617. Nancy Grace Roman telescope.
Sec. 618. Chandra X-Ray observatory.
Sec. 619. Heliophysics research.
Sec. 620. Study on commercial space weather data.

[[Page H5607]]

Sec. 621. Geospace dynamics constellation.
Sec. 622. Technology development for wildland fire science, management, 
              and mitigation.
Sec. 623. Implementation of recommendations by the National Wildland 
              Fire Management and Mitigation Commission.

                       TITLE VII--STEM EDUCATION

Sec. 701. National space grant college and fellowship program.
Sec. 702. Skilled technical workforce education outreach.

                        TITLE VIII--POLICY/NASA

Sec. 801. Major programs.
Sec. 802. NASA advisory council.
Sec. 803. NASA assessment of early cost estimates.
Sec. 804. Independent cost estimate.
Sec. 805. Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy report.
Sec. 806. Authorization for the transfer to NASA of funds from other 
              agencies for scientific or engineering research or 
              education.
Sec. 807. Procedure for launch services risk mitigation.
Sec. 808. Report on merits and options for establishing an institute 
              relating to space resources.
Sec. 809. Reports to Congress.
Sec. 810. Contract flexibility.
Sec. 811. GAO report.
Sec. 812. NASA public-private talent program.
Sec. 813. Report on Space Act agreements.
Sec. 814. Mentoring.
Sec. 815. Drinking water well replacement for Chincoteague, Virginia.
Sec. 816. Rule of construction.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
     Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration.
       (2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
     ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
       (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
     of the Senate; and
       (B) the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
     House of Representatives.
       (3) Cislunar space.--The term ``cislunar space'' means the 
     region of space beyond low-Earth orbit out to and including 
     the region around the surface of the Moon.
       (4) Commercial provider.--The term ``commercial provider'' 
     means any person providing space services or space-related 
     capabilities, primary control of which is held by persons 
     other than the Federal Government, a State or local 
     government, or a foreign government.
       (5) Deep space.--The term ``deep space'' means the region 
     of space beyond low-Earth orbit, which includes cislunar 
     space.
       (6) ISS.--The term ``ISS'' means the International Space 
     Station.
       (7) NASA.--The term ``NASA'' means the National Aeronautics 
     and Space Administration.
       (8) Orion.--The term ``Orion'' means the multipurpose crew 
     vehicle described under section 303 of the National 
     Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 
     2010 (42 U.S.C. 18323).
       (9) Space launch system.--The term ``Space Launch System'' 
     means the Space Launch System authorized under section 302 of 
     the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
     Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18322).

                TITLE I--AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS

     SEC. 101. FISCAL YEAR 2025.

       For fiscal year 2025, there are authorized to be 
     appropriated to NASA $25,224,640,000 as follows:
       (1) For the Exploration Systems Development Mission 
     Directorate, $7,618,200,000.
       (2) For the Space Operations Mission Directorate, 
     $4,473,500,000.
       (3) For the Space Technology Mission Directorate, 
     $1,181,800,000.
       (4) For the Science Mission Directorate, $7,334,200,000.
       (5) For the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, 
     $965,800,000.
       (6) For the Office of STEM Engagement, $135,000,000.
       (7) For Safety, Security, and Mission Services, 
     $3,044,440,000.
       (8) For Construction and Environmental Compliance and 
     Restoration, $424,100,000.
       (9) For Inspector General, $47,600,000.

                         TITLE II--EXPLORATION

     SEC. 201. CONTINUITY OF PURPOSE FOR SPACE EXPLORATION.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) NASA continues to make progress in developing and 
     testing the Space Launch System, Orion, and associated ground 
     systems, including through the successful completion of the 
     Artemis I mission in November 2022 and through continued 
     preparations for the Artemis II crewed flight demonstration 
     mission.
       (2) The number of spacefaring countries is increasing, and 
     foreign countries have expanded activities for space 
     exploration efforts, including efforts to explore and utilize 
     the Moon through human and robotic missions.
       (3) A strong and ambitious space exploration program 
     conducted with international and commercial partners is 
     important to maintaining United States leadership in space 
     and enhancing United States international competitiveness.
       (4) Clear mission objectives that tie to concrete, long-
     term programmatic goals provide a measure to ensure 
     accountability, enhance public support for exploration 
     missions, and provide a clear signal of commitment to both 
     international and domestic partners.
       (b) Continuity of Existing Capabilities and Programs.--
       (1) As part of the human exploration activities of the 
     Administration, including progress on Artemis missions and 
     activities, the Administrator shall continue development of 
     space exploration elements pursuant to section 10811 of the 
     National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization 
     Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-167; 51 U.S.C. 20302).
       (2) The Administrator shall leverage the private sector for 
     logistical services to the extent practical, consistent with 
     the Moon to Mars architecture requirements and in accordance 
     with section 50131 of title 51, United States Code.
       (3) Congress reaffirms the sense of Congress to maintain 
     continuity of purpose as described in section 201 of the 2017 
     NASA Transition Authorization Act (Public Law 115-10; 131 
     Stat. 21).

     SEC. 202. ARTEMIS PROGRAM.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--The following is the sense of 
     Congress:
       (1) Exploration of outer space, including exploration of 
     the lunar surface and cislunar space, provides benefits and 
     economic opportunity, including by inspiring future 
     generations and expanding the science, technology, 
     engineering, and mathematics workforce needed to sustain 
     United States leadership in science, space, and technology.
       (2) The lunar south pole is home to shadowed craters that 
     may contain water ice and other volatiles. Understanding the 
     nature of lunar polar volatiles, such as water ice, would 
     advance science related to the origin and evolution of 
     volatiles in the inner solar system and could facilitate the 
     long-term future of space exploration. Water ice lunar 
     resources have the potential to become an enabling component 
     of future space exploration missions throughout the solar 
     system, including crewed missions to Mars.
       (3) Other countries have demonstrated technological 
     advances and successful robotic missions for lunar 
     exploration and have announced credible plans for long-term 
     human exploration of the Moon that include the intent to 
     establish lunar bases.
       (4) United States leadership of and measurable progress on 
     the exploration of deep space is essential for guiding 
     development of norms related to operations on and around the 
     Moon and for other space destinations.
       (5) It is in the national interest of the United States to 
     hold a leadership role in discussions of future norms 
     governing activities in space, including those on the lunar 
     surface and in cislunar space.
       (b) In General.--In carrying out activities to enable 
     Artemis missions under the Moon to Mars Program set forth in 
     section 10811 of the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration Authorization Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-
     167), the Administrator shall--
       (1) use relevant elements set forth in section 
     10811(b)(2)(B) of the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration Authorization Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-
     167);
       (2) continue to ensure that the elements under paragraph 
     (1) enable the human exploration of Mars, consistent with 
     section 10811(b)(2)(C)(i) of the National Aeronautics and 
     Space Administration Authorization Act of 2022 (Public Law 
     117-167);
       (3) engage with international partners, as appropriate, in 
     a manner that is consistent with section 10811(b)(2)(C) the 
     National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization 
     Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-167), and that increases 
     redundancy, efficiency, and cost savings; and
       (4) leverage capabilities provided by United States 
     commercial providers, as appropriate and practicable.
       (c) United States Commercial Provider Capabilities in 
     Support of Lunar Exploration Efforts.--The Administrator may 
     enter into agreements with United States commercial providers 
     or engage in public-private partnerships to procure 
     capabilities and services to support the human exploration of 
     the Moon or cislunar space.

     SEC. 203. REAFFIRMATION OF THE SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM.

       (a) Space Launch System.--
       (1) Development and cadence objectives.--Congress 
     reaffirms--
       (A) support for the full development of capabilities of the 
     Space Launch System as set forth in section 302(c) of the 
     National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization 
     Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18322(c)); and
       (B) its commitment to the flight rate of the integrated 
     Space Launch System and Orion crew vehicle missions set forth 
     in section 10812(b) of the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration Authorization Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-167; 
     51 U.S.C. 20301 note).
       (2) Other uses.--The Administrator shall assess the demand 
     for the Space Launch System by entities other than NASA and 
     shall break out such demand according to the relevant Federal 
     agency or nongovernment sector. This assessment may--
       (A) estimate cost and schedule savings from reduced transit 
     times and the potential

[[Page H5608]]

     for increased returns enabled by the unique capabilities of 
     the Space Launch System;
       (B) describe any barriers or challenges that could impede 
     use of the Space Launch System by entities other than NASA; 
     and
       (C) identify potential actions and costs associated with 
     overcoming barriers and challenges described in subparagraph 
     (B).
       (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the 
     appropriate committees of Congress a report describing the 
     following:
       (1) NASA's progress towards achieving the flight rate 
     referred to in subsection (a)(1)(B) and the expected launch 
     of the integrated Space Launch System and Orion crew vehicle 
     missions after which such cadence shall be achieved.
       (2) The results of the assessment conducted pursuant to 
     subsection (a)(2).

     SEC. 204. HUMAN-RATED LUNAR LANDING CAPABILITIES.

       (a) Reaffirmation.--Congress reaffirms that the Moon to 
     Mars program set forth in section 10811 of the National 
     Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 
     2022 (Public Law 117-167; 51 U.S.C. 20302 note.; 136 Stat. 
     1732) shall include human-rated lunar landing systems.
       (b) Human-rated Lunar Landing Capabilities.--
       (1) The Administrator shall support the development and 
     demonstration of, and shall obtain, human-rated lunar landing 
     capabilities to further the goals of the human exploration 
     roadmap under section 432 of the National Aeronautics and 
     Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2017 
     (Public Law 115-10; 51 U.S.C. 20302 note) and the Moon to 
     Mars Program set forth in section 10811 of the National 
     Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 
     2022 (Public Law 117-167).
       (2) The Administrator shall ensure that such human-rated 
     lunar landing capabilities meet all relevant requirements, 
     including requirements of the Moon to Mars program, and for 
     human-rating and certification.
       (3) Any commercial provider from which the Administrator 
     obtains human-rated lunar landing capabilities must be a 
     United States commercial provider.
       (4) In carrying out paragraph (1)--
       (A) the Administrator may include uncrewed lunar landing 
     services; and
       (B) the Administrator shall, subject to the availability of 
     appropriations for such purpose, seek to obtain capabilities 
     from not fewer than two commercial providers.
       (c) Report.--The Administrator shall submit to the 
     appropriate committees of Congress the following:
       (1) Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment 
     of this Act, a report--
       (A) identifying the contribution over the past five years, 
     and the planned contribution for 2024-2029, of government 
     personnel, expertise, technologies and infrastructure 
     utilized and to be utilized in support of design, 
     development, or operation of human lunar landing capabilities 
     under this section; and
       (B) setting forth details and the associated costs of such 
     government support, broken out according to the areas of 
     contribution specified in subparagraph (A), as part of any 
     development initiative for obtaining human lunar landing 
     capabilities.
       (2) Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment 
     of this Act, a report that sets forth, for any agreement with 
     a United States commercial provider for human lunar landing 
     capabilities, the following:
       (A) The total value of the agreement when awarded.
       (B) If different from the amount in subparagraph (A), the 
     total value of the agreement as of the date of the enactment 
     of this Act, and an explanation for any change in value, as 
     well as an identification of whether NASA or the commercial 
     partner is responsible for meeting the change in value.
       (C) The dollar amount invested and to be invested by the 
     Administration, and the dollar amount invested and to be 
     invested by the commercial partner.
       (D) The full requirements, including human-rating and 
     safety requirements, for human lunar landing capabilities 
     under the agreement when awarded.
       (E) If different from the amount specified in subparagraph 
     (C), the full requirements, including human-rating and 
     certification requirements, for the human lunar landing 
     capabilities under the agreement as of the date of the 
     enactment of this Act and an explanation for any changes in 
     requirements.
       (F) A description of milestone and associated payments 
     provided for in the agreement, including the following:
       (i) An identification of all milestones under the 
     agreement.
       (ii) The value of the associated payment for each milestone 
     identified under clause (i).
       (iii) An identification of completed milestones and the 
     date of completion.
       (iv) An identification of milestones which have not yet 
     been completed and an estimated schedule for completion.
       (v) The value of all NASA payments under the agreement, 
     outlays as of the date of the enactment of this Act, and the 
     amount which as of the date of the enactment of this Act has 
     not yet been paid.
       (vi) a description of any changes in milestones and 
     associated payments between the date of contract award and 
     the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (G) Any cost, schedule, and performance challenges as of 
     the date of the enactment of this Act in provider performance 
     of the agreement.
       (H) A detailed justification of compliance with section 
     30301 of title 51, United States Code.
       (I) A detailed certification and justification of 
     compliance with section 50503 of title 51, United States 
     Code.
       (3) Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 
     of this Act, in consultation with any United States 
     commercial provider that is party to an agreement with NASA 
     for human lunar landing capabilities under this section, a 
     report on any steps the Administrator and such providers are 
     taking to carry out the following:
       (A) Address cost, schedule, and performance challenges 
     faced by each commercial provider in development and 
     performance of human lunar landing capabilities described in 
     paragraph (2)(G).
       (B) Facilitate the timely availability of human lunar 
     landing capabilities of each provider to support the schedule 
     of Artemis missions in effect as of the date of the enactment 
     of this Act, as applicable to each provider.
       (4) Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 
     of this Act, a report on alternative approaches, and 
     implementation plans for such approaches, including an 
     estimate of needed budgetary resources, for a human lunar 
     landing capability that meets NASA human-rating and 
     certification requirements in the event challenges referred 
     to in paragraph (3)(A) cannot be overcome or the timeline 
     specified in paragraph (3)(B) cannot be met.

     SEC. 205. ADVANCED SPACESUIT CAPABILITIES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) Space suits and associated extravehicular activity 
     (EVA) technologies are critical exploration technologies that 
     are necessary for future human deep space exploration 
     efforts, including crewed missions to the Moon.
       (2) The NASA civil service workforce at the Johnson Space 
     Center provides unique capabilities to design, integrate, and 
     validate Space Suits and associated EVA technologies.
       (3) Maintaining a strong NASA core competency in the 
     design, development, manufacture, and operation of space 
     suits and related technologies allows NASA to be an informed 
     purchaser of competitively awarded commercial space suits and 
     subcomponents.
       (4) According to a 2018 NASA Office of Inspector General 
     (OIG) report, current EVAs space suits, the Extravehicular 
     Mobility Units (EMUs), were developed in the late 1970s, are 
     reaching the end of their useful life, have experienced 
     multiple maintenance issues that threaten astronaut lives, 
     and no longer accommodate the varying sizes of a diverse 
     astronaut corps.
       (5) The same NASA OIG report found that ``. . . 
     manufacturers of several critical suit components, including 
     the very fibers of the suits, have now gone out of business. 
     . . ,'' which further reinforces the importance of NASA's 
     role in maintaining a space suit core competency and limiting 
     the risk posed by outsourcing key national capabilities.
       (6) The private sector currently is developing space suit 
     capabilities.
       (7) Testing space suits and related technologies on the 
     International Space Station could reduce risk and improve 
     safety of such suits and technologies.
       (b) In General.--The Administrator shall obtain advanced 
     spacesuit capabilities necessary to achieve the goals of 
     NASA's human spaceflight exploration programs.
       (c) Eligibility.--Any commercial provider from which the 
     Administrator obtains advanced spaceflight capabilities must 
     be a United States commercial provider, as set forth in 
     section 203(c) of this Act.
       (d) Preserving Spacesuit Expertise.--
       (1) In carrying out subsection (b), NASA shall maintain the 
     internal expertise necessary to develop space suits for both 
     extravehicular activity and surface operations, including 
     through partnerships with the private sector.
       (2) The Johnson Space Center shall continue to manage 
     NASA's spacesuit and extravehicular activity programs.
       (e) Report.--Not later than 180 days from the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the 
     appropriate committees of Congress a report --
       (1) describing NASA's plans for--
       (A) in-space testing of advanced spacesuit capabilities, 
     including--
       (i) space suit tests which must be conducted in 
     microgravity in low-Earth orbit; and
       (ii) space suit tests that must be conducted on the 
     International Space Station before decommissioning of the 
     International Space Station;
       (B) transitioning from existing spacesuits in use on the 
     International Space Station to use of advanced spacesuit 
     capabilities;
       (C) future use of advanced spacesuit capabilities by 
     government astronauts with any nongovernmental platform in 
     low-Earth orbit that is certified for use by the 
     Administration for government astronauts (as such term is 
     defined in section 50902(4) of title 51, United States Code); 
     and
       (D) disposition of retired spacesuits used on the Space 
     Shuttle or the International Space Station; and
       (2) including--
       (A) a detailed justification of compliance with section 
     30301 of title 51, United States Code; and

[[Page H5609]]

       (B) a detailed certification and justification of 
     compliance with section 50503 of title 51, United States 
     Code.
       (f) Assessment of Extravehicular Mobility Units Used on the 
     ISS.--
       (1) No later than 45 days after the date of enactment of 
     this Act, the Administrator shall enter into an arrangement 
     with an independent science and technical engineering 
     organization to review the technical status and performance 
     of the Administration's existing extravehicular mobility 
     units (``EMUs''), to analyze the data associated with all 
     mishaps, anomalies, and off-nominal events related to the 
     EMUs used by government astronauts on the International Space 
     Station over the last 10 years, and to make recommendations 
     to the Administrator, as a result of such assessment.
       (2) The Administrator shall ensure that the entity carrying 
     out the assessment in paragraph (1) consults with relevant 
     industry contractors regarding the Administration's EMUs and 
     EMU capabilities, and coordinates with the NASA Astronaut 
     Office in carrying out such assessment.
       (3) The Administrator shall transmit the results of the 
     assessment in paragraph (1) to the appropriate committees of 
     Congress as soon as practicable and no later than 270 days 
     after the date of enactment of this Act.

                      TITLE III--SPACE OPERATIONS

     SEC. 301. REPORT ON CONTINUED UNITED STATES PRESENCE IN LOW 
                   EARTH ORBIT.

       Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Comptroller General shall transmit to the 
     appropriate committees of Congress a report containing 
     information on the following:
       (1) The United States Government description of and plans 
     for implementation of the policy on an uninterrupted 
     capability for human space flight and operations in 
     accordance with section 70501(a) of title 51, United States 
     Code, and section 201(b) of the National Aeronautics and 
     Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 
     18311(b)) regarding United States human space flight 
     capabilities.
       (2) The preparedness of the Administration to continue to 
     meet statutory direction referenced in paragraph (1) under 
     the planned approach to deorbit the International Space 
     Station by not later than the end of calendar year 2031.

     SEC. 302. INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) ISS is a unique facility that provides the United 
     States with capabilities in space that are currently 
     unmatched; NASA continues to make productive use of the ISS;
       (2) the ISS serves several functions, including 
     establishing the United States as a leader in space 
     activities, acting as a beacon of international cooperation, 
     and conducting cutting-edge microgravity and observational 
     research in low-Earth orbit;
       (3) NASA must complete certain objectives on the ISS to 
     facilitate deep space exploration efforts, including carrying 
     out human research and demonstrating exploration-related 
     technologies; and
       (4) reducing crew size or cargo deliveries, or reducing 
     sustaining engineering capabilities, would reduce the 
     scientific output of the ISS and potentially increase the 
     risk to the ISS and its crew.
       (b) Full Utilization.--
       (1) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that, 
     to ensure the greatest return on investments made by the 
     United States and the International Space Station partners in 
     the development, assembly, and operations of the 
     International Space Station, the Administrator should 
     maximize the utilization and productivity of the 
     International Space Station with respect to the priorities 
     set forth in section 10816 of the National Aeronautics and 
     Space Administration Authorization Act of 2022 (Public Law 
     117-167; 51 U.S.C. 70901 note), which include research of the 
     human research program, risk reduction activities relevant to 
     exploration technologies, the advancement of United States 
     leadership of basic and applied space life and physical 
     sciences, and other research and development essential to 
     Moon to Mars program activities.
       (2) Amendment.--Section 502(a) of the National Aeronautics 
     and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (Public 
     Law 111-267; 42 U.S.C. 18352(a)), is amended by striking 
     ``take steps to''.

     SEC. 303. NONGOVERNMENTAL MISSIONS ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE 
                   STATION.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) nongovernmental missions involving crew or spaceflight 
     participants on the International Space Station carried out, 
     as appropriate, pursuant to NASA policies and procedures, and 
     Federal Government laws and regulations, can provide lessons 
     and learning experiences for both government and 
     nongovernment entities to inform the development of future 
     commercial low-Earth orbit platforms and a low-Earth orbit 
     economy; and
       (2) the Administrator should share lessons learned from 
     nongovernmental missions on the International Space Station 
     to advance the commercial human spaceflight industry, to 
     promote the safety of future commercial low-Earth orbit 
     platforms, and to inform the evolution of policies guiding 
     such activities in low-Earth orbit.
       (b) Nongovernmental Missions on the ISS.--The Administrator 
     may enter into one or more agreements to enable one or more 
     United States commercial providers to conduct nongovernmental 
     missions on the International Space Station pursuant to NASA 
     policies and procedures, and Federal government laws and 
     regulations.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
     States shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress 
     a report containing information relating to the following:
       (1) The number of nongovernmental missions on the ISS 
     planned.
       (2) The number of nongovernmental missions on the ISS 
     completed.
       (3) The extent to which commercial entities carrying out 
     nongovernmental missions on the ISS fully reimburse costs 
     incurred by NASA in association with any nongovernmental 
     missions carried out on the International Space Station.
       (4) The extent to which nongovernmental missions on the 
     International Space Station impact the priorities specified 
     in section 10816 of the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration Authorization Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-167; 
     51 U.S.C. 70901 note).
       (5) The impact, if any, to operations of or activities on 
     the International Space Station that are not related to 
     nongovernmental missions on the International Space Station.
       (6) The extent to which any nongovernmental mission on the 
     ISS--
       (A) conforms with section 20102 of title 51, United States 
     Code;
       (B) adheres to the requirements of section 50131 of title 
     51, United States Code; and
       (C) is consistent with the national security or foreign 
     policy interests of the United States.
       (7) Any other issues related to nongovernmental missions on 
     the International Space Station that the Comptroller General 
     determines are appropriate for review as part of undertaking 
     the report in subsection (c).
       (d) Definitions.--In this section, the terms ``crew'' and 
     ``spaceflight participant'' have the meanings given such 
     terms in section 50902 of title 51, United States Code.

     SEC. 304. REPORT ON SUBORBITAL CREW MISSIONS.

       Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Administrator shall deliver to the appropriate 
     committees of Congress a report on the costs, benefits, 
     risks, training requirements, and policy or legal 
     implications, including liability matters, of launching 
     United States Government personnel on commercial suborbital 
     vehicles.

     SEC. 305. UNITED STATES DEORBIT CAPABILITIES.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the International Space Station is aging and eventually 
     will need to be deorbited safely and disposed of in a 
     controlled manner; and
       (2) to protect the safety of the public, and to avoid 
     interfering with other space operators or objects, NASA plans 
     to deorbit and disposition the International Space Station 
     through a controlled atmospheric reentry over an uninhabited 
     region.
       (b) Authorization.--
       (1) The Administrator shall acquire ISS deorbit 
     capabilities from one or more United States commercial 
     providers.
       (2) In carrying out paragraph (1), the Administrator shall, 
     to the greatest extent practicable, not reduce or 
     deprioritize NASA activities conducted on and in support of 
     the ISS to support the acquisition of United States deorbit 
     capabilities.
       (c) Costs.--
       (1) Independent cost estimate.--Before entering into an 
     agreement for the capabilities described in subsection (b), 
     the Administrator shall obtain an independent life-cycle cost 
     estimate for the deorbit capability and shall report the 
     results of such estimate and a five-year budget profile to 
     the appropriate committees of Congress.
       (2) Report.--
       (A) Not later than one year after the date of the enactment 
     of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the 
     appropriate committees of Congress a report detailing the 
     Administration's plan for the financial, logistical, and 
     operational responsibilities associated with the deorbit 
     capability.
       (B) Annually, the Administrator shall submit to the 
     appropriate committees of Congress a report, to accompany the 
     President's budget request, containing a description of the 
     annual and lifecycle costs for activities related to the 
     deorbit of the International Space Station and how such costs 
     are shared among the ISS partners.

     SEC. 306. COMMERCIAL LOW-EARTH ORBIT DEVELOPMENT.

       (a) Strategy.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation 
     with the National Space Council, shall transmit to the 
     appropriate committees of Congress a strategy for a robust 
     and resilient architecture to advance NASA and other relevant 
     Federal government civil research, development, and 
     operational requirements in low-Earth orbit. The architecture 
     should--
       (1) include a mix of crewed and uncrewed platforms;
       (2) consider an incremental approach to achieving the full 
     suite of capabilities necessary to meet NASA research, 
     development, and operational requirements in low-Earth orbit;
       (3) consider the requirements described in subsection (b); 
     and

[[Page H5610]]

       (4) sustain and promote United States leadership and 
     international partnerships in carrying out low-Earth orbit 
     activities.
       (b) Requirements.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit 
     to the appropriate committees of Congress and make available 
     to relevant United States commercial industry entities, a 
     detailed account of the research, development, and 
     operational requirements for NASA activities in low-Earth 
     orbit, including any requirements that could affect the 
     design, development, instrumentation, and long-term 
     operations of future United States commercial low-Earth orbit 
     platforms and supporting capabilities. In preparing the 
     detailed account of research, development, and operational 
     requirements, the Administrator may consider the requirements 
     of other relevant Federal agencies.
       (c) Authorization.--The Administrator is authorized to 
     enter into agreements with one or more United States 
     commercial providers to enable the development and 
     certification of, and procure capabilities related to, a 
     United States private, low-Earth orbit platform or platforms, 
     and to use such platforms or platforms and related 
     capabilities to achieve the goals set forth in the strategy 
     under subsection (a), to sustain the priorities described in 
     section 10816 of the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration Authorization Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-167; 
     51 U.S.C. 70901 note) and the activities under the Human 
     Exploration Roadmap pursuant to section 432(b)(2)(J) of the 
     National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition 
     Authorization Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-10), and to meet 
     the requirements described in subsection (b).
       (d) Anchor Tenancy.--No later than November 15, 2025, the 
     Administrator shall provide to the appropriate committees of 
     Congress the following:
       (1) The results of a survey and assessment of the market 
     for capabilities and services that may be provided through 
     future United States commercial low-Earth orbit platforms 
     that shall be prepared by an independent entity with 
     appropriate expertise;
       (2) A detailed justification of compliance with section 
     30301 of title 51, United States Code.
       (3) A detailed certification and justification of 
     compliance with section 50503 of title 51, United States 
     Code.
       (e) Use of United States Launch and Reentry Services.--As a 
     term of an agreement entered into under to subsection (c), 
     the Administrator shall include a requirement for the use of 
     United States commercially-provided launch and reentry 
     services to support all Administration activities under the 
     agreement, in accordance with section 50131 of title 51, 
     United States Code, as applicable.
       (f) Safety.--When an agreement under subsection (c) 
     involves a government astronauts (as such term is defined in 
     section 50902(4) of title 51, United States Code), the 
     Administrator shall protect the safety of the government 
     astronaut by ensuring that each platform under the agreement 
     meets all applicable human rating processes, certification, 
     and safety requirements.

     SEC. 307. RISK OF LOSING ACCESS TO LOW-EARTH ORBIT.

       Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate 
     committees of Congress a report that evaluates the risk posed 
     by a potential gap in access to low-Earth orbit on science 
     and technology research and development conducted by NASA and 
     private entities. The report shall describe the following:
       (1) The NASA science and exploration programs that may be 
     adversely affected by the lack of a United States presence in 
     low-Earth orbit.
       (2) The effects that a gap in low-Earth orbit would have on 
     the United States' competitiveness in science and technology 
     and in the development of the United States-based commercial 
     space industry.
       (3) Potential options and associated costs for preventing 
     such a gap, including the following:
       (A) Implementing the strategy described in section 306.
       (B) Supporting the operation of the International Space 
     Station beyond 2030.
       (C) Increasing investment in and accelerating development 
     of commercial space stations.
       (D) Working with international partners to establish 
     alternative means for conducting research in low-Earth orbit.

     SEC. 308. MAINTENANCE OF SERVICE FOR INTERNATIONAL SPACE 
                   STATION.

       (a) In General.--Subject to appropriations for such 
     purpose, the Administrator shall maintain a flight cadence 
     necessary to support the health and safety of the 
     International Space Station crew and the full and productive 
     utilization of the International Space Station through its 
     operational lifetime, consistent with the certification date 
     of the International Space Station. In maintaining such 
     flight cadence, the Administrator shall seek to carry out not 
     less than the average annual cadence for the immediately 
     preceding three fiscal years of crew and cargo flights on 
     United States vehicles certified under NASA's Commercial Crew 
     and Cargo Program as of the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.
       (b) Waiver.--The Administrator may waive the requirement 
     under subsection (a) upon submission of a written 
     determination to Congress that--
       (1) the health and safety of the International Space 
     Station requires a reduction in flights; or
       (2) the International Space Station has concluded its 
     operational lifetime.

     SEC. 309. ORBITAL DEBRIS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     NASA's research and development activities related to 
     understanding and mitigating the hazards posed by orbital 
     debris are critical to ensuring the continued safe operation 
     of NASA missions, including the safety of humans living and 
     working in space, and such activities further enable 
     scientific and technological advances that can be leveraged 
     by the broader space operations community to foster a 
     sustainable space environment.
       (b) Research and Development.--The Administrator shall, to 
     the extent practicable, conduct research and development to 
     advance scientific understanding and technological 
     capabilities related to orbital debris characterization and 
     mitigation.
       (c) Considerations.--In conducting the research and 
     development described in subsection (b), the Administrator 
     may consider activities that--
       (1) improve the characterization and modeling of the space 
     environment, including the characterization and modeling of 
     objects of both natural and anthropogenic origins that cannot 
     be directly characterized by ground-based measurements;
       (2) leverage space weather research and development 
     elements within NASA's Heliophysics program, to the extent 
     appropriate and in accordance with the priorities established 
     in the most recent solar and space physics decadal survey; 
     and
       (3) support the application of relevant research, tools, 
     and technologies to advance orbital debris characterization 
     and mitigation and the transfer of such research, tools, and 
     technologies to stakeholders, as appropriate and practicable.

     SEC. 310. RESTRICTION ON FEDERAL FUNDS RELATING TO CERTAIN 
                   CHINESE SPACE AND SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES.

       (a) In General.--No Federal funds authorized in this Act 
     may be obligated or expended for the following:
       (1) For the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
     (NASA), the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), 
     or the National Space Council (NSC) to develop, design, plan, 
     promulgate, implement, or execute a bilateral policy, 
     program, order, or contract of any kind to participate, 
     collaborate, or coordinate bilaterally in any way with China 
     or any Chinese-owned company unless such activities are 
     specifically authorized by a law enacted after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act.
       (2) To effectuate the hosting of official Chinese visitors 
     at facilities belonging to or utilized by NASA.
       (b) Exception.--The restrictions described in subsection 
     (a) shall not apply to activities with respect to which NASA, 
     OSTP, or NSC, after consultation with the Federal Bureau of 
     Investigation, have certified--
       (1) pose no risk of resulting in the transfer of 
     technology, data, or other information with national security 
     or economic security implications to China or a Chinese-owned 
     company; and
       (2) will not involve knowing interactions with officials 
     who have been determined by the United States to have direct 
     involvement with violations of human rights.
       (c) Submission.--Any certification made under subsection 
     (b) shall be submitted to the Committee on Science, Space, 
     and Technology and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     House of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
     and Transportation and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
     Senate, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, not later 
     than 30 days prior to the activity in question. Any such 
     certification shall include a description of the purpose of 
     such activity, its agenda, its major participants, and its 
     location and timing.

                       TITLE IV--SPACE TECHNOLOGY

     SEC. 401. SBIR PHASE II FLEXIBILITY.

       Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638) is 
     amended in subsection (cc) by striking ``and the Department 
     of Education'' and inserting ``the Department of Education, 
     and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration''.

     SEC. 402. LUNAR POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT PROGRAM.

       (a) Study.--The Administrator may enter into an arrangement 
     with an independent entity with appropriate expertise to 
     conduct a study evaluating the feasibility of using power 
     purchase agreements to facilitate the development and 
     deployment of lunar surface power.
       (b) Contents.--The study conducted under subsection (a) may 
     include the following:
       (1) An identification of facilities and technical 
     capabilities needed to support lunar surface power 
     production.
       (2) A demand forecast for lunar surface power, including 
     the following:
       (A) Forecasted demand of both governmental and 
     nongovernmental users.
       (B) To support the following:
       (i) Near-term exploration activities.
       (ii) Long-duration activities.
       (3) Potential policy and legal issues associated with lunar 
     power purchase agreements between providers and the United 
     States Government, international partners, and other private 
     sector entities.
       (c) Coordination.--In conducting the study under this 
     section, the Administrator may consult with the following:

[[Page H5611]]

       (1) The Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium.
       (2) The Department of Energy, the Department of Commerce, 
     and other Federal agencies, as determined appropriate by the 
     Administrator.
       (3) International partners.
       (4) Relevant private sector entities.
       (d) Report.--Not later than 24 months after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator may submit to the 
     appropriate committees of Congress a report that describes 
     the results of the study conducted pursuant to subsection 
     (a).

     SEC. 403. CRYOGENIC FLUID VALVE TECHNOLOGY REVIEW.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     advancing cryogenic fluid valve technology would support the 
     Administration's efforts to improve cryogenic fluid 
     management and improve space vehicle reliability and 
     efficiency.
       (b) Technology and Research Review.--Not later than 90 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, subject to the 
     availability of appropriations, the Administrator shall enter 
     into an agreement with an independent research and 
     development center or other independent nonprofit 
     organization, as determined appropriate by the Administrator, 
     to conduct a review of cryogenic fluid valve technology in 
     accordance with this section. The organization shall review 
     recent advances in technologies related to cryogenic fluid 
     valve use in space applications and assess opportunities to 
     improve cryogenic fluid valve technologies, including support 
     for research and development activities to advance materials 
     engineering for cryogenic fluid valves.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the organization conducting the review 
     shall submit to the Administrator and the appropriate 
     committees of Congress a report detailing the results of the 
     review conducted under this section.

     SEC. 404. LUNAR COMMUNICATIONS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) Reliable communication and navigation capabilities are 
     essential for sustainable human and robotic exploration of 
     the Moon.
       (2) Fostering the development of commercial capabilities 
     can accelerate the deployment of lunar communication and 
     navigation services.
       (b) In General.--The Administrator is authorized to develop 
     a robust and resilient architecture for lunar communications 
     and navigation to support the Administration's human and 
     robotic lunar exploration activities.
       (c) Study and Plan.--To inform the development in 
     subsection (a), the Administrator shall develop a study and 
     prepare a plan to--
       (1) enable interoperable communications and navigation 
     services for cislunar missions;
       (2) work with the private sector, other Federal agencies, 
     and, as appropriate, international partners to establish 
     technical standards, consistent with section 12(d) of the 
     National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 
     (Public Law 104-113), protocols, and interface requirements 
     for cislunar communications and navigation services and 
     systems;
       (3) support NASA lunar activities;
       (4) leverage NASA's space technology research, development, 
     and demonstration activities related to space communications 
     and navigation; and
       (5) evaluate the opportunities, benefits, feasibility, and 
     challenges of potentially using commercial cislunar 
     communication and navigation services, as appropriate, by 
     United States commercial providers.

     SEC. 405. CELESTIAL TIME STANDARDIZATION.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) United States leadership of a sustained presence on the 
     Moon and in deep space exploration is important for advancing 
     science, exploration, commercial growth, and international 
     partnership;
       (2) the Artemis and Moon to Mars program of the National 
     Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will involve 
     governmental, commercial, academic, and international 
     partners where there is a need for interoperability between 
     systems;
       (3) the use of Coordinated Universal Time has challenges 
     when used beyond Earth at other celestial bodies, due to 
     relativistic effects;
       (4) the United States should lead in developing time 
     standardization for the Moon and other celestial bodies other 
     than Earth to support interoperability and safe and 
     sustainable operations; and
       (5) development of such standardization will advance United 
     States leadership in standards setting for global 
     competitiveness, and will benefit other spacefaring countries 
     and entities.
       (b) Development of Celestial Time Standardization.--The 
     Administrator of NASA, in consultation with the Director of 
     the Office of Science and Technology Policy, shall carry out 
     the following:
       (1) Enable the development of celestial time 
     standardization, including by leading the study and 
     definition of a coordinated lunar time.
       (2) Develop a strategy to implement a coordinated lunar 
     time that would support future operations and infrastructure 
     on and around the Moon.
       (3) In carrying out paragraphs (1) and (2)--
       (A) coordinate with relevant Federal entities, including 
     the Department of Commerce, the Department of Defense, the 
     Department of State, and the Department of Transportation; 
     and
       (B) consult with--
       (i) relevant private sector entities;
       (ii) relevant academic entities; and
       (iii) relevant international standards setting bodies.
       (4) Incorporate the following features of a coordinated 
     lunar time, to the extent practicable, in the development of 
     the strategy developed pursuant to paragraph (2):
       (A) Traceability to Coordinated Universal Time.
       (B) Accuracy sufficient to support precision navigation and 
     science.
       (C) Resilience to loss of contact with Earth.
       (D) Scalability to space environments beyond the Earth-Moon 
     system.
       (c) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator of NASA shall submit 
     to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
     House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report describing 
     the strategy developed pursuant to subsection (b)(2), 
     including relevant plans, timelines, and resources required 
     for the implementation of a coordinated lunar time pursuant 
     to such strategy.

                          TITLE V--AERONAUTICS

     SEC. 501. DEFINITIONS.

       In this title:
       (1) Advanced air mobility; aam.--The terms ``advanced air 
     mobility'' and ``AAM'' mean a transportation system that is 
     comprised of urban air mobility and regional air mobility 
     using manned or unmanned aircraft.
       (2) Regional air mobility.--The term ``regional air 
     mobility'' means the movement of passengers or property by 
     air between 2 points using an airworthy aircraft that--
       (A) has advanced technologies, such as distributed 
     propulsion, vertical takeoff and landing, powered lift, 
     nontraditional power systems, or autonomous technologies;
       (B) has a maximum takeoff weight of greater than 1,320 
     pounds; and
       (C) is not urban air mobility.
       (3) Unmanned aircraft system.--The term ``unmanned aircraft 
     system'' has the meanings given such term in section 44801 of 
     title 49, United States Code.
       (4) Urban air mobility.--The term ``urban air mobility'' 
     means the movement of passengers or property by air between 2 
     points in different cities or 2 points within the same city 
     using an airworthy aircraft that--
       (A) has advanced technologies, such as distributed 
     propulsion, vertical takeoff and landing, powered lift, 
     nontraditional power systems, or autonomous technologies; and
       (B) has a maximum takeoff weight of greater than 1,320 
     pounds.
       (5) UTM.--The term ``UTM'' means an unmanned aircraft 
     system traffic management system or service.

     SEC. 502. EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT DEMONSTRATIONS.

       (a) Study.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation 
     with industry and academia, shall conduct a study of past and 
     future administration of the experimental aircraft 
     demonstrator projects.
       (b) Future Demonstrations.--The study under subsection (a) 
     shall identify systems, capabilities, and technologies that 
     could be viable candidates for maturation and demonstration 
     through the development of an experimental aircraft 
     demonstrator. Such systems, capabilities, and technologies 
     may include technological advancements related to structures, 
     aerodynamics, propulsion, controls, and autonomous 
     capabilities. The study shall include a description of 
     criteria and performance metrics used to determine the 
     readiness of a system, capability, or technology to be 
     demonstrated on a future experimental aircraft demonstrator.
       (c) Lessons Learned.--The study under subsection (a) also 
     shall include an assessment of lessons learned from the 
     Administration's previous experimental aircraft demonstration 
     projects over the last decade, including the projects set 
     forth under section 10831 of the National Aeronautics and 
     Space Administration Authorization Act of 2022 (Public Law 
     117-167). This assessment shall include--
       (1) a quantitative assessment of each experimental aircraft 
     demonstration project's ability to meet cost, schedule and 
     performance goals, as defined at the time of project 
     confirmation;
       (2) the extent to which the project's objectives or 
     performance goals were changed or descoped;
       (3) the extent to which the system, capability, or 
     technology that was the subject of the project was matured as 
     a result of its demonstration on an experimental aircraft 
     demonstrator; and
       (4) the extent to which the project has contributed to 
     advancing the capabilities of and innovation in the United 
     States aircraft and aviation industries.

     SEC. 503. HYPERSONIC RESEARCH.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) basic and applied hypersonic research--
       (A) is critical for enabling the development of advanced 
     high-speed aeronautical and space systems; and
       (B) can improve understanding of technical challenges 
     related to high-speed and reusable vehicle technologies, 
     including those related

[[Page H5612]]

     to propulsion, noise, advanced materials, and entry, descent, 
     and landing operations;
       (2) investments in hypersonic research are critical to 
     sustaining United States global leadership in space and 
     aeronautics; and
       (3) NASA efforts to study hypersonic research should 
     complement research supported by the Department of Defense 
     and, when appropriate, be conducted in partnership with 
     universities and industry.
       (b) Hypersonic Research.--The Administrator, in 
     coordination with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
     Administration and the Secretary of the Department of 
     Defense, and in consultation with industry and academia, 
     shall continue to carry out basic and applied hypersonic 
     research.
       (c) Hypersonic Research Roadmap.--Not later than 180 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
     Administrator, in consultation with the Administrator of the 
     Federal Aviation Administration and the Secretary of the 
     Department of Defense, and with industry and academic 
     institutions, shall update the hypersonic research roadmap 
     required under section 603 of the National Aeronautics and 
     Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2017 
     (Public Law 115-10; 51 U.S.C. 20302 note). In updating the 
     research roadmap, the Administrator may consider advancements 
     in--
       (1) system level design, analysis, and validation of 
     hypersonic aircraft technologies;
       (2) propulsion capabilities and technologies;
       (3) vehicle technologies to include vehicle flow physics 
     and vehicle thermal management associated with aerodynamic 
     heating;
       (4) advanced materials, including materials capable of 
     withstanding high temperatures and demonstrating durable 
     materials, and efforts to create models and simulate use of 
     such materials; and
       (5) other areas of hypersonic research as determined 
     appropriate by the Administrator.
       (d) Report and Briefing.--Not later than 1 year after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall--
       (1) transmit the updated research roadmap under subsection 
     (c) to the appropriate committees of Congress; and
       (2) provide a briefing on the research conducted under 
     subsection (b), including how such research aligns with the 
     updated research roadmap under subsection (c).

     SEC. 504. ADVANCED MATERIALS AND MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY.

       Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Administrator shall transmit a report to the 
     appropriate committees of Congress on the status of NASA 
     activities relating to section 10831(e), the Advanced 
     Materials and Manufacturing Technology Program, and section 
     10831(f), regarding relevant Research Partnerships, as set 
     forth in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
     Authorization Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-167).

     SEC. 505. UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM AND ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY.

       (a) Finding.--Congress finds that research and development 
     related to autonomous aviation is vital to ensure United 
     States competitiveness as the National Airspace System 
     evolves from trajectory-based operations to collaborative and 
     highly automated operations.
       (b) Collaboration.--The Administrator shall, in 
     collaboration with the Administrator of Federal Aviation 
     Administration, the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, 
     and appropriate representatives of academia and industry, 
     continue its research on unmanned aircraft systems and 
     advanced air mobility, including research related to UTM and 
     autonomous capabilities, as practicable.
       (c) Brief.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall brief the 
     appropriate committees of Congress on the progress of the 
     research under subsection (b).

     SEC. 506. ADVANCED CAPABILITIES FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE 
                   OPERATIONS.

       (a) In General.--The Administrator shall leverage NASA-
     developed tools and technologies to conduct research and 
     development activities under the Advanced Capabilities for 
     Emergency Response Operations (ACERO) project, or appropriate 
     successor project or projects, to improve aerial responses to 
     wildfires.
       (b) Goals.--The research and development activities 
     conducted under subsection (a) may include the following:
       (1) Advanced aircraft technologies and airspace management 
     efforts to assist in the management, deconfliction, and 
     coordination of aerial assets during wildfire response 
     efforts.
       (2) Information sharing and real-time data exchange for 
     wildfire response teams.
       (3) Development of an interoperable platform to provide 
     situational awareness of aerial assets during wildfire 
     response.
       (4) Establishment of a multi-agency concept of operations, 
     which may involve Federal, State, and local government 
     agencies, to enable coordination of aerial activities for 
     wildfire response.
       (c) Collaboration.--In carrying out this section, the 
     Administrator--
       (1) may coordinate and collaborate with other Federal, 
     State, and local government agencies, regional organizations, 
     and commercial partners and academic institutions involved in 
     wildfire management; and
       (2) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, consult with 
     the heads of other Federal departments and agencies to avoid 
     duplication of activities.
       (d) Prohibition.--
       (1) In general.--Except as provided in this subsection, the 
     Administrator may not procure an unmanned aircraft system to 
     conduct activities described in this section if such unmanned 
     aircraft system is manufactured or assembled by a covered 
     foreign entity.
       (2) Exemption.--The Administrator may waive the prohibition 
     under paragraph (1) on a case-by-case basis if the 
     Administrator--
       (A) determines that the procurement of an unmanned aircraft 
     system is--
       (i) in the national interest of the United States; and
       (ii) necessary for the sole purpose of improving aerial 
     responses to wildfires; and
       (B) notifies the Committee on Science, Space, and 
     Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
     on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate not 
     later than 30 days after a determination in the affirmative 
     under subparagraph (A).
       (e) Annual Reports.--Not later than one year after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter until 
     December 31, 2029, the Administrator shall submit to the 
     Committee on Science, Space and Technology of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation of the Senate a report describing the 
     activities, including results, carried out pursuant to this 
     section 2. Each such report, at minimum, shall contain the 
     following:
       (1) A description of any research and development 
     activities.
       (2) A description of the Administrator's activities 
     pursuant to subsection (c).
       (3) An identification of any topics related to improvement 
     of aerial responses to wildfires that could benefit from 
     further research.
       (4) A description of any continuing efforts under this 
     section.
       (5) Any other information determined appropriate by the 
     Administrator.
       (f) Definition.--In this section:
       (1) Covered foreign entity.--The term ``covered foreign 
     entity'' has the meaning given such term in section 1832 of 
     the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 
     (Public Law 118-31).
       (2) Unmanned aircraft system.--The term ``unmanned aircraft 
     system'' has the meaning given such term in section 44801 of 
     title 49, United States Code.

     SEC. 507. HYDROGEN AVIATION.

       (a) In General.--Subject to the availability of 
     appropriations for such purpose, and taking into 
     consideration the strategy developed under and research 
     conducted pursuant to section 1019 of the FAA Reauthorization 
     Act of 2024 (Public Law 118-63), the Administrator may carry 
     out research on emerging technologies related to hydrogen 
     aviation.
       (b) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the 
     appropriate committees of Congress a report on the findings 
     of the research under subsection (a).

     SEC. 508. HIGH-PERFORMANCE CHASE AIRCRAFT.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) NASA programs benefit from and rely upon high-
     performance chase aircraft for providing research and mission 
     support; and
       (2) NASA currently faces maintenance challenges related to 
     its aging high-performance aircraft fleet, which is resulting 
     in increased program costs.
       (b) Briefing.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act and biannually thereafter, the 
     Administrator shall provide to the appropriate committees of 
     Congress a briefing on the strategy of NASA relating to the 
     following:
       (1) Collaboration with the Department of Defense on efforts 
     for research and flight asset sharing to support NASA's 
     research mission support and pilot training requirements.
       (2) Efforts to seek aircraft parts and engines to keep 
     NASA's current fleet of chase aircraft operational, including 
     potential use of 3D additive manufactured parts.
       (3) Strategies for acquiring or using through loan, 
     sharing, or other agreements, as appropriate, Department of 
     Defense aircraft to support NASA's research and mission 
     support activities, as required.

     SEC. 509. COLLABORATION WITH ACADEMIA.

       It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) colleges and universities are hubs of research and 
     innovation, with expertise in various fields of science and 
     aeronautics;
       (2) collaborating with academia allows NASA to access 
     cutting-edge research and expertise that can further enable 
     advancements in aeronautics research and technology and 
     address complex aeronautical challenges;
       (3) a cutting-edge civil aeronautics research and 
     development program can inspire the next generation to pursue 
     education and careers in science, technology, engineering, 
     and mathematics, including aeronautics; and
       (4) opportunities for students to participate in NASA-
     supported academic research and development projects, such as 
     the University Leadership Initiative, the University Students 
     Research Challenge, and related aeronautic projects and 
     competitions, contributes to training the next generation and 
     developing the aeronautics workforce to support continued 
     United States leadership and economic growth in civil 
     aeronautics and aviation.

[[Page H5613]]

  


     SEC. 510. NATIONAL STUDENT UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS 
                   COMPETITION PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--The Administrator shall lead a national 
     pilot program to carry out unmanned aircraft systems 
     technology competitions for students at the high school and 
     undergraduate level (in this section referred to as 
     ``competitions'') in which students shall compete to design, 
     create, and demonstrate an unmanned aircraft system.
       (b) Competition Administration.--The Administrator shall 
     award, on a merit-reviewed, competitive basis, a grant to a 
     nonprofit organization, an institution of higher education, 
     or a consortium thereof, to administer the pilot program 
     under subsection (a) (in this section referred to as the 
     ``competition administrator'').
       (c) Award Criteria.--The Administrator shall ensure that 
     the award decision made under subsection (b) take into 
     account the extent to which the eligible entity--
       (1) identifies a plan for engaging eligible institutions 
     from diverse geographic areas, including poor, rural, and 
     Tribal communities; and
       (2) identifies a plan for connecting science, technology, 
     engineering, and medicine (STEM) activities to Administration 
     missions and centers.
       (d) Competition Administrator Responsibilities.--In 
     carrying out the pilot program, the competition administrator 
     shall be responsible for the following:
       (1) Awarding grants to institutions of higher education or 
     nonprofit organizations (or a consortium thereof) on a merit-
     reviewed, competitive basis to host individual competitions.
       (2) Developing STEM curriculum to be utilized by the 
     competition awardees to help students make the connection to 
     the design, construction, and demonstration of unmanned 
     aircraft systems.
       (3) Developing curriculum to assist students in making 
     real-world connections to STEM content and educate students 
     on the relevance and significance of STEM careers.
       (4) Ensuring competition awardees are supporting the 
     activities specified in subsection (f).
       (5) Conducting performance evaluations of competitions, 
     including data collection, on the following:
       (A) The number of students engaged.
       (B) Geographic and institutional diversity of participating 
     schools and institutions of higher education.
       (6) Any other activities the Administrator finds necessary 
     to ensure the competitions are successful.
       (e) Additional Considerations.--In awarding grants in 
     subsection (d), the competition administrator shall consider 
     applications that include a partnership with that State's 
     space grant program under chapter 403 of title 51, United 
     States Code.
       (f) Permitted Activities.--In carrying out the pilot 
     program under subsection (a), the competition administrator 
     shall ensure competitions occurring at both the high school 
     and undergraduate levels--
       (1) allow students to design, construct, and demonstrate an 
     unmanned aircraft system;
       (2) allow students to compete with other teams in the 
     performance of the constructed unmanned aircraft system;
       (3) connect to relevant missions and NASA Center activities 
     of the Administration;
       (4) connect relevant STEM curriculum to the design, 
     construction, and demonstration of unmanned aircraft systems;
       (5) support activities designed to help students make real-
     world connections to STEM content and educate students on the 
     relevance and significance of STEM careers;
       (6) are geographically dispersed in order to serve a broad 
     student population, including those in rural and underserved 
     communities; and
       (7) encourage, to the greatest extent practicable, the 
     participation of students from groups historically 
     underrepresented in STEM.
       (g) Report to Congress.--Not later than six months after 
     the end of the pilot program under subsection (a), the 
     Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
     Congress a report describing the accomplishments, lessons 
     learned, any challenges in the implementation of the pilot 
     program, and recommendations for whether to continue the 
     pilot program.
       (h) Definition.--In this section, the term ``eligible 
     institution'' means--
       (1) an institution of higher education;
       (2) a nonprofit research institution;
       (3) a high school; or
       (4) a consortium of 2 or more entities described in any of 
     paragraphs (1) through (3).

     SEC. 511. DECADAL SURVEY FOR NATIONAL AERONAUTICS RESEARCH 
                   AND PRIORITIES REVIEW.

       (a) Finding.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) Engaging the science and engineering communities, along 
     with industry, through the development of a National 
     Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine decadal 
     survey in aeronautics research and development can provide a 
     science and engineering community consensus on key research 
     and development priorities in national civil aeronautics 
     programs.
       (2) A decadal survey entails a comprehensive review of and 
     strategy and priorities for civil national aeronautics 
     research and development and prioritizes for the next decade.
       (3) A decadal survey for civil aeronautics research and 
     development can serve as a guiding framework for strategic 
     planning and resource allocation in the field of civil 
     aeronautics for the coming decade.
       (b) Study.--The Administrator in consultation with the 
     heads of other relevant Federal Government agencies and in 
     accordance with section 20305 of title 51. United States 
     Code, shall seek to enter into an arrangement with the 
     National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (in 
     this section referred to as the ``National Academies'') to 
     conduct a decadal survey of civil aeronautics research and 
     development for the 2025--2035 decade. The survey shall 
     recommend research priorities to sustain United States 
     leadership in civil aeronautics research and development and 
     support a safe and sustainable future for aviation. The 
     survey may also include recommendations related to the 
     dissemination and transition of such research and development 
     to the United States commercial aviation and aircraft 
     industries, to enabling innovation, and to ensuring a world-
     class workforce for aeronautics research and development and 
     related United States commercial industries and activities.
       (c) Transmittal.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the 
     Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation of the Senate the results of such survey, 
     including any recommendations.

     SEC. 512. MAKING ADVANCEMENTS IN COMMERCIAL HYPERSONICS.

       (a) In General.--In conducting the hypersonics research in 
     section 40112(d) of title 51, United States Code, the 
     Administrator may establish the Making Advancements in 
     Commercial Hypersonics Program (in this section referred to 
     as the ``Program''), which shall facilitate opportunities for 
     testing of high-speed aircraft and other technologies that 
     advance scientific research and technology development 
     related to hypersonic aircraft.
       (b) Limitation.--The Program under subsection (a) shall not 
     fund the development of technologies that are supported by 
     such testing opportunities.
       (c) Plan.--Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator, acting through the 
     Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, shall develop a 
     strategic plan for activities under subsection (a) that 
     aligns with the research roadmap under section 503 of this 
     Act.
       (d) Coordination, Consultation and Collaboration.--
       (1) The Administrator shall ensure coordination between the 
     Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate and other Mission 
     Directorates, as appropriate, to identify technologies 
     eligible for testing opportunities under the Program.
       (2) The Administrator shall consult and seek to collaborate 
     with, as appropriate, with the Secretary of Defense and the 
     Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration on 
     activities related to the Program, including development, 
     testing, and evaluation of high-speed aircraft and related 
     technologies.
       (e) Report.--The Administrator shall submit to the 
     appropriate committees of Congress, and the Committee on 
     Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the 
     Committee on Armed Services of the Senate--
       (1) not later than 80 days after the date of the enactment 
     of this section, a report that--
       (A) describes activities of the program established under 
     subsection (a); and
       (B) includes the strategic plan produced under subsection 
     (c); and
       (2) not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
     of this Act, and annually thereafter, a report describing 
     progress in carrying out the program, including the number 
     and type of testing opportunities executed in the previous 
     fiscal year and planned for the upcoming fiscal year.
       (f) Research Security.--Nothing under this section 
     authorizes the Administrator to develop, implement, or 
     execute an agreement related to technologies under this 
     section with any entity of concern, a foreign business 
     entity, or a foreign country of concern.
       (g) Definitions.--In this section--
       (1) Entity of concern.--the term ``entity of concern'' has 
     the meaning given such term in section 10114 of the Research 
     and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (Public Law 
     117-167; 42 U.S.C. 18912).
       (2) Foreign business entity.--The term ``foreign business 
     entity'' means an entity that is majority-owned or majority-
     controlled (as such term is defined in section 800.208 of 
     title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, or a successor 
     regulation), or minority owned greater than 25 percent by--
       (A) any governmental organization of a foreign country of 
     concern; or
       (B) any other entity that is--
       (i) known to be owned or controlled by any governmental 
     organization of a foreign country of concern; or
       (ii) organized under, or otherwise subject to, the laws of 
     a foreign country of concern.
       (3) Foreign country of concern.--The term ``foreign country 
     of concern'' has the meaning given such term in section 9901 
     of title XCIX of division H of the William M. (Mac) 
     Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2021 (15 U.S.C. 4651).
       (4) High-speed aircraft.--The term ``high-speed aircraft'' 
     has the meaning given such term in section 1009 of the 
     Federal Aviation Reauthorization Act of 2024 (Public Law 118-
     63).

[[Page H5614]]

  


                           TITLE VI--SCIENCE

     SEC. 601. MAINTAINING A BALANCED SCIENCE PORTFOLIO.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--Congress reaffirms the sense of 
     Congress that--
       (1) a balanced and adequately funded set of activities 
     consisting of research and analysis grant programs, 
     technology development, suborbital research activities, and 
     small, medium, and large space missions, contributes to a 
     robust and productive science program and serves as a 
     catalyst for innovation and discovery; and
       (2) the Administrator should set science priorities by 
     following the recommendations and guidance provided by the 
     scientific community through the National Academies of 
     Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine decadal surveys.
       (b) Policy Reaffirmation.--Congress reaffirms the policy of 
     the United States set forth in section 501(c) of the National 
     Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization 
     Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-10; 51 U.S.C. 20302 note), which 
     states, ``It is the policy of the United States to ensure, to 
     the extent practicable, a steady cadence of large, medium, 
     and small science missions''.

     SEC. 602. IMPLEMENTATION OF SCIENCE MISSION COST-CAPS.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) NASA science missions address compelling scientific 
     questions prioritized by the National Academies decadal 
     surveys, and often such missions exceed expectations in terms 
     of performance, longevity, and scientific impact;
       (2) the Administrator should continue to pursue an 
     ambitious science program while also seeking to avoid 
     excessive cost growth that has the potential to affect the 
     balance across the Science portfolio and within the Science 
     Divisions;
       (3) audits by the NASA Inspector General and the Government 
     Accountability Office have reported that early cost estimates 
     for missions in the preliminary phases of conception and 
     development are immature and unreliable, and the cost of a 
     mission typically is not well-understood until the project is 
     further along in the development process;
       (4) cost growth of a mission beyond its early cost 
     estimates is a challenge for budget planning and has the 
     potential to affect other missions in the Science Mission 
     Directorate portfolio, including through delays to future 
     mission solicitations; and
       (5) relying on early cost estimates made prior to 
     preliminary design review for science missions which then 
     experience such cost growth may disincentivize program and 
     cost discipline moving forward.
       (b) Report.--Not later than 12 months after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall transmit 
     to the appropriate committees of Congress a review of NASA 
     practices related to establishment of and compliance with 
     cost caps of competitively-selected, principal investigator-
     led science missions. The review shall--
       (1) assess current cost cap values and determine whether 
     existing cost-cap amounts are appropriate for different 
     classes of missions;
       (2) consider the effectiveness of cost caps in maintaining 
     a varied and balanced portfolio of mission types within the 
     Science Mission Directorate;
       (3) describe the information NASA requires as part of a 
     proposal submission related to project cost estimates and 
     proposal compliance with cost caps, and assess whether such 
     required information provides sufficient insight or 
     confidence in the estimates;
       (4) consider NASA processes for assessing proposed cost 
     estimates and the accuracy of such assessments for past 
     competitively-selected, principal investigator-led science 
     missions; and
       (5) for the period starting on January 1, 2000 and ending 
     on the date of the enactment of this Act--
       (A) a list of--
       (i) competitively-selected, principal investigator-led 
     science missions for which costs have exceeded the associated 
     cost cap; and
       (ii) reason the mission costs exceeded the cost-cap;
       (B) an assessment of NASA's role in predicting, preventing, 
     or managing competitively-selected, principal investigator-
     led science mission cost increases; and
       (C) a description of the impact of increased competitively-
     selected, principal investigator-led science mission costs 
     beyond the cost caps on--
       (i) the missions for which the cost cap has been breached; 
     and
       (ii) other missions within the applicable division and 
     within the Science Mission Directorate.

     SEC. 603. REEXAMINATION OF DECADAL SURVEYS.

       Title 51, United States Code, is amended in section 
     20305(c) by inserting ``, significant changes to the NASA 
     budget'' after ``growth''.

     SEC. 604. LANDSAT.

       Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Administrator shall transmit a report to the 
     appropriate committees of Congress describing--
       (1) the Administrator's efforts to comply with section 
     60134 of title 51, United States Code;
       (2) aspects of Landsat NEXT or any other Landsat 
     observations that--
       (A) could be provided by private sector data-buys or 
     service procurements; and
       (B) could--
       (i) meet associated science requirements while maintaining 
     or exceeding the quality, integrity, and continuity of the 
     Landsat observational capabilities and performance, including 
     requirements necessary to ensure high-quality calibrated data 
     continuity and traceability with the 50-year Landsat data 
     record; and
       (ii) comply with nondiscriminatory availability of 
     unenhanced data and public archiving of data pursuant to 
     section 60141 and 60142 of title 51, United States Code, and 
     all other relevant federal laws, regulations, and policies 
     related to open science and data accessibility;
       (3) any potential tradeoffs or other impacts of 
     subparagraphs (A) or (B) that could reduce the benefit of 
     Landsat data for scientific and applied uses or reduce the 
     Federal Government's ability to make such data available for 
     the widest possible use; and
       (4) recommendations and opportunities for the Federal 
     Government to mitigate potential tradeoffs or impacts 
     identified under paragraph (3) or to otherwise facilitate 
     private sector data-buys or service procurements.

     SEC. 605. PRIVATE EARTH OBSERVATION DATA.

       (a) Amendments.--Section 702 of the National Aeronautics 
     and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 
     18371) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``The Director of OSTP'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(a) In General.--The Director of OSTP''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(b) Considerations.--In updating the civil Earth 
     observation strategic implementation plan pursuant to 
     subsection (a), the Director of the Office of Science and 
     Technology Policy shall consider commercial Earth observation 
     data, as appropriate, that can be purchased or accessed by 
     the Federal Government to meet Earth observation 
     requirements.''.
       (b) Government Accountability Office Report.--Not later 
     than 12 months after the release of the next civil Earth 
     observation strategic implementation plan update under 
     section 702(a) of the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 
     18371(a)), the Comptroller General shall report to the 
     appropriate committees of Congress an assessment of the 
     Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy's 
     implementation of section 702(b) of the National Aeronautics 
     and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 
     18371(b)), as amended.

     SEC. 606. COMMERCIAL SATELLITE DATA.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Section 60501 of title 51, United States Code, states 
     that the goal for the Earth Science program of NASA shall be 
     to pursue a program of Earth observations, research, and 
     applications activities to better understand the Earth, how 
     it supports life, and how human activities affect its ability 
     to do so in the future.
       (2) Section 50115 of title 51, United States Code, states 
     that the Administrator of NASA shall, to the extent possible 
     and while satisfying the scientific or educational 
     requirements of NASA, and where appropriate, of other Federal 
     agencies and scientific researchers, acquire, where cost 
     effective, space-based and airborne commercial Earth remote 
     sensing data, services, distribution, and applications from a 
     commercial provider.
       (3) The Administrator of NASA established the Commercial 
     SmallSat Data Acquisition Pilot Program in 2019 to identify, 
     validate, and acquire from commercial sources data that 
     support the Earth science research and application goals.
       (4) The Administrator of NASA has--
       (A) determined that the pilot program described in 
     paragraph (3) has been a success, as described in the final 
     evaluation entitled ``Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition 
     Program Pilot Evaluation Report'' issued in 2020;
       (B) established a formal process for evaluating and 
     onboarding new commercial vendors in such pilot program;
       (C) increased the number of commercial vendors and 
     commercial data products available through such pilot 
     program; and
       (D) expanded procurement arrangements with commercial 
     vendors to broaden user access to provide commercial Earth 
     remote sensing data and imagery to federally funded 
     researchers.
       (b) Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition Program.--
       (1) In general.--Chapter 603 of title 51, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``Sec. 60307. Commercial satellite data acquisition program

       ``(a) In General.--The Administrator shall establish within 
     the Earth Science Division of the Science Mission Directorate 
     a program to acquire and disseminate cost-effective and 
     appropriate commercial Earth remote sensing data and imagery 
     in order to satisfy the scientific, operational, and 
     educational requirements of the Administration, and where 
     appropriate, of other Federal agencies and scientific 
     researchers to augment or complement the suite of Earth 
     observations acquired by the Administration, other United 
     States Government agencies, and international partners.

[[Page H5615]]

       ``(b) Data Publication and Transparency.--The terms and 
     conditions of commercial Earth remote sensing data and 
     imagery acquisitions under the program described in 
     subsection (a) shall not prevent--
       ``(1) the publication of commercial data or imagery for 
     scientific purposes; or
       ``(2) the publication of information that is derived from, 
     incorporates, or enhances the original commercial data or 
     imagery of a vendor.
       ``(c) Authorization.--In carrying out the program under 
     this section, the Administrator may--
       ``(1) procure the commercial Earth remote sensing data and 
     imagery from commercial vendors to advance scientific 
     research and applications in accordance with subsection (a); 
     and
       ``(2) establish or modify end-use license terms and 
     conditions to allow for the widest-possible use of procured 
     commercial Earth remote sensing data and imagery by 
     individuals other than NASA-funded users, consistent with the 
     goals of the program.
       ``(d) United States Vendors.--Commercial Earth remote 
     sensing data and imagery referred to in subsections (a) and 
     (c) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, be procured 
     from United States vendors.
       ``(e) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this section and annually thereafter, the 
     Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee 
     on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
     Representatives a report that includes the following 
     information regarding the agreements, vendors, license terms, 
     and uses of commercial Earth remote sensing data and imagery 
     under this section:
       ``(1)(A) In the case of the initial report, a list of all 
     agreements that are providing commercial Earth remote sensing 
     data and imagery to NASA as of the date of the report.
       ``(B) For each subsequent report, a list of all agreements 
     that have provided commercial Earth remote sensing data and 
     imagery to NASA during the reporting period.
       ``(2) A description of the end-use license terms and 
     conditions for each such vendor.
       ``(3) A description of the manner in which each such 
     agreement is advancing scientific research and applications, 
     including priorities recommended by the National Academies of 
     Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine decadal surveys.
       ``(4) Information specifying whether the Administrator has 
     entered into an agreement with a commercial vendor or a 
     Federal agency that permits the use of data and imagery by 
     Federal Government employees, contractors, or non-Federal 
     users.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of contents for chapter 
     603 of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
     the end the following new item:

``60307. Commercial Satellite Data Acquisition Program.''.

     SEC. 607. GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION MEASUREMENTS.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) observation and measurement of greenhouse gases such as 
     carbon dioxide and methane are of critical importance to 
     understand the sources of these emissions;
       (2) additional tools can improve the precise detection of 
     methane leaks from natural gas lines and production 
     facilities to reduce economic losses and to reduce 
     unintentional release of this potent greenhouse gas;
       (3) observation of such gases can be conducted with a 
     combination of space-based, airborne, and ground-based 
     instruments;
       (4) in 2022, NASA cancelled the Geostationary Carbon Cycle 
     Observatory, a competitively-selected, Principal 
     Investigator-led instrument under development that is 
     designed to make space-based observations of greenhouse 
     gases, including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and 
     methane, as well as vegetation health over the western 
     hemisphere from geosynchronous orbit; and
       (5) in 2023, the Geostationary Carbon Cycle Observatory PI-
     led project team delivered an unvalidated instrument assembly 
     and flight spares to NASA as part of the project closeout 
     activities.
       (b) Hardware.--
       (1) The Administrator shall assess the hardware and, to the 
     maximum extent practicable, seek to validate the instrument 
     assembly delivered to the Administration under the contract 
     for the development of GeoCarb, which shall include an 
     assessment of scientific capabilities of the delivered 
     hardware, including potential repurposed uses or science 
     contributions.
       (2) The Administrator, within 6 months of the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, shall provide a report to the 
     appropriate committees of Congress regarding the results of 
     the assessment conducted pursuant to paragraph (1) and if 
     appropriate based on the assessment, a list of potential 
     launch opportunities, including cost and schedule associated 
     with such opportunities.
       (c) Strategy.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation 
     with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the 
     National Institute of Standards and Technology, and other 
     relevant agencies, shall enter into an agreement with the 
     National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to 
     develop a science-based strategy to assess and evaluate the 
     use of present and future greenhouse gas monitoring and 
     detection capabilities, including ground-based, airborne, and 
     space-based sensors and integration of data relating to such 
     monitoring and detection from other indicators, to detect 
     large methane emission events (commonly referred to as 
     ``methane super-emitters'').
       (2) Requirements.--The strategy described in subsection (a) 
     shall include the following elements:
       (A) Development of a proposed definition for the term 
     ``methane super-emitter''.
       (B) Examination of whether and how current and planned 
     Federal greenhouse gas monitoring and detection capabilities 
     may be leveraged to monitor and detect methane super-
     emitters, and identify key gaps in such capabilities.
       (C) Examination of the effectiveness of the U.S. Greenhouse 
     Gas Center and Greenhouse Gas Monitoring and Measurement 
     Interagency Working Group in facilitating interagency 
     collaboration for greenhouse gas monitoring and detection, 
     data standards, stewardship, and data integration, including 
     activities related to monitoring and detecting methane super-
     emitters.
       (D) Examination of actions taken by Federal agencies and 
     departments in response to the National Strategy to Advance 
     an Integrated U.S. Greenhouse Gas Measurement, Monitoring, 
     and Information System, including progress towards pathways 
     to enhance the scientific and operational value of 
     information regarding methane super-emitters.
       (E) Consideration of options for the Federal Government to 
     partner with nongovernmental entities, including State and 
     local governments, academia, nonprofit organizations, 
     commercial industry, and international organizations, to 
     effectively leverage greenhouse gas monitoring and detection 
     capabilities to monitor and detect methane super-emitters.
       (F) Consideration of options for the Federal Government to 
     validate and verify technologies and data developed or 
     collects by nongovernmental entities, academia, nonprofit 
     organizations, commercial industry, and international 
     organizations related to monitoring and detecting methane 
     super-emitters.
       (G) Recommendations regarding the activities under 
     subparagraphs (A) through (F), as appropriate.
       (d) Use of Strategy.--The Administrator may use the 
     strategy described in subsection (a) to inform the planning 
     of research and development activities regarding greenhouse 
     gas monitoring and detection, including methane super-
     emitters.
       (e) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the 
     execution of the agreement between the Administrator and the 
     National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine 
     under subsection (a), the National Academies shall submit to 
     the Administrator, the Committee on Science, Space, and 
     Technology of the House of Representatives, and the Committee 
     on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
     report on the strategy described in subsection (a).
       (f) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Greenhouse gas monitoring and detection.--The term 
     ``greenhouse gas monitoring and detection'' means the direct 
     observation, from space or in-situ, or collection of 
     measurement data pertaining to, greenhouse gas emissions and 
     levels.
       (2) Geocarb.--The term ``GeoCarb'' shall mean the 
     Geostationary Carbon Cycle Observatory.

     SEC. 608. NASA DATA FOR AGRICULTURAL APPLICATIONS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) NASA has decades of experience in space-based 
     scientific Earth observations and measurements, including 
     data, trends and modeling.
       (2) NASA Earth science data, which includes data on 
     precipitation, temperature, evapotranspiration, soil 
     moisture, and vegetation health, has been used to inform the 
     decisionmaking of agricultural producers.
       (3) NASA applies its scientific data and models to inform 
     and support the agricultural community and engages in 
     innovative collaborations such as the NASA Acres and NASA 
     Harvest agricultural consortia.
       (4) NASA uses space-based Earth observations and science 
     and applications to support farmers in efforts to conserve 
     water and other resources, improve farm management and crop 
     yield, and facilitate the stability of the national food 
     supply.
       (5) NASA's upcoming Earth System Observatory will benefit 
     the agricultural community by improving observations critical 
     for measuring and understanding cropland conditions, water 
     availability, early onset crop disease, soil moisture, and 
     other crop and rangeland management indicators.
       (6) Increased engagement between NASA and the agricultural 
     community can support agricultural producers, bolster the 
     national food supply, and improve agricultural research, 
     science, and technology.
       (b) Data Dissemination.--NASA shall continue to partner 
     with other relevant Federal agencies, as practicable, to 
     disseminate water, soil, vegetation, land-use, and other 
     relevant NASA Earth observation and science data, information 
     and tools to support American agricultural producers. Such 
     partnerships may include activities such as--
       (1) continuing the leverage NASA Earth science water data 
     and information to enable efficient use of resources, inform 
     irrigation

[[Page H5616]]

     decisions, and support local innovation and control of water 
     management;
       (2) supporting agriculture decisionmaking by increasing the 
     accessibility and useability of NASA Earth science data, 
     information, and tools relevant to the impact of disease, 
     weather, precipitation, and other environmental factors on 
     agricultural production; or
       (3) making available, to the greatest extent practicable, 
     NASA earth science measurements and data to advance precision 
     agricultural capabilities relevant to the needs and 
     requirements of agricultural producers.
       (c) Application of Space-based Data.--The Administrator 
     shall, in furtherance of the goal for the NASA's Earth 
     science and applications program of securing practical 
     benefits for society, as set forth in section 60501 of title 
     51, United States Code, continue to collaborate with relevant 
     Federal agencies to develop mechanisms to transition, as 
     appropriate, relevant NASA Earth science research findings, 
     data, information, models, and capabilities to operational 
     governmental and private sector entities focused on 
     addressing the needs of the agricultural user community.
       (d) Partnering.--In carrying out subsections (b) and (d), 
     NASA shall, to the extent practicable and in collaboration 
     with other relevant Federal agencies, where appropriate, 
     continue to engage State and local government agencies, 
     institutions of higher education, agriculture producer 
     organizations, and other relevant stakeholder and user 
     communities from the public and private sectors to improve 
     dissemination of NASA Earth science data, information, and 
     tools relevant to the needs of agricultural producers and the 
     agriculture industry, in accordance with the goal for the 
     Administration's Earth science and applications program set 
     forth in section 60501 of title 51, United States Code, and 
     relevant recommendations of the most recent decadal survey on 
     Earth science and applications from space.

     SEC. 609. PLANETARY SCIENCE PORTFOLIO.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) planetary science missions advance the scientific 
     understanding of the solar system and the place of humans in 
     it while also advancing the design and operations of 
     spacecraft and robotic engineering; and
       (2) Discovery, New Frontiers, and Flagship programs allow 
     NASA to fund a range of missions that vary in size, cost, and 
     complexity; maintaining balance across these mission classes 
     allows for a broad scope of discoveries and scientific 
     advances.
       (b) Mission Priorities Reaffirmation.--Congress reaffirms 
     the direction in section 502(b)(1) of the National 
     Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization 
     Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-10; 51 U.S.C. 20302 note) that--
       (1) in accordance with the priorities established in the 
     most recent Planetary Science Decadal Survey, the 
     Administrator shall ensure, to the greatest extent 
     practicable, the completion of a balanced set of Discovery, 
     New Frontiers, and Flagship missions at the cadence 
     recommended by the most recent Planetary Science Decadal 
     Survey; and
       (2) consistent with the set of missions described in 
     paragraph (1), and while maintaining the continuity of 
     scientific data and steady development of capabilities and 
     technologies, the Administrator may seek, if necessary, 
     adjustments to mission priorities, schedule, and scope in 
     light of changing budget projections.

     SEC. 610. PLANETARY DEFENSE.

       (a) Section 808 of the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18387), 
     is amended in subsection (b) by striking ``implement, before 
     September 30, 2012,'' and inserting ``, in coordination with 
     the NASA Administrator, maintain and regularly update''.
       (b) Title 51, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in section 71103--
       (A) in the section heading, by striking ``Developing policy 
     and recommending'' and inserting ``Policy on near-Earth 
     objects and''
       (B) by striking ``Within 2 years after October 15, 2008, 
     the'' and inserting ``The'';
       (C) after ``Policy shall'', by inserting ``, in 
     coordination with the Administrator, maintain and regularly 
     update'';
       (D) by striking ``(1) develop''; and
       (E) in paragraph (2), by striking ``(2) recommend'' and 
     inserting ``recommendations for''; and
       (2) in chapter 711--
       (A) by adding at the end the following:

     ``Sec. 71105. Planetary defense coordination office

       ``(a) Office.--As directed in section 10825 of the National 
     Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 
     2022 (Public Law 117-167), the Administrator shall maintain 
     an office within the Planetary Science Division of the 
     Science Mission Directorate to be known as the `Planetary 
     Defense Coordination Office'.
       ``(b) Responsibilities.--Consistent with the direction in 
     section 10825 of the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration Authorization Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-167) 
     the Planetary Defense Coordination Office under subsection 
     (a) shall--
       ``(1) plan, develop, and implement a program to survey 
     threats posed by near-Earth objects equal to or grater than 
     140 meters in diameter, as required by section 321(d)(1) of 
     the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
     Authorization Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-155; 119 Stat. 
     2922; 51 U.S.C. 71101 note prec.);
       ``(2) identify, track, and characterize potentially 
     hazardous near-Earth objects, issue warnings of the effects 
     of potential impacts of such objects, and investigate 
     strategies and technologies for mitigating the potential 
     impacts of such objects; and
       ``(3) assist in coordinating government planning for a 
     response to a potential impact of a near-Earth objects.''; 
     and
       (B) in the table of contents--
       (i) by adding at the end the following new item:

``71105. Planetary Defense Coordination Office.''; and
       (ii) by amending the item relating to section 71103 to read 
     as follows:

``71103. Policy on near-Earth objects and responsible Federal 
              agency.''.

     SEC. 611. LUNAR DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION.

       (a) In General.--The Administrator may carry out, within 
     the Science Mission Directorate, a program to accomplish 
     science objectives for the Moon, with an organizational 
     structure that aligns responsibility, authority, and 
     accountability, as recommended by the most recent decadal 
     survey for planetary science and astrobiology.
       (b) Objectives and Requirements.--In carrying out the 
     program in subsection (a), the Administrator shall direct the 
     Science Mission Directorate, in consultation with the 
     Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate and the 
     Space Technology Mission Directorate, to define high-priority 
     lunar science objectives informed by decadal and other 
     scientific consensus recommendations, and related 
     requirements of an integrated Artemis science strategy for 
     human and robotic missions to the Moon.
       (c) Instrumentation.--The program in subsection (a) should 
     assess the need for and facilitate the development of 
     instrumentation to support the scientific exploration of the 
     Moon.

     SEC. 612. COMMERCIAL LUNAR PAYLOAD SERVICES.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the Administrator's encouragement and support for 
     commercial services for lunar surface delivery capabilities 
     and other related services serves the national interest; and
       (2) commercial providers benefit from an approach that 
     places low-cost, noncritical instruments on initial 
     deliveries using small- and medium-size landers before 
     proceeding to larger landers for more complex payloads.
       (b) Commercial Lunar Payload Services.--The Administrator 
     is authorized to establish a Commercial Lunar Payload 
     Services program for the purposes of procuring, from one or 
     more United States commercial providers, services for 
     delivery of NASA science payloads, and the payloads of other 
     NASA mission directorates, as appropriate and practicable, to 
     the lunar surface.
       (c) Relationship to Other Mission Directorates.--A Mission 
     Directorate that seeks to obtain commercial lunar payload 
     services under the program established in subsection (b) 
     shall provide funding for--
       (1) any payload, instrument or other item sponsored by the 
     Mission Directorate for delivery through the program; and
       (2) the cost of the commercial lunar payload services 
     obtained on behalf of the Mission Directorate.
       (d) Implementation.--In implementing any such activities 
     pursuant to subsection (b), the Administrator shall--
       (1) conduct updated market research on the commercial lunar 
     economy and identify any changes since the last market 
     analysis;
       (2) assess NASA's needs from and role in and contribution 
     to the commercial lunar delivery market;
       (3) based on such needs identified in paragraph (2), assess 
     the effectiveness of the task order approach in advancing 
     commercial development of lunar delivery services, including 
     an assessment of the appropriate number of providers 
     necessary to support NASA commercial lunar delivery needs, 
     and identify any challenges and recommendations for 
     improvement; and
       (4) strengthen procedures related to the selection, 
     manifesting, interfaces, and requirements of payloads and 
     other relevant factors that could contribute to minimizing 
     future NASA-directed changes to projects following commercial 
     lunar payload service contract awards.
       (e) Management Plan.--Not later than 90 days from the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall, 
     informed by the activities conducted under subsection (c), 
     prepare and implement a management plan with clear leadership 
     authority and responsibility for the program authorized in 
     subsection (b).
       (f) Briefings.--Not later than 180 days from the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall brief the 
     appropriate committees of Congress on the implementation of 
     the management plan in subsection (d).
       (g) Coordination.--The Administrator shall ensure 
     coordination between Mission Directorates and the Moon to 
     Mars Program on the administration of the program in 
     subsection (b) to ensure alignment of goals for lunar 
     delivery services.

     SEC. 613. PLANETARY AND LUNAR OPERATIONS.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) existing NASA lunar and Martian orbital missions are 
     operating well beyond their planned mission lifespans;

[[Page H5617]]

       (2) NASA relies on this aging infrastructure for 
     observations, communications relay, and other operations to 
     support critical NASA missions; and
       (3) the United States plans to increase its activities on 
     and around both the Moon and Mars in coming years.
       (b) Plan.--The Administrator shall develop a plan to ensure 
     continuity of operations and sufficient observational and 
     operational capabilities on and around the Moon and Mars 
     necessary to continue to enable a robust science program and 
     human exploration program for the Moon and Mars well into the 
     future. Such plan shall consider opportunities to engage both 
     private and international partners in future operations.

     SEC. 614. MARS SAMPLE RETURN.

