[House Report 109-354]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



109th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    109-354

======================================================================



 
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2005

                                _______
                                

               December 16, 2005.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

Mr. Boehlert, from the Committee on Conference, submitted the following

                           CONFERENCE REPORT

                         [To accompany S. 1281]

      The Committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of 
the two Houses on the amendment of the House to the bill (S. 
1281), to authorize appropriations for the National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration for science, aeronautics, exploration, 
exploration capabilities, and the Inspector General, and for 
other purposes, for fiscal years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 
2010, having met, after full and free conference, have agreed 
to recommend and do recommend to their respective Houses as 
follows:
      That the Senate recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the House to the text of the bill and agree to the 
same with an amendment as follows:
      In lieu of the matter proposed to be inserted by the 
House amendment, insert the following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 
2005''.
    (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--GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND REPORTS

Sec. 101. Responsibilities, policies, and plans.
Sec. 102. Reports.
Sec. 103. Baselines and cost controls.
Sec. 104. Prize authority.
Sec. 105. Foreign launch vehicles.
Sec. 106. Safety management.
Sec. 107. Lessons learned and best practices.
Sec. 108. Commercialization plan.
Sec. 109. Study on the feasibility of use of ground source heat pumps.
Sec. 110. Whistleblower protection.

                TITLE II--AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS

Sec. 201. Structure of budget accounts.
Sec. 202. Fiscal year 2007.
Sec. 203. Fiscal year 2008.
Sec. 204. ISS research.
Sec. 205. Test facilities.
Sec. 206. Official representation fund.
Sec. 207. ISS cost cap.

                           TITLE III--SCIENCE

                     Subtitle A--General Provisions

Sec. 301. Performance assessments.
Sec. 302. Status on Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission.
Sec. 303. Independent assessment of Landsat-NPOESS integrated mission.
Sec. 304. Assessment of science mission extensions.
Sec. 305. Microgravity research.
Sec. 306. Coordination with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
          Administration.
Sec. 307. Review and report on Headquarters Earth-Sun System Applied 
          Sciences Program.

                       Subtitle B--Remote Sensing

Sec. 311. Definitions.
Sec. 312. General responsibilities.
Sec. 313. Pilot projects to encourage public sector applications.
Sec. 314. Program evaluation.
Sec. 315. Data availability.
Sec. 316. Education.

        Subtitle C--George E. Brown, Jr. Near-Earth Object Survey

Sec. 321. George E. Brown, Jr. Near-Earth Object Survey.

                          TITLE IV--AERONAUTICS

Sec. 401. Definition.

     Subtitle A--Governmental Interest in Aeronautics Research and 
                               Development

Sec. 411. Governmental interest.

 Subtitle B--High Priority Aeronautics Research and Development Programs

Sec. 421. Fundamental research program.
Sec. 422. Research and technology programs.
Sec. 423. Airspace systems research.
Sec. 424. Aviation safety and security research.
Sec. 425. Aviation weather research.
Sec. 426. Assessment of wake turbulence research and development 
          program.
Sec. 427. University-based Centers for Research on Aviation Training.

                        Subtitle C--Scholarships

Sec. 431. NASA aeronautics scholarships.

                        Subtitle D--Data Requests

Sec. 441. Aviation data requests.

                       TITLE V--HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT

Sec. 501. Space Shuttle follow-on.
Sec. 502. Transition.
Sec. 503. Requirements.
Sec. 504. Ground-based analog capabilities.
Sec. 505. ISS completion.
Sec. 506. ISS research.
Sec. 507. National laboratory designation.

                      TITLE VI--OTHER PROGRAM AREAS

                  Subtitle A--Space and Flight Support

Sec. 601. Orbital debris.
Sec. 602. Secondary payload capability.

                          Subtitle B--Education

Sec. 611. Institutions in NASA's minority institutions program.
Sec. 612. Program to expand distance learning in rural underserved 
          areas.
Sec. 613. Charles ``Pete'' Conrad Astronomy awards.
Sec. 614. Review of education programs.
Sec. 615. Equal access to NASA's education programs.
Sec. 616. Museums.
Sec. 617. Review of MUST program.
Sec. 618. Continuation of certain education programs.
Sec. 619. Implementation of previous recommendations.

                     Subtitle C--Technology Transfer

Sec. 621. Commercial technology transfer program.

                   TITLE VII--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

        Subtitle A--National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Sec. 701. Retrocession of jurisdiction.
Sec. 702. Extension of indemnification.
Sec. 703. NASA scholarships.
Sec. 704. Independent cost analysis.
Sec. 705. Recovery and disposition authority.
Sec. 706. Changes to existing laws on reports.
Sec. 707. Small business contracting.
Sec. 708. NASA healthcare program.
Sec. 709. Offshore performance of contracts for the procurement of goods 
          and services.
Sec. 710. Study on enhanced use leasing.

                 Subtitle B--National Science Foundation

Sec. 721. Data on specific fields of study.
Sec. 722. National Science Foundation major research equipment and 
          facilities.

                  TITLE VIII--TASK FORCE AND COMMISSION

  Subtitle A--International Space Station Independent Safety Task Force

Sec. 801. Establishment of task force.
Sec. 802. Tasks of the task force.
Sec. 803. Composition of the task force.
Sec. 804. Reporting requirements.
Sec. 805. Sunset.

   Subtitle B--Human Space Flight Independent Investigation Commission

Sec. 821. Definitions.
Sec. 822. Establishment of Commission.
Sec. 823. Tasks of the Commission.
Sec. 824. Composition of Commission.
Sec. 825. Powers of Commission.
Sec. 826. Public meetings, information, and hearings.
Sec. 827. Staff of Commission.
Sec. 828. Compensation and travel expenses.
Sec. 829. Security clearances for Commission members and staff.
Sec. 830. Reporting requirements and termination.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

     In this Act:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' 
        means the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and 
        Space Administration.
            (2) ISS.--The term ``ISS'' means the International 
        Space Station.
            (3) NASA.--The term ``NASA'' means the National 
        Aeronautics and Space Administration.

                TITLE I--GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND REPORTS

SEC. 101. RESPONSIBILITIES, POLICIES, AND PLANS.

    (a) General Responsibilities.--
            (1) Programs.--The Administrator shall ensure that 
        NASA carries out a balanced set of programs that shall 
        include, at a minimum, programs in--
                    (A) human space flight, in accordance with 
                subsection (b);
                    (B) aeronautics research and development; 
                and
                    (C) scientific research, which shall 
                include, at a minimum--
                            (i) robotic missions to study the 
                        Moon and other planets and their moons, 
                        and to deepen understanding of 
                        astronomy, astrophysics, and other 
                        areas of science that can be 
                        productively studied from space;
                            (ii) earth science research and 
                        research on the Sun-Earth connection 
                        through the development and operation 
                        of research satellites and other means;
                            (iii) support of university 
                        research in space science, earth 
                        science, and microgravity science; and
                            (iv) research on microgravity, 
                        including research that is not directly 
                        related to human exploration.
            (2) Consultation and coordination.--In carrying out 
        the programs of NASA, the Administrator shall--
                    (A) consult and coordinate to the extent 
                appropriate with other relevant Federal 
                agencies, including through the National 
                Science and Technology Council;
                    (B) work closely with the private sector, 
                including by--
                            (i) encouraging the work of 
                        entrepreneurs who are seeking to 
                        develop new means to launch satellites, 
                        crew, or cargo;
                            (ii) contracting with the private 
                        sector for crew and cargo services, 
                        including to the International Space 
                        Station, to the extent practicable;
                            (iii) using commercially available 
                        products (including software) and 
                        services to the extent practicable to 
                        support all NASA activities; and
                            (iv) encouraging commercial use and 
                        development of space to the greatest 
                        extent practicable; and
                    (C) involve other nations to the extent 
                appropriate.
    (b) Vision for Space Exploration.--
            (1) In general.--The Administrator shall establish 
        a program to develop a sustained human presence on the 
        Moon, including a robust precursor program, to promote 
        exploration, science, commerce, and United States 
        preeminence in space, and as a stepping-stone to future 
        exploration of Mars and other destinations. The 
        Administrator is further authorized to develop and 
        conduct appropriate international collaborations in 
        pursuit of these goals.
            (2) Milestones.--The Administrator shall manage 
        human space flight programs to strive to achieve the 
        following milestones (in conformity with section 503)--
                    (A) Returning Americans to the Moon no 
                later than 2020.
                    (B) Launching the Crew Exploration Vehicle 
                as close to 2010 as possible.
                    (C) Increasing knowledge of the impacts of 
                long duration stays in space on the human body 
                using the most appropriate facilities 
                available, including the ISS.
                    (D) Enabling humans to land on and return 
                from Mars and other destinations on a timetable 
                that is technically and fiscally possible.
    (c) Aeronautics.--
            (1) In general.--The President of the United 
        States, through an official the President shall 
        designate, and in consultation with appropriate Federal 
        agencies, shall develop a national policy to guide the 
        aeronautics research and development programs of the 
        United States through 2020. The policy shall include 
        national goals for aeronautics research and development 
        and shall describe the role and responsibilities of 
        each Federal agency that will carry out the policy. The 
        development of the policy shall utilize external 
        studies that have been conducted on the state of United 
        States aeronautics and aviation research and 
        development and have suggested policies to ensure 
        continued competitiveness.
            (2) Content.--(A) At a minimum, the national 
        aeronautics research and development policy shall 
        describe for NASA--
                    (i) the priority areas of research for 
                aeronautics through fiscal year 2011;
                    (ii) the basis on which and the process by 
                which priorities for ensuing fiscal years will 
                be selected;
                    (iii) the facilities and personnel needed 
                to carry out the aeronautics program through 
                fiscal year 2011; and
                    (iv) the budget assumptions on which the 
                policy is based, which for fiscal years 2007 
                and 2008 shall be the authorized level for 
                aeronautics provided in title II of this Act.
            (B) The policy shall be based on the premises 
        that--
                    (i) the Federal Government has an 
                established interest in conducting research and 
                development programs for improving the 
                usefulness, performance, speed, safety, and 
                efficiency of aeronautical vehicles, as 
                described in section 102(d)(2) of the National 
                Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 (42 U.S.C. 
                2451(d)(2)); and
                    (ii) the Federal Government has an 
                established interest in conducting research and 
                development programs that help preserve the 
                role of the United States as a global leader in 
                aeronautical technologies and in their 
                application, as described in section 102(d)(5) 
                of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 
                1958 (42 U.S.C. 2451(d)(5)).
            (3) Considerations.--In developing the national 
        aeronautics research and development policy, the 
        President shall consider the following issues, which 
        shall be discussed in the transmittal under paragraph 
        (5):
                    (A) The extent to which NASA should focus 
                on long-term, high-risk research or more 
                incremental research, and the expected impact 
                of that decision on the United States economy, 
                and the ability to achieve environmental and 
                other public goals related to aeronautics.
                    (B) The extent to which NASA should address 
                military and commercial needs.
                    (C) How NASA will coordinate its 
                aeronautics program with other Federal 
                agencies.
                    (D) The extent to which NASA will conduct 
                research in-house, fund university research, 
                and collaborate on industry research, and the 
                expected impact of that mix of funding on the 
                supply of United States workers for the 
                aeronautics industry.
                    (E) The extent to which the priority areas 
                of research listed pursuant to paragraph (2)(A) 
                should include the activities authorized by 
                title IV of this Act, the discussion of which 
                shall include a priority ranking of all of the 
                activities authorized in title IV and an 
                explanation for that ranking.
            (4) Consultation.--In the development of the 
        national aeronautics research and development policy, 
        the President shall consult widely with academic and 
        industry experts and with other Federal agencies. The 
        Administrator may enter into an arrangement with the 
        National Academy of Sciences to help develop the 
        policy.
            (5) Schedule.--(A) Not later than 1 year after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, the President shall 
        transmit the national aeronautics research and 
        development policy to the Committee on Appropriations 
        of the House of Representatives, the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on Science 
        of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on 
        Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
            (B) Not later than 60 days after the transmittal of 
        the policy under subparagraph (A), the Administrator 
        shall transmit to the Committee on Appropriations of 
        the House of Representatives, the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on Science 
        of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on 
        Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
        report describing how NASA will carry out the policy.
            (C) At the time the President's fiscal year 2007 
        budget is transmitted to the Congress, the 
        Administrator shall transmit to the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the House of Representatives, the 
        Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the 
        Committee on Science of the House of Representatives, 
        and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate a report on the proposed 
        NASA aeronautics budget describing--
                    (i) the rationale for the budget levels and 
                activities in the proposed fiscal year 2007 
                NASA aeronautics budget;
                    (ii) the extent to which the program 
                directions proposed for fiscal year 2007 are 
                likely to be consistent with the national 
                policy being prepared under this section; and
                    (iii) the extent to which the proposed 
                programs for fiscal year 2007 are consistent 
                with past reports and currentstudies of the 
National Academy of Sciences, and other relevant reports and studies.
    (d) Science.--
            (1) In general.--The Administrator shall develop a 
        plan to guide the science programs of NASA through 
        2016.
            (2) Content.--At a minimum, the plan developed 
        under paragraph (1) shall be designed to ensure that 
        NASA has a rich and vigorous set of science activities, 
        and shall describe--
                    (A) the missions NASA will initiate, 
                design, develop, launch, or operate in space 
                science and earth science through fiscal year 
                2016, including launch dates;
                    (B) a priority ranking of all of the 
                missions listed under subparagraph (A), and the 
                rationale for the ranking; and
                    (C) the budget assumptions on which the 
                policy is based, which for fiscal years 2007 
                and 2008 shall be consistent with the 
                authorizations provided in title II of this 
                Act.
            (3) Considerations.--In developing the science plan 
        under this subsection, the Administrator shall consider 
        the following issues, which shall be discussed in the 
        transmittal under paragraph (6):
                    (A) What the most important scientific 
                questions in space science and earth science 
                are.
                    (B) How to best benefit from the 
                relationship between NASA's space and earth 
                science activities and those of other Federal 
                agencies.
                    (C) Whether the Magnetospheric Multiscale 
                Mission, SIM-Planet Quest, and missions under 
                the Future Explorers Programs can be expedited 
                to meet previous schedules.
                    (D) Whether any NASA Earth observing 
                missions that have been delayed or cancelled 
                can be restored.
                    (E) How to ensure the long-term vitality of 
                Earth observation programs at NASA, including 
                their satellite, science, and data system 
                components.
                    (F) Whether current and currently planned 
                Earth observation missions should be 
                supplemented or replaced with new satellite 
                architectures and instruments that enable 
                global coverage, and all-weather, day and night 
                imaging of the Earth's surface features.
                    (G) How to integrate NASA earth science 
                missions with the Global Earth Observing System 
                of Systems.
            (4) Consultation.--In developing the plan under 
        this subsection, the Administrator shall draw on 
        decadal surveys and other reports in planetary science, 
        astronomy, solar and space physics, earth science, and 
        any other relevant fields developed by the National 
        Academy of Sciences. The Administrator shall also 
        consult widely with academic and industry experts and 
        with other Federal agencies.
            (5) Hubble space telescope.--The plan developed 
        under this subsection shall address plans for a human 
        mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope consistent 
        with section 302 of this Act.
            (6) Schedule.--The Administrator shall transmit the 
        plan developed under this subsection to the Committee 
        on Science of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
        the Senate not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act. The Administrator shall make 
        available to those committees any study done by a 
        nongovernmental entity that was used in the development 
        of the plan.
    (e) Facilities.--
            (1) In general.--The Administrator shall develop a 
        plan for managing NASA's facilities through fiscal year 
        2015. The plan shall be consistent with the policies 
        and plans developed pursuant to this section.
            (2) Content.--At a minimum, the plan developed 
        under paragraph (1) shall describe--
                    (A) any new facilities NASA intends to 
                acquire, whether through construction, 
                purchase, or lease, and the expected dates for 
                doing so;
                    (B) any facilities NASA intends to 
                significantly modify, refurbish, or upgrade, 
                and the expected dates for doing so;
                    (C) any facilities NASA intends to close, 
                and the expected dates for doing so;
                    (D) any transactions NASA intends to 
                conduct to sell, lease, or otherwise transfer 
                the ownership of a facility, and the expected 
                dates for doing so;
                    (E) how each of the actions described in 
                subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D) will 
                enhance the ability of NASA to carry out its 
                programs;
                    (F) the expected costs or savings expected 
                from each of the actions described in 
                subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D);
                    (G) the priority order of the actions 
                described in subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and 
                (D);
                    (H) the budget assumptions of the plan, 
                which for fiscal years 2007 and 2008 shall be 
                consistent with the authorizations provided in 
                title II of this Act, including the funding 
                levels for maintenance and repairs; and
                    (I) how facilities were evaluated in 
                developing the plan.
            (3) Schedule.--The Administrator shall transmit the 
        plan developed under this subsection to the Committee 
        on Science of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
        the Senate not later than the date on which the 
        President submits the proposed budget for the Federal 
        Government for fiscal year 2008 to the Congress.
    (f) Workforce.--
            (1) In general.--The Administrator shall develop a 
        human capital strategy to ensure that NASA has a 
        workforce of the appropriate size and with the 
        appropriate skills to carry out the programs of NASA, 
        consistent with the policies and plans developed 
        pursuant to this section. Under the strategy, NASA 
        shall utilize current personnel, to the maximum extent 
        feasible, in implementing the vision for space 
        exploration and NASA's other programs. The strategy 
        shall cover the period through fiscal year 2011.
            (2) Content.--The strategy developed under 
        paragraph (1) shall describe, at a minimum--
                    (A) any categories of employees NASA 
                intends to reduce, the expected size and timing 
                of those reductions, the methods NASA intends 
                to use to make the reductions, and the reasons 
                NASA no longer needs those employees;
                    (B) any categories of employees NASA 
                intends to increase, the expected size and 
                timing of those increases, the methods NASA 
                intends to use to recruit the additional 
                employees, and the reasons NASA needs those 
                employees;
                    (C) the steps NASA will use to retain 
                needed employees; and
                    (D) the budget assumptions of the strategy, 
                which for fiscal years 2007 and 2008 shall be 
                consistent with the authorizations provided in 
                title II of this Act, and any expected 
                additional costs or savings from the strategy 
                by fiscal year.
            (3) Schedule.--The Administrator shall transmit the 
        strategy developed under this subsection to the 
        Committee on Science of the House of Representatives 
        and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate not later than 60 days 
        after the date on which the President submits the 
        proposed budget for the Federal Government for fiscal 
        year 2007 to the Congress. At least 60 days before 
        transmitting the strategy, NASA shall provide a draft 
        of the strategy to its Federal employee unions for a 
        30-day consultation period after which NASA shall 
        respond in writing to any written concerns provided by 
        the unions.
            (4) Limitation.--NASA may not implement any 
        Reduction in Force or other involuntary separations 
        (except for cause) prior to March 16, 2007.
    (g) Center Management.--
            (1) In general.--The Administrator shall conduct a 
        study to determine whether any of NASA's centers should 
        be operated by or with the private sector by converting 
        a center to a Federally Funded Research and Development 
        Center or through any other mechanism.
            (2) Content.--The study conducted under paragraph 
        (1) shall, at a minimum--
                    (A) make a recommendation for the operation 
                of each center and provide reasons for that 
                recommendation; and
                    (B) describe the advantages and 
                disadvantages of each mode of operation 
                considered in the study.
            (3) Considerations.--In conducting the study, the 
        Administrator shall take into consideration the 
        experiences of other relevant Federal agencies in 
        operating laboratories and centers, and any reports 
        that have reviewed the mode of operation of those 
        laboratories and centers, as well as any reports that 
        have reviewed NASA's centers.
            (4) Schedule.--The Administrator shall transmit the 
        study conducted under this subsection to the Committee 
        on Science of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
        the Senate not later than May 31, 2006.
    (h) Budgets.--
            (1) Categories.--The proposed budget for NASA 
        submitted by the President for each fiscal year shall 
        be accompanied by documents showing--
                    (A) by program--
                            (i) the budget for space 
                        operations, including the ISS and the 
                        Space Shuttle;
                            (ii) the budget for exploration 
                        systems;
                            (iii) the budget for aeronautics;
                            (iv) the budget for space science;
                            (v) the budget for earth science;
                            (vi) the budget for microgravity 
                        science;
                            (vii) the budget for education;
                            (viii) the budget for safety 
                        oversight; and
                            (ix) the budget for public 
                        relations;
                    (B) the budget for technology transfer 
                programs;
                    (C) the budget for the Integrated 
                Enterprise Management Program, by individual 
                element;
                    (D) the budget for the Independent 
                Technical Authority, both total and by center;
                    (E) the total budget for the prize program 
                under section 104, and the administrative 
                budget for that program; and
                    (F) the comparable figures for at least the 
                2 previous fiscal years for each item in the 
                proposed budget.
            (2) Sense of congress regarding evaluation criteria 
        for budget requests.--It is the sense of the Congress 
        that each budget of the United States submitted to the 
        Congress after the date of enactment of this Act should 
        be evaluated for compliance with the findings and 
        priorities established by this Act and the amendments 
        made by this Act.
    (i) Additional Budget Information.--NASA shall make 
available, upon request from the Committee on Science of the 
House of Representatives or the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate--
            (1) information on corporate and center general and 
        administrative costs and service pool costs, 
        including--
                    (A) the total amount of funds being 
                allocated for those purposes for any fiscal 
                year for which the President has submitted an 
                annual budget request to Congress;
                    (B) the amount of funds being allocated for 
                those purposes for each center, for 
                headquarters, and for each directorate; and
                    (C) the major activities included in each 
                cost category; and
            (2) the figures on the amount of unobligated funds 
        and unexpended funds, by appropriations account--
                    (A) that remained at the end of the fiscal 
                year prior to the fiscal year in which the 
                budget is being presented that were carried 
                over into the fiscal year in which the budget 
                is being presented;
                    (B) that are estimated will remain at the 
                end of the fiscal year in which the budget is 
                being presented that are proposed to be carried 
                over into the fiscal year for which the budget 
                is being presented; and
                    (C) that are estimated will remain at the 
                end of the fiscal year for which the budget is 
                being presented.
    (j) NASA Aeronautics Test Facilities and Simulators.--
            (1) Review.--The Director of the Office of Science 
        and Technology Policy shall commission an independent 
        review of the Nation's long-term strategic needs for 
        aeronautics test facilities and shall submit the review 
        to the Committee on Science of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
        and Transportation of the Senate. The review shall 
        include an evaluation of the facility needs described 
        pursuant to subsection (c)(2)(A)(iii). The review shall 
        take into consideration the results of the study 
        conducted pursuant to the instructions on page 582 of 
        the conference report (H. Rept. 108-767) to accompany 
        the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act 
        for Fiscal Year 2005 (P.L. 108-375).
            (2) Limitation.--The Administrator shall not close 
        or mothball any aeronautics test facilities identified 
        in the 2003 independent assessment by the RAND 
        Corporation titled ``Wind Tunnel and Propulsion Test 
        Facilities: An Assessment of NASA's Capabilities to 
        Serve National Needs'' as being part of the minimum set 
        of those facilities necessary to retain and manage to 
        serve national needs, or any aeronautics simulators, 
        that were in use as of January 1, 2004, with the 
        exception of the already closed 16-foot transonic 
        tunnel, until--
                    (A) the review conducted under paragraph 
                (1) has been transmitted to the Congress; and
                    (B) 60 days after the Administrator has 
                transmitted to the Committee on Appropriations 
                and the Committee on Science of the House of 
                Representatives and the Committee on 
                Appropriations and the Committee on Commerce, 
                Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
                written certification that the proposed closure 
                will not have an adverse impact on NASA's 
                ability to execute the national policy 
                developed under subsection (c) and to achieve 
                the goals described in that policy.
        Subparagraph (B) shall cease to be effective five years 
        after the date the study required by this section has 
        been transmitted to the Congress.

SEC. 102. REPORTS.

    (a) National Awareness Campaign.--
            (1) In general.--The Administrator shall implement, 
        beginning not later than May 1, 2006, a national 
        awareness campaign through various media, including 
        print, radio, television, and the Internet, to 
        articulate missions, publicize recent accomplishments, 
        and facilitate efforts to encourage young Americans to 
        enter the fields of science, mathematics, and 
        engineering to help maintain United States leadership 
        in those fields.
            (2) Reports.--(A) Not later than April 1, 2006, the 
        Administrator shall transmit a plan to the Committee on 
        Science of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
        the Senate describing the activities that will be 
        undertaken as part of the national awareness campaign 
        required by paragraph (1) and the expected cost of 
        those activities. NASA may undertake activities as part 
        of the national awareness campaign prior to the 
        transmittal of the plan required by this subparagraph, 
        but the plan shall include a description of any 
        activities undertaken prior to the transmittal and the 
        estimated cost of those activities.
            (B) Not later than three years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit 
        to the Committee on Science of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
        and Transportation of the Senate an assessment of the 
        impact of the national awareness campaign.
    (b) Budget Information.--Not later than April 30, 2006, the 
Administrator shall transmit to the Committee on Science of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report describing--
            (1) the expected cost of the Crew Exploration 
        Vehicle through fiscal year 2020, based on the public 
        specifications for that development contract; and
            (2) the expected budgets for each fiscal year 
        through 2020 for human spaceflight, aeronautics, space 
        science, and earth science--
                    (A) first assuming inflationary growth for 
                the budget of NASA as a whole and including 
                costs for the Crew Exploration Vehicle as 
                projected under paragraph (1); and
                    (B) then assuming inflationary growth for 
                the budget of NASA as a whole and including at 
                least two cost estimates for the Crew 
                Exploration Vehicle that are higher than those 
                projected under paragraph (1), based on NASA's 
                past experience with cost increases for similar 
                programs, along with a description of the 
                reasons for selecting the cost estimates used 
                for the calculations under this subparagraph 
                and the confidence level for each of the cost 
                estimates used in this section.
    (c) Space Communications Plan.--
            (1) Plan.--The Administrator shall develop a plan, 
        in consultation with relevant Federal agencies, for 
        updating NASA's space communications architecture for 
        both low-Earth orbital operations and deep space 
        exploration so that it is capable of meeting NASA's 
        needs over the next 20 years. The plan shall include 
        life-cycle cost estimates, milestones, estimated 
        performance capabilities, and 5-year funding profiles. 
        The plan shall also include an estimate of the amounts 
        of any reimbursements NASA is likely to receive from 
        other Federal agencies during the expected life of the 
        upgrades described in the plan. At a minimum, the plan 
        shall include a description of the following:
                    (A) Projected Deep Space Network 
                requirements for the next 20 years, including 
                those in support of human space exploration 
                missions.
                    (B) Upgrades needed to support Deep Space 
                Network requirements.
                    (C) Cost estimates for the maintenance of 
                existing Deep Space Network capabilities.
                    (D) Cost estimates and schedules for the 
                upgrades described in subparagraph (B).
                    (E) Projected Tracking and Data Relay 
                Satellite System requirements for the next 20 
                years, including those in support of other 
                relevant Federal agencies.
                    (F) Cost and schedule estimates to maintain 
                and upgrade the Tracking and Data Relay 
                Satellite System to meet projected 
                requirements.
            (2) Consultations.--The Administrator shall consult 
        with other relevant Federal agencies in developing the 
        plan under this subsection.
            (3) Schedule.--The Administrator shall transmit the 
        plan under this subsection to the Committee on Science 
        of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
        Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate not 
        later than February 17, 2007.
    (d) Joint Dark Energy Mission.--The Administrator and the 
Director of the Department of Energy Office of Science shall 
jointly transmit to the Committee on Science of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate, not later than July 15, 2006, a 
report on plans for a Joint Dark Energy Mission. The report 
shall include the amount of funds each agency intends to expend 
on the Joint Dark Energy Mission for each of the fiscal years 
2007 through 2011, and any specific milestones for the 
development and launch of the Mission.
    (e) Office of Science and Technology Policy.--
            (1) Study.--As part of ongoing efforts to 
        coordinate research and development across the Federal 
        agencies, the Director of the Office of Science and 
        Technology Policy shall conduct a study to determine--
                    (A) if any research and development 
                programs of NASA are unnecessarily duplicating 
                aspects of programs of other Federal agencies; 
                and
                    (B) if any research and development 
                programs of NASA are neglecting any topics of 
                national interest that are related to the 
                mission of NASA.
            (2) Report.--Not later than one year after the date 
        of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of 
        Science and Technology Policy shall transmit to the 
        Committee on Science of the House of Representatives 
        and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate a report that--
                    (A) describes the results of the study 
                under paragraph (1);
                    (B) lists the research and development 
                programs of Federal agencies other than NASA 
                that were reviewed as part of the study, which 
                shall include any program supporting research 
                and development in an area related to the 
                programs of NASA, and the most recent budget 
                figures for those programs of other agencies;
                    (C) recommends any changes to the research 
                and development programs of NASA that should be 
                made in response to the findings of the study 
                required by paragraph (1); and
                    (D) describes mechanisms the Office of 
                Science and Technology Policy will use to 
                ensure adequate coordination between NASA and 
                Federal agencies that operate related programs.
            (3) Contract.--The Director of the Office of 
        Science and Technology Policy may contract with a 
        nongovernmental entity to conduct the study required by 
        paragraph (1).

SEC. 103. BASELINES AND COST CONTROLS.

    (a) Conditions for Development.--
            (1) In general.--NASA shall not enter into a 
        contract for the development of a major program unless 
        the Administrator determines that--
                    (A) the technical, cost, and schedule risks 
                of the program are clearly identified and the 
                program has developed a plan to manage those 
                risks;
                    (B) the technologies required for the 
                program have been demonstrated in a relevant 
                laboratory or test environment; and
                    (C) the program complies with all relevant 
                policies, regulations, and directives of NASA.
            (2) Report.--The Administrator shall transmit a 
        report describing the basis for the determination 
        required under paragraph (1) to the Committee on 
        Science of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
        the Senate at least 30 days before entering into a 
        contract for development under a major program.
            (3) Nondelegation.--The Administrator may not 
        delegate the determination requirement under this 
        subsection, except in cases in which the Administrator 
        has a conflict of interest.
    (b) Major Program Annual Reports.--
            (1) Requirement.--Annually, at the same time as the 
        President's annual budget submission to the Congress, 
        the Administrator shall transmit to the Committee on 
        Science of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
        the Senate a report that includes the information 
        required by this section for each major program for 
        which NASA proposes to expend funds in the subsequent 
        fiscal year. Reports under this paragraph shall be 
        known as Major Program Annual Reports.
            (2) Baseline report.--The first Major Program 
        Annual Report for each major program shall include a 
        Baseline Report that shall, at a minimum, include--
                    (A) the purposes of the program and key 
                technical characteristics necessary to fulfill 
                those purposes;
                    (B) an estimate of the life-cycle cost for 
                the program, with a detailed breakout of the 
                development cost, program reserves, and an 
                estimate of the annual costs until development 
                is completed;
                    (C) the schedule for development, including 
                key program milestones;
                    (D) the plan for mitigating technical, 
                cost, and schedule risks identified in 
                accordance with subsection (a)(1)(A); and
                    (E) the name of the person responsible for 
                making notifications under subsection (c), who 
                shall be an individual whose primary 
                responsibility is overseeing the program.
            (3) Information updates.--For major programs for 
        which a Baseline Report has been submitted, each 
        subsequent Major Program Annual Report shall describe 
        any changes to the informationthat had been provided in 
the Baseline Report, and the reasons for those changes.
    (c) Notification.--
            (1) Requirement.--The individual identified under 
        subsection (b)(2)(E) shall immediately notify the 
        Administrator any time that individual has reasonable 
        cause to believe that, for the major program for which 
        he or she is responsible--
                    (A) the development cost of the program is 
                likely to exceed the estimate provided in the 
                Baseline Report of the program by 15 percent or 
                more; or
                    (B) a milestone of the program is likely to 
                be delayed by 6 months or more from the date 
                provided for it in the Baseline Report of the 
                program.
            (2) Reasons.--Not later than 30 days after the 
        notification required under paragraph (1), the 
        individual identified under subsection (b)(2)(E) shall 
        transmit to the Administrator a written notification 
        explaining the reasons for the change in the cost or 
        milestone of the program for which notification was 
        provided under paragraph (1).
            (3) Notification of congress.--Not later than 15 
        days after the Administrator receives a written 
        notification under paragraph (2), the Administrator 
        shall transmit the notification to the Committee on 
        Science of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
        the Senate.
    (d) Fifteen Percent Threshold.--Not later than 30 days 
after receiving a written notification under subsection (c)(2), 
the Administrator shall determine whether the development cost 
of the program is likely to exceed the estimate provided in the 
Baseline Report of the program by 15 percent or more, or 
whether a milestone is likely to be delayed by 6 months or 
more. If the determination is affirmative, the Administrator 
shall--
            (1) transmit to the Committee on Science of the 
        House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate, not later 
        than 15 days after making the determination, a report 
        that includes--
                    (A) a description of the increase in cost 
                or delay in schedule and a detailed explanation 
                for the increase or delay;
                    (B) a description of actions taken or 
                proposed to be taken in response to the cost 
                increase or delay; and
                    (C) a description of any impacts the cost 
                increase or schedule delay, or the actions 
                described under subparagraph (B), will have on 
                any other program within NASA; and
            (2) if the Administrator intends to continue with 
        the program, promptly initiate an analysis of the 
        program, which shall include, at a minimum--
                    (A) the projected cost and schedule for 
                completing the program if current requirements 
                of the program are not modified;
                    (B) the projected cost and the schedule for 
                completing the program after instituting the 
                actions described under paragraph (1)(B); and
                    (C) a description of, and the projected 
                cost and schedule for, a broad range of 
                alternatives to the program.
NASA shall complete an analysis initiated under paragraph (2) 
not later than 6 months after the Administrator makes a 
determination under this subsection. The Administrator shall 
transmit the analysis to the Committee on Science of the House 
of Representatives and Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate not later than 30 days after its 
completion.
    (e) Thirty Percent Threshold.--If the Administrator 
determines under subsection (d) that the development cost of a 
program will exceed the estimate provided in the Baseline 
Report of the program by more than 30 percent, then, beginning 
18 months after the date the Administrator transmits a report 
under subsection (d)(1), the Administrator shall not expend any 
additional funds on the program, other than termination costs, 
unless the Congress has subsequently authorized continuation of 
the program by law. An appropriation for the specific program 
enacted subsequent to a report being transmitted shall be 
considered an authorization for purposes of this subsection. If 
the program is continued, the Administrator shall submit a new 
Baseline Report for the program no later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of the Act under which Congress has 
authorized continuation of the program.
    (f) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section--
            (1) the term ``development'' means the phase of a 
        program following the formulation phase and beginning 
        with the approval to proceed to implementation, as 
        defined in NASA's Procedural Requirements 7120.5c, 
        dated March 22, 2005;
            (2) the term ``development cost'' means the total 
        of all costs, including construction of facilities and 
        civil servant costs, from the period beginning with the 
        approval to proceed to implementation through the 
        achievement of operational readiness, without regard to 
        funding source or management control, for the life of 
        the program;
            (3) the term ``life-cycle cost'' means the total of 
        the direct, indirect, recurring, and nonrecurring 
        costs, including the construction of facilities and 
        civil servant costs, and other related expenses 
        incurred or estimated to be incurred in the design, 
        development, verification, production, operation, 
        maintenance, support, and retirement of a program over 
        its planned lifespan, without regard to funding source 
        or management control; and
            (4) the term ``major program'' means an activity 
        approved to proceed to implementation that has an 
        estimated life-cycle cost of more than $250,000,000.

