[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 51 (Monday, December 25, 2006)]
[Pages 2197-2199]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Executive Order 13419--National Aeronautics Research and Development

December 20, 2006

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and 
the laws of the United States of America, including section 204 of the 
National Science and Technology Policy, Organization, and Priorities Act 
of 1976, as amended (42 U.S.C. 6613), section 101(c) of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005 (Public 
Law 109-155), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, it is 
hereby ordered as follows:
    Section 1. National Aeronautics Research and Development Policy. 
Continued progress in aeronautics, the science of flight, is essential 
to America's economic success and the protection of America's security 
interests at home and around the globe. Accordingly, it shall be the 
policy of the United States to facilitate progress in aeronautics 
research and development (R&D) through appropriate funding and 
activities of the Federal Government, in cooperation with State, 
territorial, tribal, local, and foreign governments, international 
organizations, academic and research institutions, private 
organizations, and other entities, as appropriate. The Federal 
Government shall only undertake roles in supporting aeronautics R&D that 
are not more appropriately performed by the private sector. The National 
Aeronautics Research and Development Policy prepared by the National 
Science and Technology Council should, to the extent consistent with 
this order and its implementation, guide the aeronautics R&D programs of 
the United States through 2020.
    Sec. 2. Functions of the Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy. To implement the policy set forth in section 1 of 
this order, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy 
(the ``Director'') shall:
    (a) review the funding and activities of the Federal Government 
relating to aeronautics R&D
    (b) recommend to the President, the Director of the Office of 
Management and Budget, and the heads of executive departments and 
agencies, as appropriate, such actions with respect to funding and 
activities of the Federal Government relating to aeronautics R&D as may 
be necessary to
(i)         advance United States technological leadership in 
            aeronautics;
(ii)        support innovative research leading to significant advances 
            in aeronautical concepts, technologies, and capabilities;
(iii)       pursue and develop advanced aeronautics concepts and 
            technologies, including those for advanced aircraft systems 
            and air transportation management systems, to benefit 
            America's security and effective and efficient national 
            airspace management;
(iv)        maintain and advance United States aeronautics research, 
            development, test and evaluation infrastructure to provide 
            effective experimental and computational capabilities in 
            support of aeronautics R&D
(v)         facilitate the educational development of the future 
            aeronautics workforce as needed to further Federal 
            Government interests;
(vi)        enhance coordination and communication among executive 
            departments and agencies to maximize the effectiveness of 
            Federal Government R&D resources; and
(vii)       ensure appropriate Federal Government coordination with 
            State, territorial, tribal, local, and foreign governments, 
            international organizations, academic and research 
            institutions, private organizations, and other entities.
    Sec. 3. Implementation of National Aeronautics Research and 
Development Policy.

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To implement the policy set forth in section 1 of this order, the 
Director shall:
    (a) develop and, not later than 1 year after the date of this order, 
submit for approval by the President a plan for national aeronautics R&D 
and for related infrastructure, (the ``plan''), and thereafter submit, 
not less often than biennially, to the President for approval any 
changes to the plan;
    (b) monitor and report to the President as appropriate on the 
implementation of the approved plan;
    (c) ensure that executive departments and agencies conducting 
aeronautics R&D:
(i)         obtain and exchange information and advice, as appropriate, 
            from organizations and individuals outside the Federal 
            Government in support of Federal Government planning and 
            performance of aeronautics R&D
(ii)        develop and implement, as appropriate, measures for 
            improving dissemination of R&D results and facilitating 
            technology transition from R&D to applications; and
(iii)       identify and promote innovative policies and approaches that 
            complement and enhance Federal Government aeronautics R&D 
            investment; and
    (d) report to the President on the results of the efforts of 
executive departments and agencies to implement paragraphs (c)(i) 
through (iii) of this section.
    Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) In implementing this order, the 
Director shall:
(i)         obtain as appropriate the assistance of the National Science 
            and Technology Council in the performance of the Director's 
            functions under this order, consistent with Executive Order 
            12881 of November 23, 1993, as amended;
(ii)        coordinate as appropriate with the Director of the Office of 
            Management and Budget; and
(iii)       obtain information and advice from all sources as 
            appropriate, including individuals associated with academic 
            and research institutions and private organizations.
    (b) The functions of the President under subsection (c) of section 
101 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization 
Act of 2005, except the function of designation, are assigned to the 
Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. In performing 
these assigned functions, the Director shall, as appropriate, consult 
the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 
the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Transportation, the Director 
of the Office of Management and Budget, and other heads of executive 
departments and agencies as appropriate. The Director also shall ensure 
that all actions taken in the performance of such functions are 
consistent with the authority set forth in subsections (a) through (d) 
of section 6 of Executive Order 13346 of July 8, 2004.
    (c) This order shall be implemented in a manner consistent with:
(i)         applicable law, including section 102A(i) of the National 
            Security Act of 1947, as amended (50 U.S.C. 403-1(i)), and 
            subject to the availability of appropriations; and
(ii)        statutory authority of the principal officers of executive 
            departments and agencies as the heads of their respective 
            departments and agencies.
    (d) This order shall not be construed to impair or otherwise affect 
the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget 
relating to budget, administrative, and legislative proposals.
    (e) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any rights 
or benefits, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity 
by a party against the United States, its departments, agencies, 
instrumentalities, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or 
any other person.

The White House,
December 20, 2006.

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 10:38 a.m., December 22, 
2006]

Note: This Executive order will be published in the Federal Register on 
December 26.

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