       (a) In General.--The Administrator shall, subject to the 
     availability of appropriations, lead a Mars Sample Return 
     program to enable the return to Earth of scientifically-
     selected samples from the surface of Mars for study in 
     terrestrial laboratories, consistent with the recommendations 
     of the National Academies decadal surveys for planetary 
     science.
       (b) Approach.--The Administrator shall pursue the program 
     in subsection (a) on a timeline and in a manner necessary 
     to--
       (1) Sustain United States leadership in the scientific 
     exploration of Mars;
       (2) maintain NASA capabilities to land and operate robotic 
     spacecraft on the surface of Mars;
       (3) preserve the relevant unique and long-term 
     institutional expertise; and
       (4) maintain a balanced and robust planetary science 
     division portfolio without requiring significant increases to 
     the NASA budget.
       (c) Implementation Plan.--The Administrator shall, as soon 
     as practicable and no later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, transmit to the appropriate committees 
     of Congress a plan and timeline for the implementation of a 
     Mars Sample Return program pursuant to this section with the 
     goal of enabling the highest scientific return for the 
     resources invested. Such plan shall include a design and 
     mission architecture and establish realistic cost and 
     schedule estimates to enable such goal.

     SEC. 615. HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE SERVICING.

       Not later than 90 days from the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Administrator shall submit a report to the 
     appropriate committees of Congress that includes the results 
     of any study or studies conducted in the last five years 
     regarding the technical feasibility of safely reboosting the 
     Hubble Space Telescope, including any such studies regarding 
     the technical feasibility of using private sector 
     capabilities.

     SEC. 616. GREAT OBSERVATORIES MISSION AND TECHNOLOGY 
                   MATURATION.

       (a) Establishment.--The Administrator may establish a Great 
     Observatories Mission and Technology Maturation project 
     (referred to in this section as a ``Project'') to mature the 
     large-scale space-based mission concepts and technologies 
     needed for a future astrophysics mission, as informed by the 
     recommendations of the most recent decadal survey in 
     astronomy and astrophysics.
       (b) Activities.--A project established under subsection (b) 
     shall inform the design and development of future large-scale 
     space-based Astrophysics missions by conducting activities 
     which may include--
       (1) assessing the appropriate scope for any future mission;
       (2) determining the range of capabilities and technology 
     readiness of such capabilities needed for a mission; and
       (3) informing the development and maturation of science and 
     technologies needed for such mission.
       (c) Costs.--The independent life-cycle cost estimate 
     conducted under section 30307 of title 51, United States 
     Code, as amended by this Act, for a large-scale space-based 
     mission resulting from successful completion of a Project 
     established under subsection (b) shall include an accounting 
     of all costs spent on maturation of the mission through such 
     Project.
       (d) Report.--Starting on February 1, 2025, and continuing 
     annually thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the 
     appropriate committees of Congress a report on the progress 
     and impacts of any Projects established under subsection (b) 
     within Astrophysics programs.

     SEC. 617. NANCY GRACE ROMAN TELESCOPE.

       The Administrator shall continue development of the Nancy 
     Grace Roman Space Telescope as directed in subsection 
     10823(b) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
     Authorization Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-167).

     SEC. 618. CHANDRA X-RAY OBSERVATORY.

       The Administrator shall, to the greatest extent 
     practicable, take no action to reduce or otherwise preclude 
     continuation of the science operations of the Chandra X-Ray 
     Telescope prior to the completion and consideration of the 
     next triennial review of mission extensions for the 
     Astrophysics division conducted pursuant to section 30504 of 
     title 51, United States Code and NASA's ongoing operations 
     paradigm change review.

     SEC. 619. HELIOPHYSICS RESEARCH.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) NASA heliophysics research advances the scientific 
     understanding of the Sun, its impact on the Earth and near-
     Earth environment, and the Sun's interactions with other 
     bodies in the solar system, the interplanetary medium, and 
     the interstellar medium;
       (2) fundamental science supported by the Heliophysics 
     division is critical to improving space weather observations 
     forecasting capabilities, which contribute to--
       (A) fortifying national security and other critically 
     important space-based and ground-based assets;
       (B) improving the resilience of the Nation's energy 
     infrastructure; and
       (C) protecting human health in space; and
       (3) the Heliophysics Division should continue to maximize 
     the scientific return on investment of its portfolio through 
     maintaining a balanced portfolio that includes research and 
     analysis, including multidisciplinary research initiatives, 
     technology development, space-based missions and suborbital 
     flight projects that include both directed and strategic 
     missions and principal investigator-led, competitively 
     solicited missions, informed by the science priorities and 
     guidance of the most recent decadal survey in solar and space 
     physics.
       (b) Program Management.--The Administrator shall seek to--
       (1) maintain a regular Explorer Announcement of Opportunity 
     cadence and alternate between small and mid-sized missions; 
     and
       (2) enable a regular selection of Missions of Opportunity.

     SEC. 620. STUDY ON COMMERCIAL SPACE WEATHER DATA.

       (a) Study.--The Administrator, in consultation with the 
     Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration, shall conduct a study of the extent to which 
     commercially-available data could advance space weather 
     research, including the relevant space weather research 
     priorities of the most recent decadal survey on solar and 
     space physics.
       (b) Contents.--The study shall include--
       (1) an assessment of commercial capabilities and commercial 
     data that meets or exceeds the science and technical 
     standards and requirements of the Administration, which may 
     include--
       (A) data that is generated or able to be generated by 
     commercial providers;
       (B) commercially-available small spacecraft;
       (C) opportunities for hosted NASA payloads on commercial 
     spacecraft; and
       (D) commercial solutions for data processing applicable to 
     space weather science;
       (2) recommendations and opportunities for the Federal 
     Government to facilitate the use of commercially available 
     options for space weather data relevant to advancing the 
     Administration's space weather research and development 
     activities consistent with the most recent National Academies 
     decadal survey, without reducing quality of data; and
       (3) options, where appropriate, for potential partnerships 
     or use of NASA prize authority and competitions, as 
     appropriate and practicable, to obtain access to such data 
     identified in paragraph (1) that--
       (A) meets or exceeds the science and technical standards 
     and requirements of the Administration; and
       (B) are not duplicative of activities conducted pursuant to 
     chapter 606 of title 51, United States Code.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 270 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit a 
     report to the appropriate committees of Congress containing 
     the results of the study provided under subsection (a).

     SEC. 621. GEOSPACE DYNAMICS CONSTELLATION.

       (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
     the Geospace Dynamics Constellation mission could enable 
     scientific discoveries that will transform understanding of 
     the processes that govern the dynamics of the Earth's upper 
     atmospheric envelope that surrounds and protects the planet.
       (b) Assessment.--Not later than September 5, 2024, the 
     Administrator shall transmit to the appropriate committees of 
     Congress a report regarding the schedule and budget profile 
     to launch the Geospace Dynamics Constellation mission by the 
     end of the decade to fulfill the recommendations of the 
     heliophysics decadal survey.

     SEC. 622. TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT FOR WILDLAND FIRE SCIENCE, 
                   MANAGEMENT, AND MITIGATION.

       (a) In General.--The Administrator, acting through the 
     Associate Director of the Earth Science Division for Earth 
     Action, shall establish a project for science and technology 
     development for wildland fire management and mitigation 
     (referred to in this section as ``FireSense'').
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of FireSense is to co-develop, 
     deploy, and support NASA's application of advanced science, 
     data, and technology capabilities to enable measurable 
     improvement in United States wildland fire management and 
     mitigation across the fire cycle, including pre-fire, active 
     fire, and post-fire phases.
       (c) Objectives.--In establishing FireSense, the 
     Administrator shall seek input from relevant stakeholders and 
     shall align FireSense with the goal for NASA's Earth science 
     and applications program set forth in section 60501 of title 
     51, United States Code, consider relevant recommendations of 
     the most recent decadal survey on Earth science and 
     applications from space, and shall, to the extent 
     practicable, focus on the following objectives:
       (1) Enhanced predictive modeling and early warning systems 
     for wildland fire detection and prevention.
       (2) Developing remote sensing technologies and data 
     analysis tools to monitor fire-prone areas.

[[Page H5618]]

       (3) Transitioning wildland fire management technologies to 
     operational users, including agencies, private sector 
     entities, and academic institutions.
       (4) Conducting research to understand the impacts of 
     climate change on wildland fire frequency and intensity.
       (5) Supporting post-fire recovery and ecosystem restoration 
     through advanced technologies and data.
       (6) Providing necessary technical assistance to operational 
     users to receive, process, and make use of wildland fire 
     science, data, and technology resources.
       (7) Any additional objectives as determined necessary by 
     the Administrator to satisfy the purpose described in 
     subsection (b).
       (d) Interagency Coordination.--In implementing FireSense, 
     the Administrator shall, as practicable and appropriate, 
     coordinate with relevant Federal, State, and local agencies 
     to support wildland fire science, data, and technology 
     development activities across all phases of the fire cycle, 
     including prevention, detection, response, and recovery.
       (e) Operational Support.--The Administrator shall, to the 
     extent practicable and in collaboration with other relevant 
     Federal agencies, continue to provide necessary scientific 
     and technical support to enhance wildland fire mitigation 
     efforts to operational users, including the following:
       (1) Relevant Federal agencies, as determined appropriate by 
     the Administrator.
       (2) State, local, and Tribal governments and organizations.
       (3) Private sector entities.
       (4) Academic institutions, including colleges, 
     universities, and wildland fire research institutions.
       (f) Data Sharing and Collaboration.--The Administrator 
     shall facilitate the sharing of data, tools, and research 
     findings with operational users and other relevant 
     stakeholders to ensure effective use of NASA's capabilities 
     in wildland fire management.
       (g) Firesense Project Evaluation.--The Administrator shall 
     periodically evaluate the effectiveness of FireSense and make 
     necessary adjustments to improve its impact on wildland fire 
     management.
       (h) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act and annually thereafter for five years, 
     the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees 
     of Congress a report on the activities and accomplishments of 
     FireSense, including the following:
       (1) An assessment of interagency coordination efforts.
       (2) FireSense's impact on wildland fire management efforts.
       (3) A list of emerging wildland fire management 
     technologies and opportunities that may be considered for 
     further research, development, demonstration, and deployment.
       (4) An assessment of existing challenges to effective 
     coordination with operational users, including State, local, 
     and Tribal governments.

     SEC. 623. IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE NATIONAL 
                   WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT AND MITIGATION 
                   COMMISSION.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) Wildland fires pose a significant threat to public 
     safety, property, and natural resources.
       (2) The National Wildland Fire Management and Mitigation 
     Commission (in this section referred to as the 
     ``Commission'') has provided critical recommendations for 
     enhancing wildland fire science, data, and technology 
     resources.
       (3) The Administration, through the Science Mission 
     Directorate, has the capability to support and enhance 
     wildland fire management through its advanced research and 
     technological expertise.
       (b) Incorporation of Recommendations.--The Administrator, 
     in accordance with the goal for NASA's Earth science and 
     applications program set forth in section 60501 of title 51, 
     United States Code, and relevant recommendations of the most 
     recent decadal survey on Earth science and applications from 
     space, shall incorporate the recommendations of the 
     Commission, to the extent practicable, which may include 
     continuing to carry out the following:
       (1) Enhancing the collection, analysis, and dissemination 
     of data related to wildland fires, including satellite and 
     remote sensing data.
       (2) Supporting research and development projects aimed at 
     improving wildland fire prediction, prevention, response, and 
     recovery.
       (3) Developing and deploying technologies that can assist 
     in monitoring, detecting, and mitigating wildland fires.
       (4) Conducting studies on the impact of climate change on 
     wildland fire behavior, frequency, and intensity.
       (c) Interagency Coordination.--The Administrator shall 
     continue to coordinate, as practicable, with other Federal, 
     State, local, and Tribal entities to integrate the 
     Commission's recommendations into broader wildland fire 
     management efforts. Such coordination may include the 
     following:
       (1) Facilitating the sharing of wildland fire-related data 
     and research findings with relevant agencies and 
     stakeholders.
       (2) Participating in joint initiatives and projects aimed 
     at enhancing wildland fire management capabilities.
       (d) Evaluation.--The Administrator shall conduct periodic 
     evaluations of NASA's efforts to incorporate the Commission's 
     recommendations and make adjustments as necessary to maximize 
     the effectiveness of such recommendations to support wildland 
     fire mitigation and management efforts.
       (e) Reporting.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to 
     the appropriate committees of Congress a report detailing the 
     activities undertaken by NASA to implement the Commission's 
     recommendations, including the following:
       (1) A summary of research and development projects 
     initiated or supported.
       (2) An assessment of the impact of such activities on 
     wildland fire management and mitigation efforts.
       (3) Any challenges or obstacles encountered in implementing 
     such recommendations.

                       TITLE VII--STEM EDUCATION

     SEC. 701. NATIONAL SPACE GRANT COLLEGE AND FELLOWSHIP 
                   PROGRAM.

       (a) Amendments.--Title 51, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in section 40303, by striking subsections (d) and (e);
       (2) in section 40304--
       (A) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
       ``(c) Solicitations.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall issue a 
     solicitation from space grant consortia for the award of 
     grants or contracts under this section at the conclusion of 
     the award cycle for fiscal Year 2020 to 2024. The 
     Administrator shall implement the allocation guidance from 
     section 40304(e) during each fiscal year covered by the award 
     cycle.
       ``(2) Proposals.--A lead institution of a space grant 
     consortium that seeks a grant or contract under this section 
     shall submit, on behalf of such space grant consortium, an 
     application to the Administrator at such time and in such 
     manner and accompanied by such information as the 
     Administrator may require.
       ``(3) Awards.--The Administrator shall award 1 or more 
     multi-year grants or contracts, disbursed in annual 
     installments, to the lead institution of an eligible space 
     grant consortium of--
       ``(A) each of the 50 States of the United States;
       ``(B) the District of Columbia; and
       ``(C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.''; and
       (B) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
       ``(e) Allocation of Funding.--
       ``(1) Program implementation.--To carry out the purposes 
     set forth in section 40301 of this title, each fiscal year, 
     of the funds appropriated for this program of that fiscal 
     year, the Administrator shall allocate not less than 85 
     percent among eligible space grant consortia as follows:
       ``(A) The space grant consortia identified in paragraph 
     40304(c)(3) shall each receive an equal share.
       ``(B) The territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands 
     shall each receive funds equal to one-fifth of the share for 
     each space grant consortium.
       ``(2) Program administration.--
       ``(A) In general.--Each fiscal year, of the funds made 
     available for the National Space Grant College and Fellowship 
     Program, the Administrator shall allocate not more than 10 
     percent for the administration of the program.
       ``(B) Costs covered.--The funds allocated under paragraph 
     (1)(A) of this section shall cover all costs of the 
     Administration associated with the administration of the 
     National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, 
     including--
       ``(i) direct costs to the program, including costs relating 
     to support services and civil service salaries and benefits;
       ``(ii) indirect general and administrative costs of centers 
     and facilities of the Administration; and
       ``(iii) indirect general and administrative costs of the 
     Administration headquarters.
       ``(3) Special opportunities.--Each fiscal year, of the 
     funds made available for the National Space Grant College and 
     Fellowship program, the Administrator shall allocate not more 
     than 5 percent to lead institutions of Space Grant Consortia 
     for grants to carry out innovative approaches and programs to 
     further science and education relating to the missions of the 
     Administration pursuant to subsection (b).''.
       (b) Review.--The Administrator shall make arrangements for 
     an independent external review of the National Space Grant 
     College and Fellowship Program to--
       (1) evaluate its management, accomplishments, approach to 
     funding allocation as described in section 40303(e) of title 
     51, United States Code, and responsiveness to the purposes 
     and goals defined in chapter 403 of title 51, United States 
     Code;
       (2) consider the benefits partnerships with local education 
     agencies, including those in underserved and rural areas, may 
     provide; and
       (3) propose any statutory updates that may be needed to 
     implement recommendations of the review.
       (c) Report.--Not later than nine months after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit a 
     report on the independent external review of the National 
     Space Grant College and Fellowship Program described in 
     subsection (a) to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
     Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
     on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.

[[Page H5619]]

  


     SEC. 702. SKILLED TECHNICAL WORKFORCE EDUCATION OUTREACH.

       (a) In General.--The Administrator may conduct or support 
     STEM engagement activities that focus on expanding 
     opportunities for students to pursue skilled technical 
     workforce occupations in space and aeronautics.
       (b) Leveraging Existing Programs.--The Administrator, in 
     conducting activities pursuant to subsection (a), shall 
     consider leveraging, as appropriate, existing programs of 
     NASA or other Federal programs and interagency initiatives, 
     such as the Manufacturing USA program under section 34 of the 
     National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 
     278s).
       (c) Inclusion.--Activities under subsection (a) may include 
     outreach activities that engage secondary and post-secondary 
     students, including students at institutions of higher 
     education, two-year colleges, and high schools, and students 
     in vocational or career and technical education programs, and 
     that--
       (1) expose students to careers that require career and 
     technical education;
       (2) encourage students to pursue careers that require 
     career and technical education; and
       (3) provide students hands-on learning opportunities to 
     view the manufacturing, assembly, and testing of NASA-funded 
     space and aeronautical systems, as the Administrator 
     considers appropriate and with consideration of relevant 
     factors such as workplace safety, mission needs, and the 
     protection of sensitive and proprietary technologies.
       (d) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the 
     appropriate committees of Congress a report on the NASA's 
     activities, and any planned activities, conducted pursuant to 
     this section.
       (e) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Institution of higher education.--The term 
     ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
     term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
       (2) Skilled technical workforce.--The term ``skilled 
     technical workforce'' has the meaning given the term in 
     section 4(b)(3) of the Innovations in Mentoring, Training, 
     and Apprenticeships Act (42 U.S.C. 1862p note; Public Law 
     115-402).

                        TITLE VIII--POLICY/NASA

     SEC. 801. MAJOR PROGRAMS.

       Section 30104 of title 51, United States Code, is amended 
     in subsection (a)(1) by striking ``7120.5E, dated August 14, 
     2012'' and inserting ``7120.5F, dated August 3, 2021''.

     SEC. 802. NASA ADVISORY COUNCIL.

       (a) Consultation and Advice.--Section 20113(g) of title 51, 
     United States Code, is amended by adding ``and Congress'' 
     after ``advice to the Administration''.
       (b) Sunset.--Effective September 30, 2028, section 20113(g) 
     of title 51, United States Code, is amended by striking ``and 
     Congress''.

     SEC. 803. NASA ASSESSMENT OF EARLY COST ESTIMATES.

       Not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Comptroller General shall transmit to the 
     appropriate committees of Congress a review of the 
     development, application, and assessment of early cost 
     estimates made prior to preliminary design review for NASA 
     missions. The review may include--
       (1) an assessment of NASA processes related to the 
     formation and evaluation of proposed and early-stage cost 
     estimates;
       (2) an evaluation of NASA's monitoring and management of 
     cost estimates throughout mission development, in accordance 
     with section 10861(b)(4) of the National Aeronautics and 
     Space Administration Authorization Act of 2022 (Public Law 
     117-167); and
       (3) any such recommendations as the Comptroller General 
     determines appropriate.

     SEC. 804. INDEPENDENT COST ESTIMATE.

       Section 30307 of title 51, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in the section heading, by striking ``analysis'' and 
     inserting ``estimate''; and
       (2) in subsection (b)--
       (A) by striking ``Before any funds may be obligated for 
     implementation'' and inserting ``After the Administrator 
     completes the preliminary design review'';
       (B) by striking ``analysis'' and inserting ``estimate''; 
     and
       (C) by inserting after the first sentence, ``No funds may 
     be obligated for implementation of the project before the 
     Administrator reports the results of the life-cycle cost 
     estimate to Congress.''.

     SEC. 805. OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY, POLICY, AND STRATEGY REPORT.

       Not later than January 1, 2025, and annually thereafter, 
     the Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy shall prepare 
     and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
     describing the efforts of the Office during the previous 
     calendar year and priorities of the Office for the upcoming 
     calendar year, as practicable.

     SEC. 806. AUTHORIZATION FOR THE TRANSFER TO NASA OF FUNDS 
                   FROM OTHER AGENCIES FOR SCIENTIFIC OR 
                   ENGINEERING RESEARCH OR EDUCATION.

       (a) In General.--Subsection (f) of section 20113 of title 
     51, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking ``In the performance of its functions'' and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(1) In general.--In the performance of its functions''; 
     and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(2) Treatment.--Funds available to any department or 
     agency of the Federal Government for scientific or 
     engineering research or education, or the provision of 
     facilities therefor, shall, subject to the approval of the 
     head of such department or agency or as delegated pursuant to 
     such department's or agency's regulation, be available for 
     transfer, in whole or in part, to the Administration for such 
     use as is consistent with the purposes for which such funds 
     were appropriated. Funds so transferred shall be merged with 
     the appropriation to which transferred, except that such 
     transferred funds shall be limited to the awarding of grants 
     or cooperative agreements for scientific or engineering 
     research or education.''.
       (b) Annual Information on Funds Transferred.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than two years after the date of 
     the enactment of this section, the Administrator shall 
     include in the annual budget justification materials of the 
     Administration, as submitted to Congress with the President's 
     budget request under section 1105 of title 31, United States 
     Code, information describing the activities conducted under 
     subsection (f) of section 20113 of title 51, United States 
     Code (as amended by subsection (a)), during the immediately 
     preceding fiscal year.
       (2) Contents.--The information referred to in paragraph (1) 
     shall contain a description of each transfer of funds under 
     the authority provided for in paragraph (2) of subsection (f) 
     of section 20113 of title 51, United States Code (as added 
     and amended, respectively, by this section), during the 
     immediately preceding fiscal year, including the following:
       (A) An identification of the department or agency of the 
     Federal Government from which such funds were transferred.
       (B) The total amount of funds so transferred, disaggregated 
     by each such department or agency.
       (C) The purposes for which such funds were appropriated to 
     each agency or department.
       (D) The program or activity of the Administration to which 
     such funds were made available by each such transfer.
       (E) The purposes of each such administration program or 
     activity, and the amount of funding appropriated to the 
     Administration for such purposes.
       (c) Report.--Not later than three years after the date of 
     enactment of the section, the Administrator of the 
     Administration shall submit to the Committee on Science, 
     Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
     Senate a report that includes the following:
       (1) A summary of the value of the authority provided for in 
     paragraph (2) of subsection (f) of section 209113 of title 
     51, United States Code (as added and amended, respectively, 
     by this section), including the extent to which such 
     authority has benefited the Administration and its ability to 
     meet its needs, achieve its mission, or more effectively 
     conduct interagency collaborations.
       (2) An identification of any barriers or challenges to 
     implementing such authority, or otherwise to managing funding 
     required to conduct joint programs and award jointly funded 
     grants and cooperative agreements by the administration with 
     other Federal departments and agencies to advance the 
     missions of each such department and agency.

     SEC. 807. PROCEDURE FOR LAUNCH SERVICES RISK MITIGATION.

       (a) Assessment.--The Administrator shall enter into an 
     arrangement for an independent external assessment of the 
     effectiveness and efficiency of NASA's approach towards 
     launch services risk mitigation in the Administration's 
     Procedural Requirements 8610.7D.
       (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days from the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the 
     appropriate committees of Congress the following:
       (1) The report of the assessment conducted under subsection 
     (a).
       (2) NASA response to the findings of the report, if any.

     SEC. 808. REPORT ON MERITS AND OPTIONS FOR ESTABLISHING AN 
                   INSTITUTE RELATING TO SPACE RESOURCES.

       (a) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Administrator and Secretary shall 
     jointly submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
     report on the merits of, and options for, establishing an 
     institute relating to space resources to advance the 
     objectives of NASA and the Department in maintaining United 
     States preeminence in space. Such objectives shall include 
     the following:
       (1) Identifying, developing, and distributing space 
     resources, including by encouraging the development of 
     foundational science, industrial capability, and technology.
       (2) Reducing the technological and business risks 
     associated with identifying, developing, and distributing 
     space resources.
       (3) Research to maximize the responsible use of space 
     resources.
       (4) Developing options for using space resources to carry 
     out the following.
       (A) Support current and future space architectures, 
     programs, business, and missions.
       (B) Enable such architectures, programs, business, and 
     missions that would not otherwise be possible.
       (C) Supplement the supply of such resources available on 
     Earth.
       (b) Additional Matters.--The report required under 
     subsection (a) shall also include

[[Page H5620]]

     the following assessments of the Administrator and the 
     Secretary:
       (1) Whether a virtual or physical institute relating to 
     space resources is most cost effective and appropriate.
       (2) Whether partnering with institutions of higher 
     education and the aerospace industry, and the extractive 
     industry as appropriate, would be effective in increasing 
     information available to the institute with respect to 
     advancing the objectives described in such subsection.
       (c) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
     Department of Commerce.
       (2) Extractive industry.--The term ``extractive industry'' 
     means companies and individuals involved in the processes of 
     extracting, including mining, quarrying, drilling, and 
     dredging, raw, natural materials or energy sources.
       (3) Institute of higher education.--The term ``institution 
     of higher education'' has the meaning given such term in 
     section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     1001(a)).
       (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Commerce.
       (5) Space resource.--
       (A) In general.--The term ``space resource'' means an 
     abiotic resource in situ in outer space.
       (B) Inclusions.--The term ``space resource'' includes a 
     raw, natural material or energy source.

     SEC. 809. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

       (a) Congressional Reports and Notices.--Any report or 
     notice provided to Congress by NASA shall be provided to the 
     Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation of the Senate, concurrently with its delivery 
     to any other Committee or office.
       (b) Reports on International Agreements.--If the United 
     States becomes a signatory to an international agreement 
     concerning outer space activities, the Administrator shall 
     provide to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of 
     the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report containing 
     a copy of such agreement.

     SEC. 810. CONTRACT FLEXIBILITY.

       Congress finds that NASA FAR Supplement (NFS) 1852.242-72, 
     Denied Access to NASA Facilities instructs that for the 
     period that NASA facilities were not accessible to contractor 
     employees, the contracting officer may adjust the contract 
     performance or delivery schedule, forego the work, reschedule 
     the work, or consider requests for equitable adjustment to 
     the contract.

     SEC. 811. GAO REPORT.

       Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall 
     transmit to the appropriate committees of Congress a review 
     of fire and emergency services at NASA launch and reentry 
     facilities that assesses the following:
       (1) Current capabilities and projected demands for NASA-
     provided fire and emergency services.
       (2) How demand for NASA-provided fire and emergency 
     services have been impacted by the following:
       (A) An increased rate of launch and reentry operations.
       (B) An increased number of leases with commercial launch 
     and reentry service providers for use of NASA property.
       (3) Current fire and emergency services provided by 
     commercial providers to support launch and reentry operations 
     that are conducted--
       (A) to fulfill a contractual obligation with NASA; or
       (B) for non-NASA purposes using NASA-leased property.
       (4) Whether NASA-provided and commercially-provided fire 
     and emergency services are able to meet current and projected 
     demands and support all fire response areas on NASA property.

     SEC. 812. NASA PUBLIC-PRIVATE TALENT PROGRAM.

       Section 20113 of title 51, United States Code, is amended 
     by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(o) Public-Private Talent Program.--
       ``(1) Assignment authority.--Under policies and procedures 
     prescribed by the Administration, the Administrator may, with 
     the agreement of a private sector entity and the consent of 
     an employee of the Administration or of such entity, arrange 
     for the temporary assignment of such employee of the 
     Administration to such private sector entity, or of such 
     employee of such entity to the Administration, as the case 
     may be.
       ``(2) Agreements.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Administrator shall provide for a 
     written agreement among the Administration, the private 
     sector entity, and the employee concerned regarding the terms 
     and conditions of the employee's assignment under this 
     subsection. The agreement shall--
       ``(i) require that the employee of the Administration, upon 
     completion of the assignment, will serve in the 
     Administration, or elsewhere in the civil service if approved 
     by the Administrator, for a period equal to twice the length 
     of the assignment;
       ``(ii) provide that if the employee of the Administration 
     or of the private sector entity (as the case may be) fails to 
     carry out the agreement, such employee shall be liable to the 
     United States for payment of all expenses of the assignment, 
     unless such failure was for good and sufficient reason, as 
     determined by the Administrator; and
       ``(iii) contain language ensuring that such employee of the 
     Administration or of the private sector entity (as the case 
     may be) does not improperly use predecisional or draft 
     deliberative information that such employee may be privy to 
     or aware of related to Administration programing, budgeting, 
     resourcing, acquisition, or procurement for the benefit or 
     advantage of the private sector entity.
       ``(B) Treatment.--An amount for which an employee is liable 
     under subparagraph (A) shall be treated as a debt due the 
     United States.
       ``(C) Waiver.--The Administrator may waive, in whole or in 
     part, collection of a debt described in subparagraph (B) 
     based on a determination that the collection would be against 
     equity and good conscience and not in the best interests of 
     the United States, after taking into account any indication 
     of fraud, misrepresentation, fault, or lack of good faith on 
     the part of the employee concerned.
       ``(3) Termination.--An assignment under this section may, 
     at any time and for any reason, be terminated by the 
     Administration or the private-sector entity concerned, as the 
     case may be.
       ``(4) Duration.--
       ``(A) In general.--An assignment under this subsection 
     shall be for a period of not less than three months and not 
     more than two years, renewable up to a total of three years. 
     An employee of the Administration may not be assigned under 
     this subsection for more than a total of three years 
     inclusive of all such assignments.
       ``(B) Extension.--An assignment under this subsection may 
     be for a period in excess of two years, but not more than 
     three years, if the Administrator determines that such 
     assignment is necessary to meet critical mission or program 
     requirements.
       ``(5) Policies and procedures.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Administrator shall establish 
     policies and procedures relating to assignments under this 
     subsection.
       ``(B) Elements.--Policies and procedures established 
     pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall address the following:
       ``(i) The nature and elements of written agreements with 
     participants in assignments under this subsection.
       ``(ii) Criteria for making such assignments, including the 
     needs of the Administration relating thereto.
       ``(iii) How the Administration will oversee such 
     assignments, in particular with respect to paragraphs 
     (2)(A)(iii), (7)(C), and (7)(D).
       ``(iv) Criteria for issuing waivers.
       ``(v) How expenses under paragraph (2)(A)(ii) would be 
     determined.
       ``(vi) Guidance for participants in such assignments.
       ``(vii) Mission Directorate, Office, and organizational 
     structure to implement and manage such assignments.
       ``(viii) Any other necessary policies, procedures, or 
     guidelines to ensure such assignments comply with all 
     relevant statutory authorities and ethics rules, and 
     effectively contribute to one or more of the Administration's 
     missions.
       ``(C) Inherently governmental activities.--Assignments made 
     under this subsection shall not have responsibilities or 
     perform duties or decision making regarding Administration 
     activities that are inherently governmental, pursuant to 
     subpart 7.500 of title 48, Code of Federal Regulations, and 
     Office of Management and Budget review.
       ``(6) Status of federal employees assigned to private 
     sector entities.--
       ``(A) In general.--An employee of the Administration who is 
     assigned to a private sector entity under this subsection 
     shall be considered, during the period of such assignment, to 
     be on detail to a regular work assignment in the 
     Administration for all purposes. The written agreement 
     established under paragraph (2)(A) shall address the specific 
     terms and conditions related to such employee's continued 
     status as a Federal employee.
       ``(B) Certification.--In establishing a temporary 
     assignment of an employee of the Administration to a private 
     sector entity, the Administrator shall certify that such 
     temporary assignment shall not have an adverse or negative 
     impact on the mission of the Administration or organizational 
     capabilities associated with such assignment.
       ``(7) Terms and conditions for private sector employees.--
     An employee of a private sector entity who is assigned to the 
     Administration under this subsection--
       ``(A) shall continue to receive pay and benefits from the 
     private sector entity from which such employee is assigned 
     and shall not receive pay or benefits from the 
     Administration, except as provided in subparagraph (B);
       ``(B) is deemed to be an employee of the Administration for 
     the purposes of--
       ``(i) chapters 73 and 81 of title 5;
       ``(ii) sections 201, 203, 205, 207, 208, 209, 603, 606, 
     607, 643, 654, 1905, and 1913 of title 18, except that such 
     section 209 does not apply to any salary, or contribution or 
     supplementation of salary made pursuant to subparagraph (A) 
     of this paragraph;
       ``(iii) sections 1343, 1344, and 1349(b) of title 31;
       ``(iv) the Federal Tort Claims Act and any other Federal 
     tort liability statute;
       ``(v) the Ethics in Government Act of 1978; and

[[Page H5621]]

       ``(vi) chapter 21 of title 41;
       ``(C) shall not have access to any trade secrets or any 
     other nonpublic information which is of commercial value to 
     the private sector entity from which such employee is 
     assigned;
       ``(D) may not perform work that is considered inherently 
     governmental in nature, in accordance with paragraph (5)(C); 
     and
       ``(E) may not be used to circumvent--
       ``(i) section 1710 of title 41, United States Code; or
       ``(ii) any limitation or restriction on the size of the 
     Administration's civil servant workforce.
       ``(8) Additional requirements.--The Administrator shall 
     ensure that--
       ``(A) the normal duties and functions of an employee of the 
     Administration who is assigned to a private sector entity 
     under this subsection can be reasonably performed by other 
     employees of the Administration without the permanent 
     transfer or reassignment of other personnel of the 
     Administration;
       ``(B) normal duties and functions of such other employees 
     of the Administration are not, as a result of and during the 
     course of such temporary assignment, performed or augmented 
     by contractor personnel in violation of section 1710 of title 
     41; and
       ``(C) not more than two percent of the Administration's 
     civil servant workforce may participate in an assignment 
     under this subsection at the same time.
       ``(9) Conflicts of interest.--The Administrator shall 
     implement a system to identify, mitigate, and manage any 
     conflicts of interests that may arise as a result of an 
     employee's assignment under this subsection.
       ``(10) Prohibition against charging certain costs to the 
     federal government.--A private-sector entity may not charge 
     the Administration or any other agency of the Federal 
     Government, as direct or indirect costs under a Federal 
     contract, the costs of pay or benefits paid by the entity to 
     an employee assigned to the Administration under this 
     subsection for the period of the assignment concerned.
       ``(11) Considerations.--In carrying out this subsection, 
     the Administrator shall take into consideration--
       ``(A) the question of how assignments under this subsection 
     might best be used to help meet the needs of the 
     Administration with respect to the training of employees; and
       ``(B) where applicable, areas of particular private sector 
     expertise, such as cybersecurity.
       ``(12) NASA reporting.--
       ``(A) In general.--Not later than April 30 of each year, 
     the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Science, 
     Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
     Senate a report summarizing the implementation of this 
     subsection.
       ``(B) Contents.--Each report under subparagraph (A) shall 
     include, with respect to the annual period to which such 
     report relates, the following:
       ``(i) Information relating to the total number of employees 
     of private sector entities assigned to the Administration, 
     and the total number of employees of the Administration 
     assigned to private sector entities.
       ``(ii) A brief description and assessment of the talent 
     management benefits evidenced from such assignments, as well 
     as any identified strategic human capital and operational 
     challenges, including the following:

       ``(I) An identification of the names of the private sector 
     entities to and from which employees were assigned.
       ``(II) A complete listing of positions such employees were 
     assigned to and from.
       ``(III) An identification of assigned roles and objectives 
     of such assignments.
       ``(IV) Information relating to the durations of such 
     assignments.
       ``(V) Information relating to associated pay grades and 
     levels.