SEC. 104. PRIZE AUTHORITY.

    The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 (42 U.S.C. 
2451, et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 313 the 
following new section:

                           ``PRIZE AUTHORITY

    ``Sec. 314. (a) In General.--The Administration may carry 
out a program to competitively award cash prizes to stimulate 
innovation in basic and applied research, technology 
development, and prototype demonstration that have the 
potential for application to the performance of the space and 
aeronautical activities of theAdministration. The 
Administration may carry out a program to award prizes only in 
conformity with this section.
    ``(b) Topics.--In selecting topics for prize competitions, 
the Administrator shall consult widely both within and outside 
the Federal Government, and may empanel advisory committees.
    ``(c) Advertising.--The Administrator shall widely 
advertise prize competitions to encourage participation.
    ``(d) Requirements and Registration.--For each prize 
competition, the Administrator shall publish a notice in the 
Federal Register announcing the subject of the competition, the 
rules for being eligible to participate in the competition, the 
amount of the prize, and the basis on which a winner will be 
selected.
    ``(e) Eligibility.--To be eligible to win a prize under 
this section, an individual or entity--
            ``(1) shall have registered to participate in the 
        competition pursuant to any rules promulgated by the 
        Administrator under subsection (d);
            ``(2) shall have complied with all the requirements 
        under this section;
            ``(3) in the case of a private entity, shall be 
        incorporated in and maintain a primary place of 
        business in the United States, and in the case of an 
        individual, whether participating singly or in a group, 
        shall be a citizen or permanent resident of the United 
        States; and
            ``(4) shall not be a Federal entity or Federal 
        employee acting within the scope of their employment.
    ``(f) Liability.--(1) Registered participants must agree to 
assume any and all risks and waive claims against the Federal 
Government and its related entities, except in the case of 
willful misconduct, for any injury, death, damage, or loss of 
property, revenue, or profits, whether direct, indirect, or 
consequential, arising from their participation in a 
competition, whether such injury, death, damage, or loss arises 
through negligence or otherwise. For the purposes of this 
paragraph, the term `related entity' means a contractor or 
subcontractor at any tier, and a supplier, user, customer, 
cooperating party, grantee, investigator, or detailee.
    ``(2) Participants must obtain liability insurance or 
demonstrate financial responsibility, in amounts determined by 
the Administrator, for claims by--
            ``(A) a third party for death, bodily injury, or 
        property damage, or loss resulting from an activity 
        carried out in connection with participation in a 
        competition, with the Federal Government named as an 
        additional insured under the registered participant's 
        insurance policy and registered participants agreeing 
        to indemnify the Federal Government against third party 
        claims for damages arising from or related to 
        competition activities; and
            ``(B) the Federal Government for damage or loss to 
        Government property resulting from such an activity.
    ``(g) Judges.--For each competition, the Administration, 
either directly or through an agreement under subsection (h), 
shall assemble a panel of qualified judges to select the winner 
or winners of the prize competition on the basis described 
pursuant to subsection (d). Judges for each competition shall 
include individuals from outside the Administration, including 
from the private sector. A judge may not--
            ``(1) have personal or financial interests in, or 
        be an employee, officer, director, or agent of any 
        entity that is a registered participant in a 
        competition; or
            ``(2) have a familial or financial relationship 
        with an individual who is a registered participant.
    ``(h) Administering the Competition.--The Administrator may 
enter into an agreement with a private, nonprofit entity to 
administer the prize competition, subject to the provisions of 
this section.
    ``(i) Funding.--(1) Prizes under this section may consist 
of Federal appropriated funds and funds provided by the private 
sector for such cash prizes. The Administrator may accept funds 
from other Federal agencies for such cash prizes. The 
Administrator may not give any special consideration to any 
private sector entity in return for a donation.
    ``(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds 
appropriated for prize awards under this section shall remain 
available until expended, and may be transferred, reprogrammed, 
or expended for other purposes only after the expiration of 10 
fiscal years after the fiscal year for which the funds were 
originally appropriated. No provision in this section permits 
obligation or payment of funds in violation of the Anti-
Deficiency Act (31 U.S.C. 1341).
    ``(3) No prize may be announced under subsection (d) until 
all the funds needed to pay out the announced amount of the 
prize have been appropriated or committed in writing by a 
private source. The Administrator may increase the amount of a 
prize after an initial announcement is made under subsection 
(d) if--
            ``(A) notice of the increase is provided in the 
        same manner as the initial notice of the prize; and
            ``(B) the funds needed to pay out the announced 
        amount of the increase have been appropriated or 
        committed in writing by a private source.
    ``(4) No prize competition under this section may offer a 
prize in an amount greater than $10,000,000 unless 30 days have 
elapsed after written notice has been transmitted to the 
Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate.
    ``(5) No prize competition under this section may result in 
the award of more than $1,000,000 in cash prizes without the 
approval of the Administrator.
    ``(j) Use of NASA Name and Insignia.--A registered 
participant in a competition under this section may use the 
Administration's name, initials, or insignia only after prior 
review and written approval by the Administration.
    ``(k) Compliance With Existing Law.--The Federal Government 
shall not, by virtue of offering or providing a prize under 
this section, be responsible for compliance by registered 
participants in a prize competition with Federal law, including 
licensing, export control, and non-proliferation laws, and 
related regulations.''.

SEC. 105. FOREIGN LAUNCH VEHICLES.

    (a) Accord With Space Transportation Policy.--NASA shall 
not launch a payload on a foreign launch vehicle except in 
accordance with the Space Transportation Policy announced by 
thePresident on December 21, 2004. This subsection shall not be 
construed to prevent the President from waiving the Space 
Transportation Policy.
    (b) Interagency Coordination.--NASA shall not launch a 
payload on a foreign launch vehicle unless NASA commenced the 
interagency coordination required by the Space Transportation 
Policy announced by the President on December 21, 2004, at 
least 90 days before entering into a development contract for 
the payload.
    (c) Application.--This section shall not apply to any 
payload for which development has begun prior to the date of 
enactment of this Act, including the James Webb Space 
Telescope.

SEC. 106. SAFETY MANAGEMENT.

    Section 6 of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration Authorization Act, 1968 (42 U.S.C. 2477) is 
amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before 
        ``There'';
            (2) by striking ``to it'' and inserting ``to it, 
        including evaluating NASA's compliance with the return-
        to-flight and continue-to-fly recommendations of the 
        Columbia Accident Investigation Board,'';
            (3) by inserting ``and the Congress'' after 
        ``advise the Administrator'';
            (4) by striking ``and with respect to the adequacy 
        of proposed or existing safety standards and shall'' 
        and inserting ``with respect to the adequacy of 
        proposed or existing safety standards, and with respect 
        to management and culture related to safety. The Panel 
        shall also''; and
            (5) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Annual Report.--The Panel shall submit an annual 
report to the Administrator and to the Congress. In the first 
annual report submitted after the date of enactment of the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act 
of 2005, the Panel shall include an evaluation of NASA's 
management and culture related to safety. Each annual report 
shall include an evaluation of the Administration's compliance 
with the recommendations of the Columbia Accident Investigation 
Board through retirement of the Space Shuttle.''.

SEC. 107. LESSONS LEARNED AND BEST PRACTICES.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator shall transmit to the 
Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate an implementation plan describing NASA's approach for 
obtaining, implementing, and sharing lessons learned and best 
practices for its major programs and projects not later than 
180 days after the date of enactment of this Act. The 
implementation plan shall be updated and maintained to ensure 
that it is current and consistent with the burgeoning culture 
of learning and safety that is emerging at NASA.
    (b) Required Content.--The implementation plan shall 
contain at a minimum the lessons learned and best practices 
requirements for NASA, the organizations or positions 
responsible for enforcement of the requirements, the reporting 
structure, and the objective performance measures indicating 
the effectiveness of the activity.
    (c) Incentives.--The Administrator shall provide incentives 
to encourage sharing and implementation of lessons learned and 
best practices by employees, projects, and programs, as well as 
penalties for programs and projects that are determined not to 
have demonstrated use of those resources.

SEC. 108. COMMERCIALIZATION PLAN.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator, in consultation with 
other relevant agencies, shall develop a commercialization plan 
to support the human missions to the Moon and Mars, to support 
low-Earth orbit activities and earth science missions and 
applications, and to transfer science research and technology 
to society. The plan shall identify opportunities for the 
private sector to participate in the future missions and 
activities, including opportunities for partnership between 
NASA and the private sector in conducting research and the 
development of technologies and services. The plan shall 
include provisions for developing and funding sustained 
university and industry partnerships to conduct commercial 
research and technology development, to proactively translate 
results of space research to Earth benefits, to advance United 
States economic interests, and to support the vision for 
exploration. The plan shall also emphasize the utilization by 
NASA of advancements made by the private sector in space launch 
and orbital hardware, and shall include opportunities for 
innovative collaborations between NASA and the private sector 
under existing authorities of NASA for reimbursable and 
nonreimbursable agreements under the National Aeronautics and 
Space Act of 1958 (42 U.S.C. 2451 et seq.).
    (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit a copy of 
the plan to the Committee on Science of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate.

SEC. 109. STUDY ON THE FEASIBILITY OF USE OF GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMPS.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator shall conduct a 
feasibility study on the use of ground source heat pumps in 
future NASA facilities or substantial renovation of existing 
NASA facilities involving the installation of heating, 
ventilating, and air conditioning systems. Not later than 1 
year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall transmit the study to the Committee on Science of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
    (b) Contents.--The study shall examine--
            (1) the life-cycle costs, including maintenance 
        costs, of the operation of such heat pumps compared to 
        generally available heating, cooling, and water heating 
        equipment;
            (2) barriers to installation, such as availability 
        and suitability of terrain; and
            (3) such other issues as the Administrator 
        considers appropriate.
    (c) Definition.--In this section, the term ``ground source 
heat pump'' means an electric-powered system that uses the 
Earth's relatively constant temperature to provide heating, 
cooling, or hot water.

SEC. 110. WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit to the 
Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a plan describing steps to be taken by NASA to protect 
from retaliation NASA employees who raise concerns about 
substantial and specific dangers to public health and safety or 
about substantial and specific factors that could threaten the 
success of a mission. The plan shall be designed to ensure that 
NASA employees have the full protection required by law. The 
Administrator shall implement the plan not more than 1 year 
after its transmittal.
    (b) Goal.--The Administrator shall ensure that the plan 
describes a system that will protect employees who wish to 
raise or have raised concerns described in subsection (a).
    (c) Plan.--At a minimum, the plan shall include, consistent 
with Federal law--
            (1) a reporting structure that ensures that the 
        officials who are the subject of a whistleblower's 
        complaint will not learn the identity of the 
        whistleblower;
            (2) a single point to which all complaints can be 
        made without fear of retribution;
            (3) procedures to enable the whistleblower to track 
        the status of the case;
            (4) activities to educate employees about their 
        rights as whistleblowers and how they are protected by 
        law;
            (5) activities to educate employees about their 
        obligations to report concerns and their accountability 
        before and after receiving the results of the 
        investigations into their concerns; and
            (6) activities to educate all appropriate NASA 
        Human Resources professionals, and all NASA managers 
        and supervisors, regarding personnel laws, rules, and 
        regulations.
    (d) Report.--Not later than February 15 of each year 
beginning with the year after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Administrator shall transmit a report to the Committee 
on Science of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on the 
concerns described in subsection (a) that were raised during 
the previous fiscal year. At a minimum, the report shall 
provide--
            (1) the number of concerns that were raised, 
        divided into the categories of safety and health, 
        mission assurance, and mismanagement, and the 
        disposition of those concerns, including whether any 
        employee was disciplined as a result of a concern 
        having been raised; and
            (2) any recommendations for reforms to further 
        prevent retribution against employees who raise 
        concerns.

               TITLE II--AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS

SEC. 201. STRUCTURE OF BUDGET ACCOUNTS.

    Section 313 of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 
1958 (42 U.S.C. 2459f) is amended--
            (1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
    ``(a)(1) Appropriations for the Administration for fiscal 
year 2007 and thereafter shall be made in three accounts, 
`Science, Aeronautics, and Education', `Exploration Systems and 
Space Operations', and an account for amounts appropriated for 
the necessary expenses of the Office of the Inspector General.
    ``(2) Within the Exploration Systems and Space Operations 
account, no more than 10 percent of the funds for a fiscal year 
for Exploration Systems may be reprogrammed for Space 
Operations, and no more than 10 percent of the funds for a 
fiscal year for Space Operations may be reprogrammed for 
Exploration Systems. This paragraph shall not apply to 
reprogramming for the purposes described in subsection (b)(2).
    ``(3) Appropriations shall remain available for two fiscal 
years, unless otherwise specified in law. Each account shall 
include the planned full costs of Administration activities.''; 
and
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``To 
                ensure''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
    ``(2) The Administration may also transfer amounts among 
accounts for the immediate costs of recovering from damage 
caused by a major disaster (as defined in section 102 of the 
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5122)) or by an act of terrorism, or for the 
immediate costs associated with an emergency rescue of 
astronauts.''.

SEC. 202. FISCAL YEAR 2007.

     There are authorized to be appropriated to NASA for fiscal 
year 2007 $17,932,000,000, as follows:
            (1) For Science, Aeronautics, and Education 
        (including amounts for construction of facilities), 
        $7,136,800,000, of which $962,000,000 shall be for 
        Aeronautics.
            (2) For Exploration Systems and Space Operations 
        (including amounts for construction of facilities), 
        $10,761,700,000, of which $6,618,600,000 shall be for 
        Space Operations.
            (3) For the Office of Inspector General, 
        $33,500,000.

SEC. 203. FISCAL YEAR 2008.

     There are authorized to be appropriated to NASA for fiscal 
year 2008 $18,686,300,000 as follows:
            (1) For Science, Aeronautics, and Education 
        (including amounts for construction of facilities), 
        $7,747,800,000, of which $990,000,000 shall be for 
        Aeronautics.
            (2) For Exploration Systems and Space Operations 
        (including amounts for construction of facilities), 
        $10,903,900,000, of which $6,546,600,000 shall be for 
        Space Operations
            (3) For the Office of Inspector General, 
        $34,600,000.

SEC. 204. ISS RESEARCH.

    Beginning with fiscal year 2006, the Administrator shall 
allocate at least 15 percent of the funds budgeted for ISS 
research to ground-based, free-flyer, and ISS life and 
microgravity science research that is not directly related to 
supporting the human exploration program, consistent with 
section 305.

SEC. 205. TEST FACILITIES.

    (a) Charges.--The Administrator shall establish a policy of 
charging users of NASA's test facilities for the costs 
associated withtheir tests at a level that is competitive with 
alternative test facilities. The Administrator shall not implement a 
policy of seeking full cost recovery for a facility until at least 30 
days after transmitting a notice to the Committee on Science of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate.
    (b) Funding Account.--In planning and budgeting, the 
Administrator shall establish a funding account that shall be 
used for all test facilities. The account shall be sufficient 
to maintain the viability of test facilities during periods of 
low utilization.

SEC. 206. OFFICIAL REPRESENTATION FUND.

    Amounts appropriated pursuant to this Act may be used, but 
not to exceed a total of $70,000 in any fiscal year, for 
official reception and representation expenses.

SEC. 207. ISS COST CAP.

    (a) Report.--The Administrator shall transmit to the 
Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report providing the current expected development 
costs of the ISS and describing any changes to those costs that 
have occurred because of the grounding of the Space Shuttle 
after the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia and because of the 
implementation of full-cost accounting.
    (b) Repeal.--Thirty days after the transmittal of the 
report described in subsection (a), section 202 of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 
2451 note) is repealed.

                           TITLE III--SCIENCE

                     Subtitle A--General Provisions

SEC. 301. PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENTS.

