To authorize appropriations to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for human space flight, science, aeronautics, and technology, mission support, and Inspector General, and for other purposes.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Title I: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Subtitle A: Special Authority and Limitations
Subtitle B: Aeronautics
Title II: Commercial Space Launch Amendments
Title III: Revisions to Land Remote Sensing Policy Act of
1992
Title IV: Technology Investment Policy for Aeronautics and
Space
Title V: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Budget
Aeronautics and Space Policy Act of 1994 - Title I: National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Subtitle A: Special Authority and Limitations - Directs the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to submit to specified congressional committees a detailed operating plan for obligating FY 1995 funds.
Provides authority for reprogramming and imposes a limitation on funding uses.
Authorizes a land conveyance in Clear Lake, Texas. