[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 120, 109th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

120 STAT. 2886

Public Law 109-420
109th Congress

An Act


 
To establish an interagency aerospace revitalization task force to
develop a national strategy for aerospace workforce recruitment,
training, and cultivation.  NOTE: Dec. 20, 2006 -  [H.R. 758]

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:
(1) The aerospace industry generates nearly 15 percent of
the gross domestic product of the United States, supports
approximately 11,000,000 jobs in the United States, and leads
the United States economy in net exports.
(2) The aerospace industry contributes directly to the
economic and national security of the United States through
military, space, air transport, and information technology
applications.
(3) A skilled and educated workforce represents the most
valuable asset of the United States economy.
(4) In 2004, total employment in the aerospace industry fell
to its lowest point in 50 years.
(5) 27 percent of the aerospace manufacturing workforce will
become eligible for retirement by 2008.
(6) Students in the United States rank near the bottom of
the leading industrialized countries of the world in mathematics
and science test performance.
(7) To ensure the stability of high-skilled jobs and the
global competitiveness of the domestic aerospace industry, the
United States requires coordinated Federal Government policies
to sustain and expand the science, mathematics, engineering, and
manufacturing workforce.
SEC. 2. INTERAGENCY AEROSPACE REVITALIZATION TASK FORCE.

(a) Establishment.--There is established a task force to be known as
the ``Interagency Aerospace Revitalization Task Force'' (in this section
referred to as the ``Task Force'').
(b) Duties.--The Task Force shall develop a strategy for the Federal
Government for aerospace workforce development, including strategies
for--
(1) maximizing cooperation among departments and agencies of
the Federal Government and the use of resources of the Federal
Government in fulfilling demand for a skilled workforce across
all vocational classifications;
(2) developing integrated Federal Government policies to
promote and monitor public and private sector programs for

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120 STAT. 2887

science, engineering, technology, mathematics, and skilled
trades education and training; and
(3) establishing partnerships with industry, organized
labor, academia, and State and local governments to--
(A) collect and disseminate information on
occupational requirements and projected employment
openings; and
(B) coordinate appropriate agency resources,
including grants, loans, and scholarships, for the
advancement of workforce education, training, and
certification programs.

(c) Membership.--
(1) Number and appointment.--The Task Force shall be
composed of 11 members who shall be appointed as follows:
(A) One member shall be the Assistant Secretary of
Labor for Employment and Training.
(B) One member shall be a representative of the
Department of Commerce and shall be appointed by the
Secretary of Commerce.
(C) One member shall be a representative of the
Department of Defense and shall be appointed by the
Secretary of Defense.
(D) One member shall be a representative of the
Department of Homeland Security and shall be appointed
by the Secretary of Homeland Security.
(E) One member shall be a representative of the
Department of Education and shall be appointed by the
Secretary of Education.
(F) One member shall be a representative of the
Department of Transportation and shall be appointed by
the Secretary of Transportation.
(G) One member shall be a representative of the
Department of Energy and shall be appointed by the
Secretary of Energy.
(H) One member shall be a representative of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and
shall be appointed by the Administrator of NASA.
(I) One member shall be a representative of the
National Science Foundation (NSF) and shall be appointed
by the Director of the NSF.
(J)  NOTE: President.  Two members shall be
appointed by the President.
(2) Chairperson.--The Assistant Secretary of Labor for
Employment and Training shall serve as the chairperson of the
Task Force.
(3) Deadline for appointment.--Each member shall be
appointed to the Task Force not later than 90 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
(4) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Task Force shall be filled
in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
(5) Prohibition of compensation.--Members of the Task Force
may not receive pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of their
service on the Task Force.

(d) Meetings.--
(1) In general.--The Task Force shall meet at the call of
the Chairperson.
(2) Frequency.--The Task Force shall meet not less than two
times each year.

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120 STAT. 2888

(3) Quorum.--6 members of the Task Force shall constitute a
quorum.

(e) Annual Reports.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for four years, the Task
Force shall submit to Congress, and make available to the public, a
report detailing the activities of the Task Force and containing the
findings, strategies, recommendations, policies, and initiatives
developed pursuant to the duties of the Task Force under subsection (b).
(f) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate on the date of the
submission of the final report under subsection (e).

Approved December 20, 2006.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 758:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
Vol. 151 (2005):
Oct. 25, considered and passed
House.
Vol. 152 (2006):
Dec. 6, considered and passed
Senate.