    (a) In General.--The performance of each division in the 
Science directorate of NASA shall be reviewed and assessed by 
the National Academy of Sciences at 5-year intervals.
    (b) Timing.--Beginning with the first fiscal year following 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
select at least one division for review under this section. The 
Administrator shall select divisions so that all disciplines 
will have received their first review within six fiscal years 
of the date of enactment of this Act.
    (c) Reports.--Not later than March 1 of each year, 
beginning with the first fiscal year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit a 
report to the Committee on Science of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate--
            (1) setting forth in detail the results of any 
        external review under subsection (a);
            (2) setting forth in detail actions taken by NASA 
        in response to any external review; and
            (3) including a summary of findings and 
        recommendations from any other relevant external 
        reviews of NASA's science mission priorities and 
        programs.

SEC. 302. STATUS ON HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE SERVICING MISSION.

    It is the sense of the Congress that the Hubble Space 
Telescope is an extraordinary instrument that has provided, and 
should continue to provide, answers to profound scientific 
questions. In accordance with the recommendations of the 
National Academy of Sciences study titled ``Assessment of 
Options for Extending the Life of the Hubble Space Telescope'', 
all appropriate efforts should be expended to complete the 
Space Shuttle servicing mission. Upon successful completion of 
the planned return-to-flight schedule of the Space Shuttle, the 
Administrator shall determine the schedule for a Space Shuttle 
servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, unless such a 
mission would compromise astronaut safety. Not later than 60 
days after the landing of the second Space Shuttle mission for 
return-to-flight certification, the Administrator shall 
transmit to the Committee on Science of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate a status report on plans for a 
Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission.

SEC. 303. INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF LANDSAT-NPOESS INTEGRATED MISSION.

    (a) Assessment.--In view of the importance of ensuring 
continuity of Landsat data and in view of the challenges facing 
the National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite 
System program, the Administrator shall seek an independent 
assessment of the costs as well as the technical, cost, and 
schedule risks associated with incorporating the Landsat 
instrument on the first National Polar-Orbiting Operational 
Environmental Satellite System spacecraft compared with 
undertaking various alternatives, including a dedicated Landsat 
data ``gap-filler'' mission followed by the incorporation of 
the Landsat instrument on the second National Polar-Orbiting 
Operational Environmental Satellite System spacecraft. The 
assessment shall also include an evaluation of the budgetary 
requirements of each of the options under consideration.
    (b) Report.--
            (1) Deadline.--The Administrator shall transmit the 
        independent assessment to the Committee on Science of 
        the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
        Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate not 
        later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this 
        Act unless, prior to that date, NASA cancels plans to 
        fly the Landsat instrument on the first National Polar-
        Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System 
        spacecraft.
            (2) Cancellation.--If NASA cancels such plans, the 
        Administrator shall--
                    (A) not later than 7 days after a 
                cancellation decision, inform the Committee on 
                Science of the House of Representatives and the 
                Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                Transportation of the Senate, in writing, of 
                the cancellation; and
                    (B) not later than 90 days after the 
                transmittal of the cancellation notice, 
                transmit to the Committee on Science of the 
                House of Representatives and the Committee on 
                Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
                Senate a plan for undertaking a dedicated gap 
                filler mission or alternative means for 
                ensuring the continuity of Landsat data, 
whichshall include consideration of a low-cost constellation of small 
satellites.

SEC. 304. ASSESSMENT OF SCIENCE MISSION EXTENSIONS.

    (a) Assessment.--The Administrator shall carry out biennial 
reviews within each of the Science divisions to assess the cost 
and benefits of extending the date of the termination of data 
collection for those missions that have exceeded their planned 
mission lifetime. In addition--
            (1) not later than 60 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall carry 
        out such an assessment for at least the following 
        missions: FAST, TIMED, Cluster, Wind, Geotail, Polar, 
        TRACE, Ulysses, and Voyager; and
            (2) for those missions that have an operational 
        component, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration or any other affected agency shall be 
        consulted and the potential benefits of instruments on 
        missions that are beyond their planned mission lifetime 
        taken into account.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 30 days after completing each 
assessment required by subsection (a)(1), the Administrator 
shall transmit a report on the assessment to the Committee on 
Science of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.

SEC. 305. MICROGRAVITY RESEARCH.

     The Administrator shall--
            (1) transmit the report required by section 506;
            (2) ensure the capacity to support ground-based 
        research leading to space-based basic and applied 
        scientific research in a variety of disciplines with 
        potential direct national benefits and applications 
        that can be advanced significantly from the uniqueness 
        of microgravity and the space environment; and
            (3) carry out, to the maximum extent practicable, 
        basic, applied, and commercial ISS research in fields 
        such as molecular crystal growth, animal research, 
        basic fluid physics, combustion research, cellular 
        biotechnology, low-temperature physics, and cellular 
        research at a level that will sustain the existing 
        United States scientific expertise and research 
        capability in microgravity research.

SEC. 306. COORDINATION WITH THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC 
                    ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) Joint Working Group.--The Administrator and the 
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration shall appoint a Joint Working Group, which shall 
review and monitor missions of the two agencies to ensure 
maximum coordination in the design, operation, and transition 
of missions where appropriate. The Joint Working Group shall 
also prepare the plans required by subsection (c).
    (b) Coordination Report.--Not later than February 15 of 
each year, beginning with the first fiscal year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator and the 
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration shall jointly transmit a report to the Committee 
on Science of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on how the 
earth science programs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration and NASA will be coordinated during the fiscal 
year following the fiscal year in which the report is 
transmitted.
    (c) Coordination of Transition Planning and Reporting.--The 
Administrator, in conjunction with the Administrator of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and in 
consultation with other relevant agencies, shall evaluate 
relevant NASA science missions for their potential operational 
capabilities and shall prepare transition plans for the 
existing and future Earth observing systems found to have 
potential operational capabilities.
    (d) Limitation.--The Administrator shall not transfer any 
NASA earth science mission or Earth observing system to the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration until the plan 
required under subsection (c) has been approved by the 
Administrator and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration and until financial resources have 
been identified to support the transition or transfer in the 
President's budget request for the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration.

SEC. 307. REVIEW AND REPORT ON HEADQUARTERS EARTH-SUN SYSTEM APPLIED 
                    SCIENCES PROGRAM.

    (a) Review.--The Administrator shall review the policies, 
processes, and procedures in the planning and management of 
applications research and development implemented in calendar 
years 2001 to 2005 within the Headquarters Earth-Sun System 
Applied Sciences Program and former Earth Science Applications 
Program. This review shall include--
            (1) the program planning and analysis process used 
        to formulate applied science research and development 
        requirements, priorities, and solicitation schedules, 
        including changes to the process within the period 
        under review, and the effects of such planning on the 
        quality and clarity of applied sciences research 
        announcements;
            (2) the peer review process including, but not 
        limited to--
                    (A) membership selection, determination of 
                qualifications, and use of NASA and non-NASA 
                reviewers;
                    (B) management of conflicts of interest, 
                including reviewers funded by the program with 
                a significant consulting or contractual 
                relationship with NASA, and individuals who 
                both review proposals and participate in the 
                submission of proposals under the same 
                solicitation announcement; and
                    (C) compensation of non-NASA proposal 
                reviewers;
            (3) the process for assigning or allocating applied 
        research to NASA researchers and to non-NASA 
        researchers; and
            (4) alternative models for NASA planning and 
        management of applied science and applications 
        research, including an evaluation of the relevance for 
        NASA of--
                    (A) National Institutes of Health 
                intramural and extramural research program 
                structure, peer review process, management of 
                conflicts of interests, compensation of 
                reviewers, and the effects of compensation on 
                reviewer efficiency and quality;
                    (B) Department of Agriculture Cooperative 
                State Research Education and Extension Service 
                program and structure, peer review process, 
                management of conflicts ofinterest, 
compensation of reviewers, and the effects of compensation on reviewer 
efficiency and quality;
                    (C) National Institutes of Health and 
                Department of Agriculture best practices in the 
                planning, selection, and management of applied 
                sciences research and development; and
                    (D) any other relevant models.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit a 
report to the Committee on Science of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate describing the results of the 
review conducted under subsection (a). The report shall include 
a plan to ensure that the peer review process is transparent 
and selects proposals in a manner that instills public and 
stakeholder confidence.

                       Subtitle B--Remote Sensing

SEC. 311. DEFINITIONS.

    In this subtitle--
            (1) the term ``geospatial information'' means 
        knowledge of the nature and distribution of physical 
        and cultural features on the landscape based on 
        analysis of data from airborne or spaceborne platforms 
        or other types and sources of data;
            (2) the term ``high resolution'' means resolution 
        better than five meters; and
            (3) the term ``institution of higher education'' 
        has the meaning given that term in section 101(a) of 
        the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).

SEC. 312. GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES.

    The Administrator shall--
            (1) develop a sustained relationship with the 
        United States commercial remote sensing industry and, 
        consistent with applicable policies and law, to the 
        maximum practicable, rely on their services; and
            (2) in conjunction with United States industry and 
        universities, research, develop, and demonstrate 
        prototype earth science applications to enhance 
        Federal, State, local, and tribal governments' use of 
        government and commercial remote sensing data, 
        technologies, and other sources of geospatial 
        information for improved decision support to address 
        their needs.

SEC. 313. PILOT PROJECTS TO ENCOURAGE PUBLIC SECTOR APPLICATIONS.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator shall establish a 
program of grants for competitively awarded pilot projects to 
explore the integrated use of sources of remote sensing and 
other geospatial information to address State, local, regional, 
and tribal agency needs.
    (b) Preferred Projects.--In awarding grants under this 
section, the Administrator shall give preference to projects 
that--
            (1) make use of commercial data sets, including 
        high resolution commercial satellite imagery and 
        derived satellite data products, existing public data 
        sets where commercial data sets are not available or 
        applicable, or the fusion of such data sets;
            (2) integrate multiple sources of geospatial 
        information, such as geographic information system 
        data, satellite-provided positioning data, and remotely 
        sensed data, in innovative ways;
            (3) include funds or in-kind contributions from 
        non-Federal sources;
            (4) involve the participation of commercial 
        entities that process raw or lightly processed data, 
        often merging that data with other geospatial 
        information, to create data products that have 
        significant value added to the original data; and
            (5) taken together demonstrate as diverse a set of 
        public sector applications as possible.
    (c) Opportunities.--In carrying out this section, the 
Administrator shall seek opportunities to assist--
            (1) in the development of commercial applications 
        potentially available from the remote sensing industry; 
        and
            (2) State, local, regional, and tribal agencies in 
        applying remote sensing and other geospatial 
        information technologies for growth management.
    (d) Duration.--Assistance for a pilot project under 
subsection (a) shall be provided for a period not to exceed 3 
years.
    (e) Report.--Each recipient of a grant under subsection (a) 
shall transmit a report to the Administrator on the results of 
the pilot project within 180 days of the completion of that 
project.
    (f) Workshop.--Each recipient of a grant under subsection 
(a) shall, not later than 180 days after the completion of the 
pilot project, conduct at least one workshop for potential 
users to disseminate the lessons learned from the pilot project 
as widely as feasible.
    (g) Regulations.--The Administrator shall issue regulations 
establishing application, selection, and implementation 
procedures for pilot projects, and guidelines for reports and 
workshops required by this section.

SEC. 314. PROGRAM EVALUATION.

    (a) Advisory Committee.--The Administrator shall establish 
an advisory committee, consisting of individuals with 
appropriate expertise in State, local, regional, and tribal 
agencies, the university research community, and the remote 
sensing and other geospatial information industries, to monitor 
the program established under section 313. The advisory 
committee shall consult with the Federal Geographic Data 
Committee and other appropriate industry representatives and 
organizations. Notwithstanding section 14 of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act, the advisory committee established 
under this subsection shall remain in effect until the 
termination of the program under section 313.
    (b) Effectiveness Evaluation.--Not later than December 31, 
2009, the Administrator shall transmit to the Congress an 
evaluation of the effectiveness of the program established 
under section 313 in exploring and promoting the integrated use 
of sources of remote sensing and other geospatial information 
to address State, local, regional, and tribal agency needs. 
Such evaluation shall have been conducted by an independent 
entity.

SEC. 315. DATA AVAILABILITY.

    The Administrator shall ensure that the results of each of 
the pilot projects completed under section 313 shall be 
retrievable through an electronic, Internet-accessible 
database.

SEC. 316. EDUCATION.

    The Administrator shall establish an educational outreach 
program to increase awareness at institutions of higher 
education and State, local, regional, and tribal agencies of 
the potential applications of remote sensing and other 
geospatial information and awareness of the need for geospatial 
workforce development.

       Subtitle C--George E. Brown, Jr. Near-Earth Object Survey

SEC. 321. GEORGE E. BROWN, JR. NEAR-EARTH OBJECT SURVEY.

    (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``George 
E. Brown, Jr. Near-Earth Object Survey Act''.
    (b) Findings.--The Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Near-Earth objects pose a serious and credible 
        threat to humankind, as many scientists believe that a 
        major asteroid or comet was responsible for the mass 
        extinction of the majority of the Earth's species, 
        including the dinosaurs, nearly 65,000,000 years ago.
            (2) Similar objects have struck the Earth or passed 
        through the Earth's atmosphere several times in the 
        Earth's history and pose a similar threat in the 
        future.
            (3) Several such near-Earth objects have only been 
        discovered within days of the objects' closest approach 
        to Earth, and recent discoveries of such large objects 
        indicate that many large near-Earth objects remain 
        undiscovered.
            (4) The efforts taken to date by NASA for detecting 
        and characterizing the hazards of near-Earth objects 
        are not sufficient to fully determine the threat posed 
        by such objects to cause widespread destruction and 
        loss of life.
    (c) Definitions.--For purposes of this section the term 
``near-Earth object'' means an asteroid or comet with a 
perihelion distance of less than 1.3 Astronomical Units from 
the Sun.
    (d) Near-Earth Object Survey.--
            (1) Survey program.--The Administrator shall plan, 
        develop, and implement a Near-Earth Object Survey 
        program to detect, track, catalogue, and characterize 
        the physical characteristics of near-Earth objects 
        equal to or greater than 140 meters in diameter in 
        order to assess the threat of such near-Earth objects 
        to the Earth. It shall be the goal of the Survey 
        program to achieve 90 percent completion of its near-
        Earth object catalogue (based on statistically 
        predicted populations of near-Earth objects) within 15 
        years after the date of enactment of this Act.
            (2) Amendments.--Section 102 of the National 
        Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 (42 U.S.C. 2451) is 
        amended--
                    (A) by redesignating subsection (g) as 
                subsection (h);
                    (B) by inserting after subsection (f) the 
                following new subsection:
    ``(g) The Congress declares that the general welfare and 
security of the United States require that the unique 
competence of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
be directed to detecting, tracking, cataloguing, and 
characterizing near-Earth asteroids and comets in order to 
provide warning and mitigation of the potential hazard of such 
near-Earth objects to the Earth.''; and
                    (C) in subsection (h), as so redesignated 
                by subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, by 
                striking ``and (f)'' and inserting ``(f), and 
                (g)''.
            (3) Fifth-year report.--The Administrator shall 
        transmit to the Congress, not later than February 28 of 
        the fifth year after the date of enactment of this Act, 
        a report that provides the following:
                    (A) A summary of all activities taken 
                pursuant to paragraph (1) since the date of 
                enactment of this Act.
                    (B) A summary of expenditures for all 
                activities pursuant to paragraph (1) since the 
                date of enactment of this Act.
            (4) Initial report.--The Administrator shall 
        transmit to Congress not later than 1 year after the 
        date of enactment of this Act an initial report that 
        provides the following:
                    (A) An analysis of possible alternatives 
                that NASA may employ to carry out the Survey 
                program, including ground-based and space-based 
                alternatives with technical descriptions.
                    (B) A recommended option and proposed 
                budget to carry out the Survey program pursuant 
                to the recommended option.
                    (C) Analysis of possible alternatives that 
                NASA could employ to divert an object on a 
                likely collision course with Earth.

                         TITLE IV--AERONAUTICS

SEC. 401. DEFINITION.

    For purposes of this title, the term ``institution of 
higher education'' has the meaning given that term by section 
101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).

     Subtitle A--Governmental Interest in Aeronautics Research and 
                              Development

SEC. 411. GOVERNMENTAL INTEREST.

    Congress reaffirms the national commitment to aeronautics 
research made in the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 
1958. Aeronautics research and development remains a core 
mission of NASA. NASA is the lead agency for civil aeronautics 
research. Further, the government of the United States shall 
promote aeronautics research and development that will expand 
the capacity, ensure the safety, and increase the efficiency of 
the Nation's air transportation system, promote the security of 
the Nation, protect the environment, and retain the leadership 
of the United States in global aviation.

Subtitle B--High Priority Aeronautics Research and Development Programs

SEC. 421. FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    (a) Objective.--In order to ensure that the Nation 
maintains needed capabilities in fundamental areas of 
aeronautics research,the Administrator shall establish a 
program of long-term fundamental research in aeronautical sciences and 
technologies that is not tied to specific development projects.
    (b) Operation.--The Administrator shall conduct the program 
under this section, in part by awarding grants to institutions 
of higher education. The Administrator shall encourage the 
participation of institutions of higher education located in 
States that participate in the Experimental Program to 
Stimulate Competitive Research. All grants to institutions of 
higher education under this section shall be awarded through 
merit review.
    (c) Assessment.--The Administrator shall enter into an 
arrangement with the National Research Council for an 
assessment of the Nation's future requirements for fundamental 
aeronautics research and whether the Nation will have a skilled 
research workforce and research facilities commensurate with 
those requirements. The assessment shall include an 
identification of any projected gaps, and recommendations for 
what steps should be taken by the Federal Government to 
eliminate those gaps.
    (d) Report.--The Administrator shall transmit the 
assessment, along with NASA's response to the assessment, to 
Congress not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act.

SEC. 422. RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS.

    (a) Environmental Aircraft Research and Development.--The 
Administrator may establish an initiative with the objective of 
developing, and demonstrating in a relevant environment, 
technologies to enable the following commercial aircraft 
performance characteristics:
            (1) Noise.--Noise levels on takeoff and on airport 
        approach and landing that do not exceed ambient noise 
        levels in the absence of flight operations in the 
        vicinity of airports from which such commercial 
        aircraft would normally operate.
            (2) Energy consumption.--Twenty-five percent 
        reduction in the energy required for medium- to long-
        range flights, compared to aircraft in commercial 
        service as of the date of enactment of this Act.
            (3) Emissions.--Nitrogen oxides on take-off and 
        landing that are significantly reduced, without 
        adversely affecting hydrocarbons and smoke, relative to 
        aircraft in commercial service as of the date of 
        enactment of this Act.
    (b) Supersonic Transport Research and Development.--The 
Administrator may establish an initiative with the objective of 
developing and demonstrating, in a relevant environment, 
airframe and propulsion technologies to enable efficient, 
economical overland flight of supersonic civil transport 
aircraft with no significant impact on the environment.
    (c) Rotorcraft and Other Runway-Independent Air Vehicles.--
The Administrator may establish a rotorcraft and other runway-
independent air vehicles initiative with the objective of 
developing and demonstrating improved safety, noise, and 
environmental impact in a relevant environment.
    (d) Hypersonics Research.--The Administrator may establish 
a hypersonics research program with the objective of exploring 
the science and technology of hypersonic flight using air-
breathing propulsion concepts, through a mix of theoretical 
work, basic and applied research, and development of flight 
research demonstration vehicles. The program may also include 
the transition to the hypersonic range of Mach 3 to Mach 5.
    (e) Revolutionary Aeronautical Concepts.--The Administrator 
may establish a research program which covers a unique range of 
subsonic, fixed wing vehicles and propulsion concepts. This 
research is intended to push technology barriers beyond current 
subsonic technology. Propulsion concepts include advanced 
materials, morphing engines, hybrid engines, and fuel cells.
    (f) Fuel Cell-Powered Aircraft Research.--
            (1) Objective.--The Administrator may establish a 
        fuel-cell powered aircraft research program whose 
        objective shall be to develop and test concepts to 
        enable a hydrogen fuel cell-powered aircraft that would 
        have no hydrocarbon or nitrogen oxide emissions into 
        the environment.
            (2) Approach.--The Administrator may establish a 
        program of competitively awarded grants available to 
        teams of researchers that may include the participation 
        of individuals from universities, industry, and 
        government for the conduct of this research.
    (g) Mars Aircraft Research.--
            (1) Objective.--The Administrator may establish a 
        Mars Aircraft project whose objective shall be to 
        develop and test concepts for an uncrewed aircraft that 
        could operate for sustained periods in the atmosphere 
        of Mars.
            (2) Approach.--The Administrator may establish a 
        program of competitively awarded grants available to 
        teams of researchers that may include the participation 
        of individuals from universities, industry, and 
        government for the conduct of this research.

SEC. 423. AIRSPACE SYSTEMS RESEARCH.

    (a) Objective.--The Airspace Systems Research program shall 
pursue research and development to enable revolutionary 
improvements to and modernization of the National Airspace 
System, as well as to enable the introduction of new systems 
for vehicles that can take advantage of an improved, modern air 
transportation system.
    (b) Alignment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall align the 
projects of the Airspace Systems Research program so that they 
directly support the objectives of the Joint Planning and 
Development Office's Next Generation Air Transportation System 
Integrated Plan.

SEC. 424. AVIATION SAFETY AND SECURITY RESEARCH.

    (a) Objective.--The Aviation Safety and Security Research 
program shall pursue research and development activities that 
directly address the safety and security needs of the National 
Airspace System and the aircraft that fly in it. The program 
shall develop prevention, intervention, and mitigation 
technologies aimed at causal, contributory, or circumstantial 
factors of aviation accidents.
    (b) Alignment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall align the 
projects of the Aviation Safety and Security Research program 
so that they directly support the objectives of the Joint 
Planning and Development Office's Next Generation Air 
Transportation System Integrated Plan.

SEC. 425. AVIATION WEATHER RESEARCH.

    The Administrator may carry out a program of collaborative 
research with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration on convective weather events, with the goal of 
significantly improving the reliability of 2-hour to 6-hour 
aviation weather forecasts.

SEC. 426. ASSESSMENT OF WAKE TURBULENCE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
                    PROGRAM.

    (a) Assessment.--The Administrator shall enter into an 
arrangement with the National Research Council for an 
assessment of Federal wake turbulence research and development 
programs. The assessment shall address at least the following 
questions:
            (1) Are the Federal research and development goals 
        and objectives well defined?
            (2) Are there any deficiencies in the Federal 
        research and development goals and objectives?
            (3) What roles should be played by each of the 
        relevant Federal agencies, such as NASA, the Federal 
        Aviation Administration, and the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration, in wake turbulence research 
        and development?
    (b) Report.--A report containing the results of the 
assessment conducted pursuant to subsection (a) shall be 
provided to Congress not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act.

SEC. 427. UNIVERSITY-BASED CENTERS FOR RESEARCH ON AVIATION TRAINING.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator may award grants to 
institutions of higher education (or consortia thereof) to 
establish one or more Centers for Research on Aviation Training 
under cooperative agreements with appropriate NASA Centers.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Centers shall be to 
investigate the impact of new technologies and procedures, 
particularly those related to the aircraft flight deck and to 
the air traffic management functions, on training requirements 
for pilots and air traffic controllers.
    (c) Application.--An institution of higher education (or a 
consortium of such institutions) seeking funding under this 
section shall submit an application to the Administrator at 
such time, in such manner, and containing such information as 
the Administrator may require, including, at a minimum, a 5-
year research plan.
    (d) Award Duration.--An award made by the Administrator 
under this section shall be for a period of 5 years and may be 
renewed on the basis of--
            (1) satisfactory performance in meeting the goals 
        of the research plan proposed by the Center in its 
        application under subsection (c); and
            (2) other requirements as specified by the 
        Administrator.

                        Subtitle C--Scholarships

SEC. 431. NASA AERONAUTICS SCHOLARSHIPS.

    (a) Establishment.--The Administrator shall establish a 
program of scholarships for full-time graduate students who are 
United States citizens and are enrolled in, or have been 
accepted by and have indicated their intention to enroll in, 
accredited Masters degree programs in aeronautical engineering 
or equivalent programs at institutions of higher education. 
Each such scholarship shall cover the costs of room, board, 
tuition, and fees, and may be provided for a maximum of 2 
years.
    (b) Implementation.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall publish 
regulations governing the scholarship program under this 
section.
    (c) Cooperative Training Opportunities.--Students who have 
been awarded a scholarship under this section shall have the 
opportunity for paid employment at one of the NASA Centers 
engaged in aeronautics research and development during the 
summer prior to the first year of the student's Masters 
program, and between the first and second year, if applicable.

                       Subtitle D--Data Requests

SEC. 441. AVIATION DATA REQUESTS.

    The Administrator shall make available upon request 
satellite imagery and aerial photography of remote terrain that 
NASA owns at the time of the request to the Administrator of 
the Federal Aviation Administration, or the Director of the 
Five Star Medallion Program, to assist and train pilots in 
navigating challenging topographical features of such terrain.

                      TITLE V--HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT

SEC. 501. SPACE SHUTTLE FOLLOW-ON.

    (a) Policy Statement.--It is the policy of the United 
States to possess the capability for human access to space on a 
continuous basis.
    (b) Progress Report.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the 
Administrator shall transmit a report to the Committee on 
Science of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate describing 
the progress being made toward developing the Crew Exploration 
Vehicle and the Crew Launch Vehicle and the estimated time 
before they will demonstrate crewed, orbital spaceflight.
    (c) Compliance Report.--If, 1 year before the final planned 
flight of the Space Shuttle orbiter, the United States has not 
demonstrated a replacement human space flight system, and the 
United States cannot uphold the policy described in subsection 
(a), the Administrator shall transmit a report to the Committee 
on Science of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
describing--
            (1) strategic risks to the United States associated 
        with the failure to uphold the policy described in 
        subsection (a);
            (2) the estimated length of time during which the 
        United States will not have its own human access to 
        space;
            (3) what steps will be taken to shorten that length 
        of time; and
            (4) what other means will be used to allow human 
        access to space during that time.

SEC. 502. TRANSITION.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator shall, to the fullest 
extent possible consistent with a successful development 
program, use the personnel, capabilities, assets, and 
infrastructure of the Space Shuttle program in developing the 
Crew Exploration Vehicle, Crew Launch Vehicle, and a heavy-lift 
launch vehicle.
    (b) Plan.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit to the 
Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a plan describing how NASA will proceed with its human 
space flight programs, which, at a minimum, shall describe--
            (1) how NASA will deploy personnel from, and use 
        the facilities of, the Space Shuttle program to ensure 
        that the Space Shuttle operates as safely as possible 
        through its final flight and to ensure that personnel 
        and facilities from the Space Shuttle program are used 
        in NASA's exploration programs in accordance with 
        subsection (a);
            (2) the planned number of flights the Space Shuttle 
        will make before its retirement;
            (3) the means, other than the Space Shuttle and the 
        Crew Exploration Vehicle, including commercial 
        vehicles, that may be used to ferry crew and cargo to 
        and from the ISS;
            (4) the intended purpose of lunar missions and the 
        architecture for those missions; and
            (5) the extent to which the Crew Exploration 
        Vehicle will allow for the escape of the crew in an 
        emergency.
    (c) Personnel.--The Administrator shall consult with other 
appropriate Federal agencies and with NASA contractors and 
employees to develop a transition plan for any Federal and 
contractor personnel engaged in the Space Shuttle program who 
can no longer be retained because of the retirement of the 
Space Shuttle. The plan shall include actions to assist Federal 
and contractor personnel in taking advantage of training, 
retraining, job placement and relocation programs, and any 
other actions that NASA will take to assist the employees. The 
plan shall also describe how the Administrator will ensure that 
NASA and its contractors will have an appropriate complement of 
employees to allow for the safest possible use of the Space 
Shuttle through its final flight. The Administrator shall 
transmit the plan to the Committee on Science of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate not later than March 31, 2006.

SEC. 503. REQUIREMENTS.

    The Administrator shall--
            (1) construct an architecture and implementation 
        plan for NASA's human exploration program that is not 
        critically dependent on the achievement of milestones 
        by fixed dates;
            (2) implement an exploration technology development 
        program to enable lunar human and robotic operations 
        consistent with section 101(b)(2), including surface 
        power to use on the Moon and other locations;
            (3) conduct an in-situ resource utilization 
        technology program to develop the capability to use 
        space resources to increase independence from Earth, 
        and sustain exploration beyond low-Earth orbit; and
            (4) pursue aggressively automated rendezvous and 
        docking capabilities that can support the ISS and other 
        mission requirements.

SEC. 504. GROUND-BASED ANALOG CAPABILITIES.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator may establish a ground-
based analog capability in remote United States locations in 
order to assist in the development of lunar operations, life 
support, and in-situ resource utilization experience and 
capabilities.
    (b) Environmental Characteristics.--The Administrator shall 
select locations for the activities described in subsection (a) 
that--
            (1) are regularly accessible;
            (2) have significant temperature extremes and 
        range; and
            (3) have access to energy and natural resources 
        (including geothermal, permafrost, volcanic, or other 
        potential resources).
    (c) Involvement of Local Populations; Private Sector 
Partners.--In carrying out this section, the Administrator 
shall involve local populations, academia, and industrial 
partners as much as possible to ensure that ground-based 
benefits and applications are encouraged and developed.

SEC. 505. ISS COMPLETION.

    (a) Policy.--It is the policy of the United States to 
achieve diverse and growing utilization of, and benefits from, 
the ISS.
    (b) Elements, Capabilities, and Configuration Criteria.--
The Administrator shall ensure that the ISS will--
            (1) be assembled and operated in a manner that 
        fulfills international partner agreements, as long as 
        the Administrator determines that the Shuttle can 
        safely enable the United States to do so;
            (1) be used for a diverse range of microgravity 
        research, including fundamental, applied, and 
        commercial research, consistent with section 305;
            (2) have an ability to support a crew size of at 
        least 6 persons, unless the Administrator transmits to 
        the Committee on Science of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
        and Transportation of the Senate not later than 60 days 
        after the date of enactment of this Act, a report 
        explaining why such a requirement should not be met, 
        the impact of not meeting the requirement on the ISS 
        research agenda and operations and international 
        partner agreements, and what additional funding or 
        other steps would be required to have an ability to 
        support crew size of at least 6 persons;
            (3) support Crew Exploration Vehicle docking and 
        automated docking of cargo vehicles or modules launched 
        by either heavy-lift or commercially-developed launch 
        vehicles;
            (4) support any diagnostic human research, on-orbit 
        characterization of molecular crystal growth, cellular 
        research, and other research that NASA believes is 
        necessary to conduct, but for which NASA lacks the 
        capacity to return the materials that need to be 
        analyzed to Earth; and
            (5) be operated at an appropriate risk level.
    (c) Contingencies.--
            (1) Policy.--The Administrator shall ensure that 
        the ISS can have available, if needed, sufficient 
        logistics and on-orbitcapabilities to support any 
potential period during which the Space Shuttle or its follow-on crew 
and cargo systems are unavailable, and can have available, if needed, 
sufficient surge delivery capability or prepositioning of spares and 
other supplies needed to accommodate any such hiatus.
            (2) Plan.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, and before making any change in 
        the ISS assembly sequence in effect on the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit 
        to the Committee on Science of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
        and Transportation of the Senate a plan to carry out 
        the policy described in paragraph (1).

SEC. 506. ISS RESEARCH.

    The Administrator shall--
            (1) carry out a program of microgravity research 
        consistent with section 305;
            (2) consider the need for a life sciences 
        centrifuge and any associated holding facilities; and
            (3) not later than 90 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, transmit to the Committee on 
        Science of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
        the Senate the research plan for NASA utilization of 
        the ISS and the proposed final configuration of the 
        ISS, which shall include an identification of 
        microgravity research that can be performed in ground-
        based facilities and then validated in space and an 
        assessment of the impact of having or not having a life 
        science centrifuge aboard the ISS.

SEC. 507. NATIONAL LABORATORY DESIGNATION.

    (a) Designation.--To further the policy described in 
section 501(a), the United States segment of the ISS is hereby 
designated a national laboratory.
    (b) Management.--
            (1) Partnerships.--The Administrator shall seek to 
        increase the utilization of the ISS by other Federal 
        entities and the private sector through partnerships, 
        cost-sharing agreements, and other arrangements that 
        would supplement NASA funding of the ISS.
            (2) Contracting.--The Administrator may enter into 
        a contract with a nongovernmental entity to operate the 
        ISS national laboratory, subject to all applicable 
        Federal laws and regulations.
    (c) Plan.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit to the 
Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a plan describing how the national laboratory will be 
operated. At a minimum, the plan shall describe--
            (1) any changes in the research plan transmitted 
        under section 506(3) and any other changes in the 
        operation of the ISS resulting from the designation;
            (2) any ground-based NASA operations or buildings 
        that will be considered part of the national 
        laboratory;
            (3) the management structure for the laboratory, 
        including the rationale for contracting or not 
        contracting with a nongovernmental entity to operate 
        the ISS national laboratory;
            (4) the workforce that will be considered employees 
        of the national laboratory;
            (5) how NASA will seek the participation of other 
        parties described in subsection (b)(1); and
            (6) a schedule for implementing any changes in ISS 
        operations, utilization, or management described in the 
        plan.
    (d) United States Segment Defined.--In this section the 
term ``United States segment of the ISS'' means those elements 
of the ISS manufactured--
            (1) by the United States; or
            (2) for the United States by other nations in 
        exchange for funds or launch services.

                     TITLE VI--OTHER PROGRAM AREAS

                  Subtitle A--Space and Flight Support

SEC. 601. ORBITAL DEBRIS.

    The Administrator, in conjunction with the heads of other 
Federal agencies, shall take steps to develop or acquire 
technologies that will enable NASA to decrease the risks 
associated with orbital debris.

SEC. 602. SECONDARY PAYLOAD CAPABILITY.