       ``(iii) An assessment of impacts of such assignments on the 
     Administration workforce and workforce culture.
       ``(iv) An identification of the number of Administration 
     staff and budgetary resources required to implement this 
     subsection.
       ``(13) Federal ethics.--Nothing in this subsection shall 
     affect existing Federal ethics rules applicable to Federal 
     personnel.
       ``(14) GAO reporting.--
       ``(A) In general.--Not later than three years after the 
     date of the enactment of this subsection, the Comptroller 
     General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on 
     Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation of the Senate a report summarizing the 
     implementation of this subsection.
       ``(B) Contents.--The report under subparagraph (A) shall 
     include the following:
       ``(i) A review of the implementation of this subsection, 
     according to law and the Administration policies and 
     procedures established for assignments under this subsection.
       ``(ii) Information relating to the extent to which such 
     assignments adhere to best practices relating to public-
     private talent exchange programs.
       ``(iii) A determination as to whether there should be 
     limitations on the number of individuals participating in 
     such assignments.
       ``(iv) Information relating to the extent to which the 
     Administration complies with statutory requirements and 
     ethics rules, and appropriately handles potential conflicts 
     of interest and access to nonpublic information with respect 
     to such assignments.
       ``(v) Information relating to the extent to which such 
     assignments effectively contribute to one or more of the 
     Administration's missions.
       ``(vi) Information relating to Administration resources, 
     including employee time, dedicated to administering such 
     assignments, and whether such resources are sufficient for 
     such administration.''.

     SEC. 813. REPORT ON SPACE ACT AGREEMENTS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to 
     the appropriate committees of Congress a report describing 
     the following:
       (1) Intellectual property considerations in Space Act 
     agreements.
       (2) Feedback shared by industry groups regarding 
     intellectual property considerations in Space Act agreements.
       (3) Differences between NASA policies regarding 
     intellectual property in Space Act agreements and policies 
     utilized in similar situations by other Federal agencies.
       (b) Definition.--In this section, the term ``Space Act 
     agreements'' means agreements entered into by NASA pursuant 
     to its authorities under the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Act of 1958 (Public Law 85-568).

     SEC. 814. MENTORING.

       (a) In General.--The Administrator shall establish a 
     comprehensive NASA-wide mentoring program for early-career, 
     mid-level, and senior-level employees at all NASA Centers and 
     NASA Headquarters to ensure a robust pipeline for NASA's 
     civil servant workforce and support the preparation of 
     employees, including those from populations that are 
     historically underrepresented in STEM, for promotion and 
     leadership roles.
       (b) Briefing.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall brief the 
     appropriate committees of Congress on the implementation of 
     the subsection (a).

     SEC. 815. DRINKING WATER WELL REPLACEMENT FOR CHINCOTEAGUE, 
                   VIRGINIA.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, the Administrator may enter into an agreement, as 
     appropriate, with the Town of Chincoteague, Virginia, for a 
     period of up to five years, for reimbursement of the Town of 
     Chincoteague's costs directly associated with the development 
     of a plan for removal of drinking water wells currently 
     situated on NASA-administered property and the establishment 
     of alternative drinking water wells which are located on 
     property under the administrative control, either through 
     lease, ownership, or easement, of the Town of Chincoteague. 
     Such agreement shall, to the extent practicable, include the 
     three remaining wells to be removed and relocated, the 
     location of the site to which such wells would be relocated 
     or are planned to be relocated, and a current estimated cost 
     of the relocation, including for the purchase, lease, or use 
     of additional property, engineering, design, permitting, and 
     construction.
       (b) Submission to Congress.--Not later than 18 months after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in 
     coordination with the heads or other appropriate 
     representatives of relevant entities, shall submit to the 
     appropriate committees of Congress the agreement under 
     subsection (a).

     SEC. 816. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

       Nothing in this Act may be construed to limit the ability 
     of a NASA employee to discuss scientific research performed 
     by such employee in accordance with NASA's scientific 
     integrity policies.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) and the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. 
Foushee) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oklahoma.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on H.R. 8958, the bill now under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Oklahoma?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8958, the NASA Reauthorization 
Act of 2024.
  NASA is at an important point in its history. Through the Artemis 
program, it is currently leading a team of commercial and international 
partners to return astronauts to the Moon for the first time in over 50 
years.
  It also seeks to continue operations in low-Earth orbit and 
accomplish impressive feats of scientific exploration to better 
understand the universe in which we live.
  However, America's role as a space leader cannot be taken for 
granted. As more actors, both commercial and foreign, take to the 
stars, space is increasingly competitive and contested.

[[Page H5622]]

  Among these competitors is the Chinese Communist Party, which is 
devoting significant resources to rapidly expanding its presence in 
space. In 2023, the CCP completed construction of its own space station 
and returned to Earth the first rock samples from the far side of the 
Moon.
  The CCP also made substantial progress on its plans to land humans on 
the Moon by 2030. Through these and other activities, the Chinese have 
become a global leader in space activity.
  The next nation to land on the lunar surface will play a key role in 
guiding the norms and practices that may govern lunar and space 
exploration for decades to come. We cannot cede U.S. leadership at this 
time.
  In order to be successful, Congress must provide NASA with clear, 
forward-thinking guidance. The bill before us today does just that by 
providing thoughtful, strategic direction across NASA's mission areas.
  First, this bill recognizes the immense value of NASA having a 
consistent, long-term plan for space exploration. Accordingly, it 
reaffirms our commitment to human space exploration through Artemis and 
the Moon to Mars programs. It also reinforces the need for a steady 
cadence of flights of the Space Launch System and Orion crew capsule.
  Second, the bill provides guidance to NASA's activities in low-Earth 
orbit, or LEO. While the ISS is the world's premier microgravity 
laboratory, after over 24 years of operation, the station is aging.
  NASA must fully utilize the ISS to ensure the maximum return on 
taxpayers' investment, but also must prepare for the eventual 
retirement of the station. To that end, this bill authorizes NASA to 
procure capabilities that will be needed to safely deorbit the ISS at 
the end of its lifespan. It also authorizes NASA to support the 
development and use of private LEO platforms.
  Next, the bill addresses NASA's science programs. NASA's science 
missions reveal groundbreaking discoveries that help us understand our 
place in the universe that can ultimately improve life here at home.
  However, throughout this Congress, the Science Committee has heard 
concerns about the effect cost and schedule overruns are having on the 
agency's portfolio of science missions.
  Given the current constraints on the Federal budget, it is critical 
that Congress ensure that each dollar NASA spends is used in the most 
efficient way possible.
  The bill stresses the value of a balanced science portfolio with a 
steady cadence of small, medium, and large missions. It directs NASA to 
consider how to incorporate innovative commercial solutions into its 
science programs, which can save money while also facilitating the 
growth of the U.S. commercial space industry.
  The bill also ensures that space technology development is able to 
keep pace with the rapid growth in space activities. By encouraging and 
supporting space technology development, this bill helps drive economic 
growth to ensure our leadership in space.
  Finally, the bill will make aviation safer and more efficient by 
supporting aeronautics research efforts, including the development of 
experimental aircraft and next-generation aeronautics technologies. All 
told, it is a strategic bill that positions the U.S. to remain the 
global leader in space.
  This legislation is the product of months of bipartisan work, and I 
thank Ranking Member Lofgren for working with me to create a thoughtful 
bill that addresses our shared priorities. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my 
colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. FOUSHEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the NASA Reauthorization Act of 
2024. I thank the chairman of the Science Committee, Mr. Lucas, for his 
leadership of this bipartisan bill, of which I am an original 
cosponsor.
  I am pleased that we are able to continue our committee's long 
history of bipartisanship when it comes to supporting NASA and our 
Nation's preeminent science and technology enterprise. I also thank the 
many members of the Science Committee for their constructive 
contributions and amendments that made needed improvements to this 
legislation.
  While not perfect, this is a good bill that builds on the NASA 
Authorization Act of 2022 that was enacted as part of the CHIPS and 
Science Act. H.R. 8958 reaffirms America's commitment to science 
exploration, Earth and space science, aeronautics, innovation, 
education, and inspiration.

  Through NASA's triumphs, our Nation has demonstrated to the world 
what can be achieved when great minds work together. There are 
countless technologies and services originated in the science program 
that benefit the everyday lives of Americans. Our investment in civil 
space has and will continue making remarkable contributions to 
innovation and economic prosperity here on Earth.
  However, many of the dividends that NASA pays are immeasurable. 
NASA's science and human spaceflight missions have inspired generations 
of Americans and NASA's outreach and STEM programming have set 
countless young people on a path to degrees and careers in STEM.
  Just last week, we were finally able to honor NASA's hidden figures 
with their Congressional Gold Medals. We have these women to thank for 
the success of our space program. Throughout their careers, they faced 
the unjust cruelties of racism and sexism, and still they persevered. 
It is with the legacies of Katherine Johnson, Dr. Christine Darden, 
Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and all the women computers, 
mathematicians, and engineers at NASA and NACA during the space race in 
mind that we ensure NASA and the rest of our Federal science enterprise 
help lead the way in building STEM opportunities for all.
  Put simply, we can only lead in science and technology with a STEM 
workforce that represents the rich diversity of our Nation. It is with 
the legacies of these trailblazing women in mind that this legislation 
supports NASA's STEM education portfolio, including the Minority 
University Research and Education Project.
  I am pleased this bill provides continuity of policy and purpose for 
human exploration, the Moon to Mars program, and provides for NASA's 
continued use of low-Earth orbit to advance science and reduce 
exploration risks.
  The bill directs NASA to both prepare for the safe deorbiting of the 
International Space Station at the end of its operational life while 
also planning for a robust and resilient architecture for the future of 
low-Earth orbit.
  This legislation also supports NASA's science and aeronautics 
portfolios under which essential work is done. For example, NASA's 
Earth science satellites and research are critical to understanding and 
responding to global climate change. Under this bill, we will also 
improve our ability to detect large methane emission events and monitor 
greenhouse gases. Close to home for me, the NASA Ames Research Center 
does important aeronautical work to improve aerial responses to 
wildfires, including by developing and testing drone technology and 
aerial operations for wildland fire response.
  I appreciate and commend the constructive input of NASA and the space 
and aerospace community as this bill came together. I thank Chairmen 
Lucas and Babin and their staffs for their hard work, cooperation, and 
consideration of our recommendations. I give special thanks to Ranking 
Member Sorensen for his leadership on the Space and Aeronautics 
Subcommittee and to Pam Whitney and Ashlee Wilkins on the Democratic 
staff of the committee.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and pass the NASA 
Reauthorization Act of 2024.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Babin), the subcommittee chairman of jurisdiction.
  Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8958, the 
NASA Reauthorization Act of 2024. I am honored to represent the Johnson 
Space Center and privileged to chair the Space and Aeronautics 
Subcommittee. As an original cosponsor of this bill, I can share with 
you that it is the result of a lot of hard work.
  We were able to reach a bipartisan consensus that keeps NASA on track 
to return to the Moon, maintain our leadership role in low-Earth orbit, 
continue

[[Page H5623]]

to explore our solar system and universe, and push the boundaries of 
flight.
  All too often, changes in administrations lead to upended plans at 
NASA. While ever-changing goals and priorities challenge all agencies, 
it is particularly problematic for NASA, which undertakes extremely 
complex programs that literally take decades to accomplish.
  The bill before us today provides the necessary guidance and support 
to ensure NASA's success and meet the rising challenge that the Chinese 
Communist Party poses to the United States in space.
  I hope that the other Chamber will seize the opportunity to take up 
this important piece of legislation before the end of this year so that 
NASA will have the certainty that it needs to carry out the bold 
activities that we have tasked it with.
  I also thank the chairman of the Science Committee, my friend from 
Oklahoma, Frank Lucas, for his support in drafting this legislation, as 
well as his leadership on the committee over the past 6 years. I also 
thank Ranking Members Lofgren and Sorensen for their collegiality 
through this process and for their important contributions to the bill.
  Finally, I thank the staff for their tireless work. Charlie Scales, 
Kelsey McBarron, Vishal Amin, Brent Blevins, and Tom Hammond from the 
majority staff and Pam Whitney and Ashlee Wilkins from the minority 
staff all put in a lot of time to get us where we are today. I thank 
them, as well.

                              {time}  1815

  Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr.  Mike Garcia) to speak on the bill.
  Mr. MIKE GARCIA of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Lucas 
and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology staff for their 
leadership on this very important bill.
  Mr. Speaker, you can't tell the story of my district without also 
telling the story of NASA, whether it is Chuck Yeager breaking the 
sound barrier in the X-1 about 77 years ago, Pete Knight setting the 
record as the fastest man ever in the X-15 in 1967, the development and 
first flights of the space shuttle in the seventies and eighties, or 
now the upcoming first flight of the X-59, which is a commercial 
supersonic aircraft that will bring supersonic flight back to the 
United States for the commercial industry.
  NASA's DNA is simply ingrained in the Antelope Valley, or as we 
affectionately call it in my district, the aerospace valley. That is 
why I am so proud to rise in support of the NASA Reauthorization Act of 
2024.
  This bill advances the Artemis program, returning Americans to the 
Moon for the first time in nearly 50 years. It supports our still-
emerging commercial space economy, which is essential for Artemis, 
national security, and our scientific interests. It also includes my 
bill, the ACERO Act, to support work already underway at NASA to 
integrate unmanned aerial vehicles and ground systems into wildfire 
response, which will help stop fires before they spread.
  We need to ensure that our firefighters are equipped like combat 
warfighters on the battlefield with cutting-edge technology to keep 
them safe, help them accomplish the mission as quickly as possible, and 
put the fires out as quickly as possible.
  These UAVs will act as a force multiplier for firefighters to help 
protect communities like those in my district and usher in the next 
generation of firefighting technology so that our firefighters make 
sure that they come home safely at night.
  This bill is about the next chapter for NASA, a chapter that starts 
in the aerospace valley and reaches all the way out to the edges of our 
solar system.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this bill, and I encourage my 
colleagues from both sides of the aisle to do the same.
  Mrs. FOUSHEE. Mr. Speaker, I have no requests for time to speak on 
this bill, and I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 8958, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, NASA has long been a driving force in space exploration, 
but as I have said previously, we cannot take the decades of American 
leadership in space for granted. This is especially true as the growing 
interest in space drives greater activity and competition into the 
domain, particularly from the Chinese Communist Party.
  An effective and efficient NASA is the key to maintaining U.S. space 
leadership. Congress must provide NASA with clear, forward-thinking 
guidance.
  This is why one of my top priorities on the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology this Congress is passage of the bill currently 
before us.
  I fully support the thoughtful guidance this bill provides NASA. It 
ensures NASA continues making progress toward returning humans to the 
Moon, developing the best strategy for NASA's future operations in LEO, 
and promotes a range of scientific research and technological 
development activities.
  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate Ranking Member Lofgren and her staff for 
working with me and my staff to craft this important bill, and I look 
forward to working with our colleagues in the Senate to see this across 
the finish line.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 8958, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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