    (a) In General.--In order to provide more routine and 
affordable access to space for a broad range of scientific 
payloads, the Administrator is encouraged to provide the 
capabilities to support secondary payload flight opportunities 
on United States launch vehicles, or free flyers, for 
satellites or scientific payloads weighing less than 500 
kilograms.
    (b) Feasibility Study.--The Administrator shall initiate a 
feasibility study for designating a National Free Flyer Launch 
Coordination Center as a means of coordinating, consolidating, 
and integrating secondary launch capabilities, launch 
opportunities, and payloads.
    (c) Assessment.--The feasibility study required by 
subsection (b) shall include an assessment of the feasibility 
of integrating a National Free Flyer Launch Coordination Center 
within the operations and facilities of an existing nonprofit 
organization such as the Inland Northwest Space Alliance in 
Missoula, Montana, or a similar entity, and shall include an 
assessment of the potential utilization of existing launch and 
launch support facilities and capabilities, including but not 
limited to those in the States of Montana and New Mexico and 
their respective contiguous States, and the State of Alaska, 
for the integration and launch of secondary payloads, including 
an assessment of the feasibility of establishing cooperative 
agreements among such facilities, existing or future commercial 
launch providers, payload developers, and the designated 
Coordination Center.

                         Subtitle B--Education

SEC. 611. INSTITUTIONS IN NASA'S MINORITY INSTITUTIONS PROGRAM.

    The matter appearing under the heading ``national 
aeronautics and space administration, small and disadvantaged 
business'' in title III of the Departments of Veterans Affairs 
and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies 
Appropriations Act, 1990 (42 U.S.C. 2473b; 103 Stat. 863) is 
amended by striking ``Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities and'' and inserting ``Historically Black Colleges 
and Universities that are part B institutions (as defined in 
section 322(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1061(2))), Hispanic-serving institutions (as defined in section 
502(a)(5) of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1101a(a)(5))), Tribal Colleges 
or Universities (as defined in section 316(b)(3) of that Act 
(20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)(3))), Alaskan Native-serving institutions 
(as defined in section 317(b)(2) of that Act (20 U.S.C. 
1059d)(b)(2))), Native Hawaiian-serving institutions (as 
defined in section 317(b)(4) of that Act (20 U.S.C. 
1059d(b)(4))), and''.

SEC. 612. PROGRAM TO EXPAND DISTANCE LEARNING IN RURAL UNDERSERVED 
                    AREAS.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator shall develop or expand 
programs to extend science and space educational outreach to 
rural communities and schools through video conferencing, 
interpretive exhibits, teacher education, classroom 
presentations, and student field trips.
    (b) Priorities.--In carrying out subsection (a), the 
Administrator shall give priority to existing programs, 
including Challenger Learning Centers--
            (1) that utilize community-based partnerships in 
        the field;
            (2) that build and maintain video conference and 
        exhibit capacity;
            (3) that travel directly to rural communities and 
        serve low-income populations; and
            (4) with a special emphasis on increasing the 
        number of women and minorities in the science and 
        engineering professions.

SEC. 613. CHARLES ``PETE'' CONRAD ASTRONOMY AWARDS.

    (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the 
``Charles `Pete' Conrad Astronomy Awards Act''.
    (b) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section--
            (1) the term ``amateur astronomer'' means an 
        individual whose employer does not provide any funding, 
        payment, or compensation to the individual for the 
        observation of asteroids and other celestial bodies, 
        and does not include any individual employed as a 
        professional astronomer;
            (2) the term ``Minor Planet Center'' means the 
        Minor Planet Center of the Smithsonian Astrophysical 
        Observatory;
            (3) the term ``near-Earth asteroid'' means an 
        asteroid with a perihelion distance of less than 1.3 
        Astronomical Units from the Sun; and
            (4) the term ``Program'' means the Charles ``Pete'' 
        Conrad Astronomy Awards Program established under 
        subsection (c).
    (c) Pete Conrad Astronomy Award Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Administrator shall establish 
        the Charles ``Pete'' Conrad Astronomy Awards Program.
            (2) Awards.--The Administrator shall make awards 
        under the Program based on the recommendations of the 
        Minor Planet Center.
            (3) Award categories.--The Administrator shall make 
        one annual award, unless there are no eligible 
        discoveries or contributions, for each of the following 
        categories:
                    (A) The amateur astronomer or group of 
                amateur astronomers who in the preceding 
                calendar year discovered the intrinsically 
                brightest near-Earth asteroid among the near-
                Earth asteroids that were discovered during 
                that year by amateur astronomers or groups of 
                amateur astronomers.
                    (B) The amateur astronomer or group of 
                amateur astronomers who made the greatest 
                contribution to the Minor Planet Center's 
                mission of cataloguing near-Earth asteroids 
                during the preceding year.
            (4) Award amount.--An award under the Program shall 
        be in the amount of $3,000.
            (5) Guidelines.--(A) No individual who is not a 
        citizen or permanent resident of the United States at 
        the time of his discovery or contribution may receive 
        an award under this section.
            (B) The decisions of the Administrator in making 
        awards under this section are final.

SEC. 614. REVIEW OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator shall enter into an 
arrangement with the National Research Council of the National 
Academy of Sciences to conduct a review and evaluation of 
NASA's precollege science, technology, and mathematics 
education program. The review and evaluation shall be 
documented in a report to the Administrator and shall include 
such recommendations as the National Research Council 
determines will improve the effectiveness of the program.
    (b) Review.--The review and evaluation under subsection (a) 
shall include--
            (1) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the 
        overall program in meeting its defined goals and 
        objectives;
            (2) an assessment of the quality and educational 
        effectiveness of the major components of the program, 
        including an evaluation of the adequacy of assessment 
        metrics and data collection requirements available for 
        determining the effectiveness of individual projects;
            (3) an evaluation of the funding priorities in the 
        program, including a review of the funding level and 
        funding trend for each major component of the program 
        and an assessment of whether the resources made 
        available are consistent with meeting identified goals 
        and priorities; and
            (4) a determination of the extent and the 
        effectiveness of coordination and collaboration between 
        NASA and other Federal agencies that sponsor science, 
        technology, and mathematics education activities.
    (c) Report to Congress.--Not later than 18 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit 
to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senatethe results of the review and evaluation required under 
subsection (a).

SEC. 615. EQUAL ACCESS TO NASA'S EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator shall strive to ensure 
equal access for minority and economically disadvantaged 
students to NASA's education programs.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the 
Administrator shall submit a report to the Committee on Science 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate describing the 
efforts by the Administrator to ensure equal access for 
minority and economically disadvantaged students under this 
section and the results of such efforts. As part of the report, 
the Administrator shall provide--
            (1) data on minority participation in NASA's 
        education programs, at a minimum in the following 
        categories: elementary and secondary education, 
        undergraduate education, and graduate education; and
            (2) the total value of grants NASA made to 
        Historically Black Colleges and Universities and to 
        Hispanic Serving Institutions through education 
        programs during the period covered by the report.
    (c) Program.--The Administrator shall establish the Dr. Mae 
C. Jemison Grant Program to work with Minority Serving 
Institutions to bring more women of color into the field of 
space and aeronautics.

SEC. 616. MUSEUMS.

    The Administrator may provide grants to, and enter into 
cooperative agreements with, museums and planetariums to enable 
them to enhance programs related to space exploration, 
aeronautics, space science, earth science, or microgravity.

SEC. 617. REVIEW OF MUST PROGRAM.

    Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Administrator shall transmit a report to Congress on 
the legal status of the Motivating Undergraduates in Science 
and Technology program. If the report concludes that the 
program is in compliance with the laws of the United States, 
NASA shall implement the program, as planned in the July 5, 
2005, NASA Research Announcement.

SEC. 618. CONTINUATION OF CERTAIN EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

    From amounts appropriated to NASA for education programs, 
the Administrator shall ensure the continuation of the Space 
Grant Program, the Experimental Program to Stimulate 
Competitive Research, and, consistent with the results of the 
review under section 614, the NASA Explorer School program, to 
motivate and develop the next generation of explorers.

SEC. 619. IMPLEMENTATION OF PREVIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS.

    (a) GAO Report.--Not more than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit to the 
Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee of Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report describing action taken by NASA to implement 
the recommendations contained in the Government Accountability 
Office's Report No. 04-639.
    (b) Compliance.--To comply with title IX of the Education 
Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.), the Administrator 
shall conduct compliance reviews of at least 2 grantees 
annually.

                    Subtitle C--Technology Transfer

SEC. 621. COMMERCIAL TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator shall execute a 
commercial technology transfer program with the goal of 
facilitating the exchange of services, products, and 
intellectual property between NASA and the private sector. This 
program shall place at least as much emphasis on encouraging 
the transfer of NASA technology to the private sector 
(``spinning out'') as on encouraging use of private sector 
technology by NASA. This program shall be maintained in a 
manner that provides clear benefits for the agency, the 
domestic economy, and the research community.
    (b) Program Structure.--In carrying out the program 
described in subsection (a), the Administrator shall provide 
program participants with at least 45 days notice of any 
proposed changes to the structure of NASA's technology transfer 
and commercialization organizations that is in effect as of the 
date of enactment of this Act.

                  TITLE VII--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

       Subtitle A--National Aeronautics and Space Administration

SEC. 701. RETROCESSION OF JURISDICTION.

    The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 (42 U.S.C. 
2451 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end of title III the 
following new section:

                     ``RETROCESSION OF JURISDICTION

    ``Sec. 316. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
the Administrator may relinquish to a State all or part of the 
legislative jurisdiction of the United States over lands or 
interests under the control of the Administrator in that State.
    ``(b) For purposes of this section, the term `State' means 
any of the several States, the District of Columbia, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, 
Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and any 
other commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United 
States.''.

SEC. 702. EXTENSION OF INDEMNIFICATION.

    Section 309 of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 
1958 (42 U.S.C. 2458c) is amended in subsection (f)(1) by 
striking ``December 31, 2002'' and all that follows and 
inserting ``December 31, 2010.''.

SEC. 703. NASA SCHOLARSHIPS.

    (a) Amendments.--Section 9809 of title 5, United States 
Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(2) by striking ``Act.'' and 
        inserting ``Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b).'';
            (2) in subsection (c) by striking ``require.'' and 
        inserting ``require to carry out this section.'';
            (3) in subsection (f)(1) by striking the last 
        sentence; and
            (4) in subsection (g)(2) by striking ``Treasurer of 
        the'' and all that follows through ``by 3'' and 
        inserting ``Treasurer of the United States''.
    (b) Repeal.--The Vision 100-Century of Aviation 
Reauthorization Act is amended by striking section 703 (42 
U.S.C. 2473e).

SEC. 704. INDEPENDENT COST ANALYSIS.

    Section 301 of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration Authorization Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 2459g) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``Phase B'' in subsection (a) and 
        inserting ``implementation'';
            (2) by striking ``$150,000,000'' and inserting 
        ``$250,000,000'';
            (3) by striking ``Chief Financial Officer'' each 
        place it appears in subsection (a) and inserting 
        ``Administrator'';
            (4) by inserting ``and consider'' in subsection (a) 
        after ``shall conduct''; and
            (5) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the 
        following:
    ``(b) Implementation Defined.--In this section, the term 
`implementation' means all activity in the life cycle of a 
project after preliminary design, independent assessment of the 
preliminary design, and approval to proceed into 
implementation, including critical design, development, 
certification, launch, operations, disposal of assets, and, for 
technology programs, development, testing, analysis, and 
communication of the results.''.

SEC. 705. RECOVERY AND DISPOSITION AUTHORITY.

    Title III of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 
1958, as amended by section 701 of this Act, is further amended 
by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 317. RECOVERY AND DISPOSITION AUTHORITY.

    ``(a) In General.--
            ``(1) Control of remains.--Subject to paragraphs 
        (2) and (3), when there is an accident or mishap 
        resulting in the death of a crewmember of a NASA human 
        space flight vehicle, the Administrator may take 
        control over the remains of the crewmember and order 
        autopsies and other scientific or medical tests.
            ``(2) Treatment.--Each crewmember shall provide the 
        Administrator with his or her preferences regarding the 
        treatment accorded to his or her remains and the 
        Administrator shall, to the extent possible, respect 
        those stated preferences.
            ``(3) Construction.--This section shall not be 
        construed to permit the Administrator to interfere with 
        any Federal investigation of a mishap or accident.
    ``(b) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Crewmember.--The term `crewmember' means an 
        astronaut or other person assigned to a NASA human 
        space flight vehicle.
            ``(2) NASA human space flight vehicle.--The term 
        `NASA human space flight vehicle' means a space 
        vehicle, as defined in section 308(f)(1), that
                    ``(A) is intended to transport 1 or more 
                persons;
                    ``(B) is designed to operate in outer 
                space; and
                    ``(C) is either owned by NASA, or owned by 
                a NASA contractor or cooperating party and 
                operated as part of a NASA mission or a joint 
                mission with NASA.''.

SEC. 706. CHANGES TO EXISTING LAWS ON REPORTS.

    (a) Section 201 of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration Authorization Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 2451 note) 
is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and not later than the first day 
        of every second month thereafter until October 1, 
        2006'' and inserting ``and semiannually thereafter 
        until December 31, 2011''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following: ``Each such 
        report shall also identify each Russian entity or 
        person to whom NASA has, since the date of the 
        enactment of the Iran Nonproliferation Amendments Act 
        of 2005, made a payment in cash or in-kind for work to 
        be performed or services to be rendered under the 
        Agreement Concerning Cooperation on the Civil 
        International Space Station, with annex, signed at 
        Washington January 29, 1998, and entered into force 
        March 27, 2001, or any protocol, agreement, memorandum 
        of understanding, or contract related thereto. Each 
        report shall include the specific purpose of each 
        payment made to each entity or person identified in the 
        report.''.
    (b) Section 304(b) of the Federal Aviation Administration 
Research, Engineering, and Development Authorization Act of 
1992 (49 U.S.C. 47508 note) is amended by striking ``2000'' and 
inserting ``2010''.
    (c) Section 323 of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration Authorization Act of 2000 is amended by striking 
subsection (a).

SEC. 707. SMALL BUSINESS CONTRACTING.

    (a) Plan.--In consultation with the Small Business 
Administration, the Administrator shall develop a plan to 
maximize the number and amount of contracts awarded to small 
business concerns (within the meaning given that term in 
section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632)) and to 
meet established contracting goals for such concerns.
    (b) Priority.--The Administrator shall establish as a 
priority meeting the contracting goals developed in conjunction 
with the Small Business Administration to maximize the amount 
of prime contracts, as measured in dollars, awarded in each 
fiscal year by NASA to small business concerns (within the 
meaning given that term in section 3 of the Small Business Act 
(15 U.S.C. 632)).

SEC. 708. NASA HEALTHCARE PROGRAM.

    The Administrator shall develop a plan to better understand 
the longitudinal health effects of space flight on humans. In 
the development of the plan, the Administrator shall consider 
the need forthe establishment of a lifetime healthcare program 
for NASA astronauts and their families or other methods to obtain 
needed health data from astronauts and retired astronauts.

SEC. 709. OFFSHORE PERFORMANCE OF CONTRACTS FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF 
                    GOODS AND SERVICES.

    The Administrator shall submit to Congress, not later than 
120 days after the end of each fiscal year beginning with the 
first fiscal year after the date of enactment of this Act, a 
report on the contracts and subcontracts performed overseas and 
the amount of purchases directly or indirectly by NASA from 
foreign entities in that fiscal year. The report shall 
separately indicate--
            (1) the contracts and subcontracts and their dollar 
        values for which the Administrator determines that 
        essential goods or services under the contract are 
        available only from a source outside the United States; 
        and
            (2) the items and their dollar values for which the 
        Buy American Act was waived pursuant to obligations of 
        the United States under international agreements.

SEC. 710. STUDY ON ENHANCED USE LEASING.

    Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Comptroller General shall transmit to the Committee on 
Science of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a review of 
NASA's enhanced use leasing pilot program established by 
section 315 of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration Act of 1958 (42 U.S.C. 2459j). At a minimum the 
review shall analyze--
            (1) the financial impact of the program, taking 
        into account revenue foregone by the United States, 
        whether such revenue would have been realized in the 
        absence of the program, and any revenue that accrued to 
        NASA because of the program;
            (2) the use and effectiveness of the program; and
            (3) whether the arrangements made under the program 
        would have been made in the absence of the program.

                Subtitle B--National Science Foundation

SEC. 721. DATA ON SPECIFIC FIELDS OF STUDY.

    The National Science Foundation shall continue to collect 
statistically reliable data on the field of degree of college-
educated individuals to fulfill obligations under section 
4(j)(1) of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 
U.S.C. 1863(j)(1)) and the Science and Engineering Equal 
Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885 et. seq.). If the Director of 
the Foundation determines that there is a legal impediment to 
the continued collection of this data, he shall inform the 
Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act.

SEC. 722. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION MAJOR RESEARCH EQUIPMENT AND 
                    FACILITIES.

    (a) Astronomical Sciences Senior Review.--
            (1) Review.--The Director of the National Science 
        Foundation shall charge the Mathematical and Physical 
        Sciences Advisory Committee with conducting a review of 
        the astronomical facilities supported by the Foundation 
        to determine the appropriate balance between supporting 
        the operation of existing facilities and supporting the 
        design, development, and eventual operation of new 
        facilities. The review shall recommend actions that 
        would enable the Foundation to support priorities 
        recommended in the National Academy of Sciences reports 
        ``Astronomy and Astrophysics in the New Millennium'' 
        and ``Connecting Quarks with the Cosmos''.
            (2) Transmittal.--The Director shall transmit the 
        review, along with a schedule for implementing any 
        recommendations the Director accepts and an explanation 
        for rejecting any recommendations, to the Committee on 
        Science of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee of Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
        the Senate no later than June 30, 2006.
    (b) Plan for Funding Design and Development for Major 
Research Equipment and Facilities Construction Projects.--
            (1) In general.--The Director of the National 
        Science Foundation shall develop a plan to facilitate 
        more thorough design and development of facilities that 
        can be considered for funding through the Major 
        Research Equipment and Facilities Construction account.
            (2) Considerations.--In developing the plan, the 
        Director shall consider--
                    (A) steps to encourage and ease cross-
                directorate collaboration;
                    (B) ways to ensure that a Directorate that 
                will eventually support the operation of a 
                facility is fully committed to that facility 
                from the outset;
                    (C) providing funding for the design and 
                development of facilities from new sources 
                within the Foundation; and
                    (D) ways to enable and encourage entities 
                proposing facilities projects to receive design 
                and development funding from nongovernmental 
                sources.
            (3) Transmittal.--No later than June 30, 2006, the 
        Director of the National Science Foundation shall 
        transmit to the Committee on Science of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
        and Transportation of the Senate the plan, along with a 
        statement from the Director describing how the plan 
        addresses the considerations described in paragraph 
        (2).

                 TITLE VIII--TASK FORCE AND COMMISSION

 Subtitle A--International Space Station Independent Safety Task Force

SEC. 801. ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE.

    (a) Establishment.--The Administrator shall establish an 
independent task force to review the International Space 
Station program with the objective of discovering and assessing 
any vulnerabilities of the International Space Station that 
could lead toits destruction, compromise the health of its 
crew, or necessitate its premature abandonment.
    (b) Deadline for Establishment.--The Administrator shall 
establish the independent task force within 60 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 802. TASKS OF THE TASK FORCE.

     The independent task force established under section 801 
shall, to the extent possible, undertake the following tasks:
            (1) Catalogue threats to and vulnerabilities of the 
        ISS, including design flaws, natural phenomena, 
        computer software or hardware flaws, sabotage or 
        terrorist attack, number of crewmembers, inability to 
        adequately deliver replacement parts and supplies, and 
        management or procedural deficiencies.
            (2) Make recommendations for corrective actions.
            (3) Provide any additional findings or 
        recommendations related to ISS safety.
            (4) Prepare a report to the Administrator, 
        Congress, and the public.

SEC. 803. COMPOSITION OF THE TASK FORCE.

    (a) External Organizations.--The independent task force 
shall include at least one representative from each of the 
following external organizations:
            (1) The Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel.
            (2) The Task Force on International Space Station 
        Operational Readiness of the NASA Advisory Council, or 
        its successor.
            (3) The Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board of 
        the National Research Council.
    (c) Independent Organizations Within NASA.--The independent 
task force shall also include at least the following 
individuals from within NASA:
            (1) NASA's Chief Engineer.
            (2) The head of the Independent Technical 
        Authority.
            (3) The head of the Safety and Mission Assurance 
        Office.
            (4) The head of the NASA Engineering and Safety 
        Center.

SEC. 804. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Interim Reports.--The independent task force may 
transmit to the Administrator and Congress, and make 
concurrently available to the public, interim reports 
containing such findings, conclusions, and recommendations for 
corrective actions as have been agreed to by a majority of the 
task force members.
    (b) Final Report.--The task force shall transmit to the 
Administrator and Congress, and make concurrently available to 
the public, a final report containing such findings, 
conclusions, and recommendations for corrective actions as have 
been agreed to by a majority of task force members. Such report 
shall include any minority views or opinions not reflected in 
the majority report.
    (c) Approval.--The independent task force shall not be 
required to seek the approval of the contents of any of the 
reports submitted under subsection (a) or (b) by the 
Administrator or by any person designated by the Administrator 
prior to the submission of the reports to the Administrator and 
Congress and to their being made concurrently available to the 
public.

SEC. 805. SUNSET.

     The independent task force established under this subtitle 
shall transmit its final report to the Administrator and to 
Congress and make it available to the public not later than 1 
year after the independent task force is established and shall 
cease to exist after the transmittal.

  Subtitle B--Human Space Flight Independent Investigation Commission

SEC. 821. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this subtitle--
            (1) the term ``Commission'' means a Commission 
        established under this title; and
            (2) the term ``incident'' means either an accident 
        or a deliberate act.

SEC. 822. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--The President shall establish an 
independent, nonpartisan Commission within the executive branch 
to investigate any incident that results in the loss of--
            (1) a Space Shuttle;
            (2) the International Space Station or its 
        operational viability;
            (3) any other United States space vehicle carrying 
        humans that is owned by the Federal Government or that 
        is being used pursuant to a contract with the Federal 
        Government; or
            (4) a crew member or passenger of any space vehicle 
        described in this subsection.
    (b) Deadline for Establishment.--The President shall 
establish a Commission within 7 days after an incident 
specified in subsection (a).

SEC. 823. TASKS OF THE COMMISSION.

    A Commission established pursuant to this subtitle shall, 
to the extent possible, undertake the following tasks:
            (1) Investigate the incident.
            (2) Determine the cause of the incident.
            (3) Identify all contributing factors to the cause 
        of the incident.
            (4) Make recommendations for corrective actions.
            (5) Provide any additional findings or 
        recommendations deemed by the Commission to be 
        important, whether or not they are related to the 
        specific incident under investigation.
            (6) Prepare a report to Congress, the President, 
        and the public.

SEC. 824. COMPOSITION OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Number of Commissioners.--A Commission established 
pursuant to this subtitle shall consist of 15 members.
    (b) Selection.--The members of a Commission shall be chosen 
in the following manner:
            (1) The President shall appoint the members, and 
        shall designate the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the 
        Commission from among its members.
            (2) The majority leader of the Senate, the minority 
        leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of 
        Representatives, and the minority leader of the House 
        of Representatives shall each provide to the President 
        a list of candidates for membership on the Commission. 
        The President may select one of the candidates from 
        each of the 4 lists for membership on the Commission.
            (3) No officer or employee of the Federal 
        Government or Member of Congress shall serve as a 
        member of the Commission.
            (4) No member of the Commission shall have, or have 
        pending, a contractual relationship with NASA.
            (5) The President shall not appoint any individual 
        as a member of a Commission under this section who has 
        a current or former relationship with the Administrator 
        that the President determines would constitute a 
        conflict of interest.
            (6) To the extent practicable, the President shall 
        ensure that the members of the Commission include some 
        individuals with experience relative to human carrying 
        spacecraft, as well as some individuals with 
        investigative experience and some individuals with 
        legal experience.
            (7) To the extent practicable, the President shall 
        seek diversity in the membership of the Commission.
    (c) Deadline for Appointment.--All members of a Commission 
established under this subtitle shall be appointed no later 
than 30 days after the incident.
    (d) Initial Meeting.--A Commission shall meet and begin 
operations as soon as practicable.
    (e) Quorum; Vacancies.--After its initial meeting, a 
Commission shall meet upon the call of the Chairman or a 
majority of its members. Eight members of a Commission shall 
constitute a quorum. Any vacancy in a Commission shall not 
affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner in 
which the original appointment was made.

SEC. 825. POWERS OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Hearings and Evidence.--A Commission or, on the 
authority of the Commission, any subcommittee or member 
thereof, may, for the purpose of carrying out this subtitle--
            (1) hold such hearings and sit and act at such 
        times and places, take such testimony, receive such 
        evidence, administer such oaths; and
            (2) require, by subpoena or otherwise, the 
        attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the 
        production of such books, records, correspondence, 
        memoranda, papers, and documents,
as the Commission or such designated subcommittee or designated 
member may determine advisable.
    (b) Contracting.--A Commission may, to such extent and in 
such amounts as are provided in appropriation Acts, enter into 
contracts to enable the Commission to discharge its duties 
under this subtitle.
    (c) Information From Federal Agencies.--
            (1) In general.--A Commission may secure directly 
        from any executive department, bureau, agency, board, 
        commission, office, independent establishment, or 
        instrumentality of the Government, information, 
        suggestions, estimates, and statistics for the purposes 
        of this subtitle. Each department, bureau, agency, 
        board, commission, office, independent establishment, 
        or instrumentality shall, to the extent authorized by 
        law, furnish such information, suggestions, estimates, 
        and statistics directly to the Commission, upon request 
        made by the Chairman, the chairman of any subcommittee 
        created by a majority of the Commission, or any member 
        designated by a majority of the Commission.
            (2) Receipt, handling, storage, and 
        dissemination.--Information shall only be received, 
        handled, stored, and disseminated by members of the 
        Commission and its staff consistent with all applicable 
        statutes, regulations, and Executive orders.
    (d) Assistance From Federal Agencies.--
            (1) General services administration.--The 
        Administrator of General Services shall provide to a 
        Commission on a reimbursable basis administrative 
        support and other services for the performance of the 
        Commission's tasks.
            (2) Other departments and agencies.--In addition to 
        the assistance prescribed in paragraph (1), departments 
        and agencies of the United States may provide to the 
        Commission such services, funds, facilities, staff, and 
        other support services as they may determine advisable 
        and as may be authorized by law.
            (3) NASA engineering and safety center.--The NASA 
        Engineering and Safety Center shall provide data and 
        technical support as requested by the Commission.

SEC. 826. PUBLIC MEETINGS, INFORMATION, AND HEARINGS.

    (a) Public Meetings and Release of Public Versions of 
Reports.--A Commission shall--
            (1) hold public hearings and meetings to the extent 
        appropriate; and
            (2) release public versions of the reports required 
        under this subtitle.
    (b) Public Hearings.--Any public hearings of a Commission 
shall be conducted in a manner consistent with the protection 
of information provided to or developed for or by the 
Commission as required by any applicable statute, regulation, 
or Executive order.

SEC. 827. STAFF OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Appointment and Compensation.--The Chairman, in 
consultation with Vice Chairman, in accordance with rules 
agreed upon by a Commission, may appoint and fix the 
compensation of a staff director and such other personnel as 
may be necessary to enable the Commission to carry out its 
functions.
    (b) Detailees.--Any Federal Government employee, except for 
an employee of NASA, may be detailed to a Commission without 
reimbursement from the Commission, and such detailee shall 
retain the rights, status, and privileges of his or her regular 
employment without interruption.
    (c) Consultant Services.--A Commission may procure the 
services of experts and consultants in accordance with section 
3109 of title 5, United States Code, but at rates not to exceed 
the daily rate paid a person occupying a position at level IV 
of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United 
States Code. Any consultant or expert whose services are 
procured under this subsectionshall disclose any contract or 
association it has with NASA or any NASA contractor.

SEC. 828. COMPENSATION AND TRAVEL EXPENSES.

    (a) Compensation.--Each member of a Commission may be 
compensated at not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual 
rate of basic pay in effect for a position at level IV of the 
Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States 
Code, for each day during which that member is engaged in the 
actual performance of the duties of the Commission.
    (b) Travel Expenses.--While away from their homes or 
regular places of business in the performance of services for 
the Commission, members of a Commission shall be allowed travel 
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the 
same manner as persons employed intermittently in the 
Government service are allowed expenses under section 5703(b) 
of title 5, United States Code.

SEC. 829. SECURITY CLEARANCES FOR COMMISSION MEMBERS AND STAFF.

    The appropriate Federal agencies or departments shall 
cooperate with a Commission in expeditiously providing to the 
Commission members and staff appropriate security clearances to 
the extent possible pursuant to existing procedures and 
requirements. No person shall be provided with access to 
classified information under this subtitle without the 
appropriate security clearances.

SEC. 830. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND TERMINATION.

    (a) Interim Reports.--A Commission may submit to the 
President and Congress interim reports containing such 
findings, conclusions, and recommendations for corrective 
actions as have been agreed to by a majority of Commission 
members.
    (b) Final Report.--A Commission shall submit to the 
President and Congress, and make concurrently available to the 
public, a final report containing such findings, conclusions, 
and recommendations for corrective actions as have been agreed 
to by a majority of Commission members. Such report shall 
include any minority views or opinions not reflected in the 
majority report.
    (c) Termination.--
            (1) In general.--A Commission, and all the 
        authorities of this subtitle with respect to that 
        Commission, shall terminate 60 days after the date on 
        which the final report is submitted under subsection 
        (b).
            (2) Administrative activities before termination.--
        A Commission may use the 60-day period referred to in 
        paragraph (1) for the purpose of concluding its 
        activities, including providing testimony to committees 
        of Congress concerning its reports and disseminating 
        the final report.

      And the House agree to the same.
                From the Committee on Science, for 
                consideration of the Senate bill and the House 
                amendment, and modifications committed to 
                conference:
                                   Sherwood Boehlert,
                                   Ken Calvert,
                                   Ralph M. Hall,
                                   Lamar Smith,
                                   Bart Gordon,
                                   Mark Udall,
                                   Michael M. Honda,
                Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas is appointed in lieu 
                of Mr. Honda for consideration of secs. 111 and 
                615 of the House amendment, and modifications 
                committed to conference.
                                   Sheila Jackson-Lee,
                For consideration of the Senate bill and House 
                amendment, and modifications committed to 
                conference:
                                   Tom DeLay,
                                 Managers on the Part of the House.

                                   Ted Stevens,
                                   Trent Lott,
                                   Kay Bailey Hutchison,
                                   Daniel K. Inouye,
                                   Bill Nelson,
                                Managers on the Part of the Senate.
       JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT OF THE COMMITTEE OF CONFERENCE

    The managers on the part of the House and the Senate at the 
conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the 
amendment of the House to the bill (S. 1281) to authorize 
appropriations for the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration for science, aeronautics, exploration, 
exploration capabilities, and the Inspector General, and for 
other purposes, for fiscal years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 
2010, submit the following joint statement to the House and the 
Senate in explanation of the effect of the action agreed upon 
by the managers and recommended in the accompanying conference 
report:
    The House amendment struck all of the Senate bill after the 
enacting clause and inserted a substitute text.
    The Senate recedes from its disagreement to the amendment 
of the House with an amendment that is a substitute for the 
Senate bill and the House amendment. The differences between 
the Senate bill, and the House amendment, and the substitute 
agreed to in conference are noted below, except for clerical 
corrections, conforming changes made necessary by agreements 
reached by the conferees, and minor drafting and clerical 
changes.
    This legislation authorizes the appropriations of funds for 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), for 
the fiscal years 2007 and 2008. In addition, it sets forth a 
framework of policy guidance, program management authorities 
and requirements, and means for ensuring accountability in 
program management and oversight.

          U.S. CIVIL SPACE GOALS/VISION FOR SPACE EXPLORATION

    The conferees endorse the President's Vision for Space 
Exploration and outline the rationale for it in section 101(b) 
of the Conference Report. The conferees believe that the 
Conference Report provides a strong legislative foundation for 
the pursuit of the nation's continued exploration of space in a 
manner that both preserves the important legacy of 
accomplishments in science, aeronautics and human space flight 
and provides NASA with the authority to move its new program of 
exploration forward.

                                SCIENCE

    In an increasingly technological age, scientific and 
technical excellence is fundamental to securing the nation's 
economic and security interests and to inspiring and educating 
the next generation of scientists, engineers, astronauts, and 
entrepreneurs. The conferees agree that a continued strong and 
diverse array of programs in the areas of space science, earth 
science and education is essential, and the Conference Report 
combines important elements of the Senate- and House-passed 
legislation in order to ensure that such activities continue to 
represent a major portion of NASA's programs and priorities and 
that such activities are judged on their own merits.

              HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT AND SPACE TRANSPORTATION

    The conferees agree that it is important for the United 
States to have continuing, safe and reliable human access to 
space. The conferees further acknowledge the need to provide 
the smoothest possible transition between the eventual 
retirement of the space shuttle and the development of the new 
Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) and Crew Launch Vehicle (CLV). 
Section 502 of the Conference Report lays out an approach for 
an effective transition. At the same time, the Conference 
Report provides important oversight guidance, in terms of 
planning, funding projections and accountability, designed to 
ensure the success of these new systems' development.
    The conferees also recognize the importance of the 
International Space Station (ISS) in sections 505 and 506 of 
the Conference Report. The conferees recognize the research 
potential of the ISS beyond its contribution to long-duration 
human spaceflight in support of the Vision for Space 
Exploration in several sections, including section 305. The 
conferees adopt language that requires a minimum percentage of 
ISS research to be directed toward a range of science 
disciplines not directly related to supporting the Vision for 
Space Exploration. Furthermore, the conferees agree to 
provisions based on the Senate-passed bill that designate the 
U.S. segment of the ISS as a National Laboratory, paving the 
way for the addition of non-NASA resources and non-Government 
resources to support space station-based research.

                           AERONAUTICS POLICY

    The conferees agree to provisions included in both Senate- 
and House-passed bills that require the development of a 
national aeronautics research policy to guide future 
investments in this important segment of NASA's mission. A 
healthy and vibrant aeronautics research capability and 
aerospace industry are vital to the nation's economic security. 
The plans and priorities required and highlighted by the 
Conference Report should serve to ensure the vitality of 
aeronautics research within the framework of a clear set of 
national policy objectives to be developed under the provisions 
of the Conference Report.

                   ADDITIONAL SIGNIFICANT PROVISIONS

    In addition to the major policy areas noted above, the 
conferees agree to a number of significant provisions contained 
in both the House- and Senate-passed bills. Among these are 
provisions for workforce management, the encouragement and 
authorization of significant commercial participation in a full 
range of science, aeronautics, and exploration activities, 
enhanced program fiscal and management accountability, and 
significant measures providing for independent oversight of 
NASA programs and management. A number of these provisions are 
further described in the balance of the explanatory statement.

                   EXPLANATION OF SELECTED PROVISIONS

Sec. 101(d). Science
    Section 101(d) directs the Administrator to develop a plan 
to guide the space science and earth science programs of NASA 
through 2016. The priority ranking required by this subsection 
is a single ranking of all the missions that NASA lists 
pursuant to paragraph (2)(A), not a ranking categorized by 
theme or any other category.
    The conferees understand that NASA will have to update and 
revise the plans and priorities periodically. The conferees do 
not intend that NASA be bound by this plan until 2016. But the 
plan should be based on the best possible current assessment of 
what NASA will be able to do between now and 2016.
    The conferees are aware that the National Academy of 
Sciences is continuing to work on an Earth Science and 
Applications from Space Decadal Survey which is due to be 
completed in 2006. In preparing the science plan, NASA should, 
to the greatest extent possible, take into consideration 
information available from the Decadal Survey. The conferees 
expect NASA to notify the authorizing committees if the 
completed Decadal Survey would change any of the information 
provided in the science plan.
Sec. 101(e). Facilities
    Section 101(e) directs the Administrator to develop a 
facilities plan through fiscal year 2015. While the facilities 
plan does not have to be transmitted to the Committees until 
the date on which the President submits the fiscal year 2008 
budget to the Congress, the conferees urge NASA to provide 
notification to the authorizing committees prior to mothballing 
or closing any significant facilities before the transmittal of 
the facilities plan.
    The budget assumptions used to develop the facilities plan 
and descriptions of the costs and the type of work that are 
planned to maintain, modify or upgrade each facility, must be 
described in the plan.
Sec. 101(h). Budgets
    The conferees support the views expressed in the House 
report that accompanied H.R. 3070 (House Report 109-173) and in 
the Senate Report that accompanied S.1281 (Senate Report 109-
108) regarding the lack of detail provided by NASA in the 
fiscal year 2006 budget justification and previous 
inconsistency in identifying major program budget requests. As 
required by subparagraph 101(h)(1)(A) NASA is to provide 
proposed budgets for each of the areas (i) through (ix) ``by 
program''. For the purposes of this section a program is a 
major activity proposed in the budget that is contained within 
each of the categories (i) through (ix). For example, programs 
within the budget for Space Operations would include the Space 
Shuttle and the International Space Station. However, nothing 
in this section should be construed as allowing NASA to provide 
less detail than was contained in the fiscal year 2006 budget 
justification.
Sec. 101(j). Aeronautics test facilities and simulators
    The aeronautics simulators to be reviewed under section 
101(j) include at least the following:
              Research Aircraft Simulation Facility at 
        the Dryden Flight Research Center
              Cockpit Motion Facility at the Langley 
        Research Center
              Differential Maneuvering Simulator at the 
        Langley Research Center
              Visual Motion Simulator at the Langley 
        Research Center
              Vertical Motion Simulator at the Ames 
        Research Center
              Crew Vehicle Systems Research Facility at 
        the Ames Research Center
              Future Flight Central at the Ames 
        Research Center
              Virtual Airspace Simulation Tool at the 
        Ames Research Center
              Arc Jet facilities at the Ames Research 
        Center.
Sec. 102(b). Budget information
    Congress needs to understand fully the implications of 
building the CEV before NASA commits to this major project. 
This is a recognition of how central CEV development will be to 
NASA's activities and budget in the coming years and the need 
to ensure that adequate resources likely will be available for 
this development.
    For that reason, absolutely no later than April 1, 2006, 
NASA must report the expected development cost to the 
authorizing committees. This is not a transmittal of the 
development contract itself or a detailed description of a yet-
to-be-signed contract. What the committees are seeking is a 
realistic estimate for the total cost of the program that 
includes contract costs, government costs, and reserves.
    Along with the estimate of expected costs, the Conference 
Report requires NASA to calculate two other cost estimates for 
the CEV based on historic experience with cost growth in 
relevant programs. NASA should consult the September 2004 
Congressional Budget Office report, A Budgetary Analysis of 
NASA's New Vision for Space Exploration, in developing the cost 
estimates.
    The Conference Report then requires NASA to prepare new 
`sand charts' covering the period through 2020 that show the 
expected figures for NASA's primary program areas using each of 
the CEV cost estimates required by this subsection. All three 
sand charts should assume inflationary growth for NASA's total 
funding throughout the period.
Sec. 102(e). Office of Science and Technology Policy
    The study required by section 102(e) is designed to provide 
Congress with additional information in reviewing NASA's 
programs. Therefore, in carrying out the study, the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy should give deference to 
Congressional directives, and should assume that any program 
mandated by Congress is intended to be carried out as 
authorized. Also, the study should not be used to make any 
changes in program directions, funding or locations without 
further consultation with the Congress.
Sec. 103. Baselines and cost controls
    The conferees support the views expressed in the House 
report that accompanied H.R. 3070 (House Report 109-173) on 
Baselines and Cost Controls. The conferees have amended the 
House language to consolidate the reports into a single 
document to be provided at the time of the President's annual 
budget submission and have raised the threshold for the 
definition of a major program to $250 million. The conferees do 
not want NASA to lump separate development programs together 
into a single program for reporting purposes under this 
provision. For example, NASA may not aggregate the various 
programs and projects for the mission to return humans to the 
Moon as a single program. The conferees expect that the CEV, 
CLV, and other elements of the initiative will be reported as 
separate activities with their own baselines and annual 
updates. The conferees also expect the same treatment be 
provided in reporting major program activities within the 
Science, Aeronautics, and Education budget account.
    For programs in the development phase at the time this 
Conference Report is enacted, reports shall reflect the current 
baseline for cost, schedule and technical content, not the 
baseline that may have existed at the time the program was 
approved to proceed to the development phase.
Sec. 104. Prize authority
    The Conference Report is silent on how intellectual 
property should be handled as part of the prize program in 
section 104. NASA should announce the intellectual property 
policy for each prize in the notice required by subsection (d). 
The policy should be designed to ensure that the government 
gets the greatest benefit possible from the prize program, 
meaning that it should enable the prize program to attract as 
many contestants as possible and that it should enable the 
government to make use of any winning ideas. In developing the 
policy, NASA should review the advantages and disadvantages of 
all options including having all intellectual property reside 
with the contestants and the option of requiring the prize 
winner to give NASA a royalty-free license as a condition of 
receiving prize money. If NASA informs Congress of the intent 
to award a very large prize under subsection (i)(4), the 
written notice should include a description of how NASA will 
handle intellectual property in the contest.
Sec. 105. Foreign launch vehicles
    This section should not be construed to prevent a 
consolidated approval of the planned ISS logistical and 
utilization flights; that is, the section does not require that 
each planned launch to the ISS trigger a separate interagency 
review. Additionally, this section is intended to support 
Presidential policy and timely notification, not inhibit the 
use of foreign launch vehicles where the Agency feels it helps 
to meet program goals.
Sec. 110. Whistleblower protection
    Given that concerns have been expressed about the reporting 
systems available within NASA and the potential for retaliation 
against whistleblowers, the conferees want to ensure that NASA 
develops and implements a plan, consistent with existing law, 
that provides for the protection of the rights of its employees 
and prevents retaliation against its employees who raise 
concerns (1) about substantial and specific dangers to public 
health or safety or (2) about substantial and specific factors 
that could threaten the success of a mission. The conferees 
intend for the phrase ``public health or safety'' to include 
matters that would affect the health or safety of NASA 
employees, but not the larger public.
Sec. 201. Budget structure
    Section 201 establishes a budgetary structure for NASA for 
fiscal year 2007 and thereafter that consists of the following 
three appropriation accounts: ``Science, Aeronautics, and 
Education'', ``Exploration Systems and Space Operations'', and 
``Inspector General''.
    The Science, Aeronautics, and Education appropriation 
account shall include all of the programs in the current 
Science (including both space science and earth science), 
Aeronautics, and Education lines proposed in the fiscal year 
2006 request, except that the Robotic Lunar Exploration Program 
shall be transferred to the Exploration Systems and Space 
Operations appropriation account, as NASA has proposed.
    The Exploration Systems and Space Operations appropriation 
account shall include all programs currently in the Exploration 
Systems and the Space Operations budgets in the fiscal year 
2006 budget request. In addition, the ISS Crew and Cargo 
Services and the Robotic Lunar Exploration Program shall be 
included in the Exploration Systems budget, as NASA has 
proposed. The Space Operations budget shall include the 
International Space Station and Space Shuttle programs and the 
Space and Flight Support line.
    The conferees encourage synergy between the Exploration and 
Space Operations programs to take advantage of common resources 
and capabilities, when appropriate. Taking advantage of such 
synergies between the programs should not require the 
reprogramming of funds because such synergies would merely 
require charging work related to exploration to the exploration 
budget and charging work related to space operations to the 
space operations budget.
    The conferees have included additional funding above the 
request for the Space Shuttle program in the Space Operations 
budget to address funding shortfalls in previous projections 
for Space Shuttle funding.
    While the conferees did not include authorization levels 
for fiscal year 2009, the conferees believe that NASA should 
continue to receive in fiscal year 2009 funding sufficient to 
allow it to pursue robust science, aeronautics and human space 
flight programs, including sufficient funding to enable the 
Space Shuttle to operate safely, to complete the assembly of 
the International Space Station, and to ensure a smooth 
transition to the CEV and CLV programs. The conferees note that 
the fiscal year 2006 Budget Request outyear projections did not 
adequately address Space Shuttle requirements.
    The conferees understand that NASA may not be able to adapt 
its internal accounting systems to the new appropriation 
account structure before submitting its fiscal year 2007 budget 
request.NASA should adapt its systems to the new appropriation 
accounts as swiftly as possible. NASA must have completed the 
transition by the start of fiscal year 2007. The conferees expect that 
the Authorizing Committees will work with the Appropriations Committees 
to ensure that NASA has clear and uniform guidance from the Congress on 
which to base its transition.
    The conferees have granted limited transfer authority to 
NASA so that it will have the wherewithal to address the 
immediate costs to the agency of major disasters, acts of 
terrorism, or emergency rescues of astronauts. It is intended 
that such transfer authority be used sparingly, and that the 
affected accounts be restored to the maximum extent practicable 
by subsequent supplementary funding. The conferees wish to 
emphasize that the provision of such transfer authority should 
not be construed as obviating the need to have supplementary 
funding provided to the agency once the immediate crisis has 
passed.
    The conferees expect that if any funds authorized by this 
Act are subject to a reprogramming action (within an account) 
that requires notice to be provided to the Appropriations 
Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate, 
notice of such action shall concurrently be provided to the 
Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate.
    In addition, the conferees wish to discourage reprogramming 
actions that would further reduce the funding available to 
those programs for which the amount appropriated is less than 
the amount authorized in this Act. At a minimum, the conferees 
expect that notice will be provided to the Committee on Science 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate that contains a full 
and complete statement of the proposed action, its rationale, 
and the expected impact of such an action.
    In view of the importance of fundamental research both to 
the education of the next generation of scientists and 
engineers as well as to the advancement of knowledge, the 
conferees urge the Administrator, when reprogramming funds to 
cover cost growth within a program, to protect funds intended 
for fundamental and applied research and analysis activities to 
the maximum extent practicable.
Sec. 304. Assessment of science mission extensions
    The assessments performed under this section may be 
provided as a single report. The conferees encourage NASA to 
include all missions within the Sun-Earth Connections division 
that have exceeded their planned mission lifetime as part of 
the assessment required in section 304(a)(1), not just the 
minimum mandatory set of missions identified in that paragraph.
Sec. 305. Microgravity research
    The conferees believe the United States needs to sustain a 
viable life and microgravity sciences research capability.
Sec. 316. Education
    The conferees agree that NASA's education and public 
outreach programs can contribute to the availability of trained 
scientists, technologists, engineers, and educators to support 
U.S. technical geospatial workforce needs in the 21st century.
Title IV. Aeronautics
    Title IV outlines NASA's aeronautics research program. In 
recent years, this program has been recast several times. The 
authorization provided, in concert with the national 
aeronautics policy developed under section 101(c), should help 
NASA engage in an aeronautics program that is not radically 
reformed each fiscal year.
    The conferees recognize that over the past several years 
technological and operational breakthroughs in Unmanned Aerial 
Vehicles (UAVs) have greatly advanced the capabilities and 
utility of this class of aircraft. The conferees further note 
that integrating long endurance UAVs into regulated U.S. 
airspace safely, seamlessly and securely, will be beneficial to 
our future in aviation, security, and commerce. The conferees 
urge NASA to share its data and policy recommendations from 
NASA's UAVs in the National Airspace System project to other 
relevant, federal agencies that ask for them. The conferees 
assume NASA will continue to fund this project in fiscal year 
2006 and direct NASA to provide a report to the Committee on 
Science of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science and Transportation of the Senate, not later 
than February 15, 2006, on the results and policy 
recommendations to date of the UAVs in the National Airspace 
System project.
    The conferees consider NASA's aeronautics research and 
development capabilities to be an important national asset 
that, when appropriate, can be employed effectively to address 
challenges facing the nation in ensuring the security of the 
homeland. However, nothing in section 424 should be construed 
as requiring NASA to duplicate efforts underway at other 
agencies of the government. Rather, the conferees assume that 
any NASA activities in this area will be properly aligned with 
national requirements.
Sec. 503. Requirements
    The conferees are concerned about the individuals and 
organizations who in good faith entered into contracts with 
NASA for Exploration Systems Research and Technology (ESR&T) 
and Human Systems Research and Technology (HSR&T) projects that 
NASA is now terminating in order to redirect funding to 
activities that it believes are of higher priority in its 
implementation of the new Exploration Systems Architecture. The 
conferees believe that NASA should work with the affected 
contractors to determine the extent to which the scope of the 
existing work plans might be altered to better comport with the 
goals of the new Exploration Systems Architecture, with 
emphasis on applications of enabling technologies to enhance 
exploration mission success. The conferees would urge NASA to 
notify affected contractors of the new Exploration Systems 
Architecture, and as part of the planned contract termination 
activities, provide them with a timetable and appropriate NASA 
technical assistance to determine whether an appropriate 
modification of their contract scope would enable them to 
conform to the new priorities resulting from the Exploration 
Systems Architecture.
Sec. 616. Museums
    The conferees recognize the important role that informal 
science education can play in capturing the imagination of the 
young and inspiring future scientists, mathematicians and 
engineers. The conferees encourage NASA to continue to look for 
opportunities to help science museums improve their offerings, 
particularly their programs to educate students and to attract 
more students from under-represented groups into scientific 
fields. As with other education programs, NASA should ensure 
that it is evaluating the impact of any grants it provides to 
help museums reach more students through new exhibits or 
programs.
Sec. 618. Continuation of certain educational programs
      The National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program 
is a highly successful national network of colleges and 
universities that is supporting and enhancing science, 
technology, and mathematics education, research, and public 
outreach programs. The network includes over 850 affiliates in 
academia, business, museums and science centers, as well as 
state and local agencies. The Space Grant program provides 
scholarship and fellowship opportunities to students in every 
state, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. Space Grant 
is an established and demonstrably effective national mechanism 
for attracting and retaining students in science, technology, 
and mathematics. The conferees strongly support its 
continuation at robust levels within NASA's education program.
      The Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive 
Research (EPSCoR) provides States of modest research 
infrastructure with funding to develop a more competitive 
research base within their State and member academic 
institutions. A total of seven Federal agencies conduct EPSCoR 
programs which build infrastructure and broaden the 
participation of states in the Federal research enterprise. The 
conferees strongly support its continuation at robust levels 
within NASA's education program.
Sec. 703. NASA scholarships
      Current law has two slightly different versions of law 
providing NASA with the authority to provide scholarships. 
Section 703 corrects this disparity.

                          ADDITIONAL CONCERNS

      The conferees are aware of the issues surrounding NASA's 
use of its Mission Management aircraft. Therefore, the 
conferees request that NASA transmit a report to the 
authorizing committees by April 1, 2006, describing current 
policies concerning the use of NASA aircraft, the source of 
those policies, the extent of any adverse impact to the Agency 
and its ability to fulfill its mandates as prescribed in the 
Space Act, as amended, and any recommended changes to those 
policies that would assist NASA in carrying out its operations 
in fulfillment of those mandates.

                From the Committee on Science, for 
                consideration of the Senate bill and the House 
                amendment, and modifications committed to 
                conference:
                                   Sherwood Boehlert,
                                   Ken Calvert,
                                   Ralph M. Hall,
                                   Lamar Smith,
                                   Bart Gordon,
                                   Mark Udall,
                                   Michael M. Honda,
                Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas is appointed in lieu 
                of Mr. Honda for consideration of secs. 111 and 
                615 of the House amendment, and modifications 
                committed to conference.
                                   Sheila Jackson-Lee,
                For consideration of the Senate bill and House 
                amendment, and modifications committed to 
                conference:
                                   Tom DeLay,
                                 Managers on the Part of the House.

                                   Ted Stevens,
                                   Trent Lott,
                                   Kay Bailey Hutchison,
                                   Daniel K. Inouye,
                                   Bill Nelson,
                                Managers on the Part of the Senate.

                                  
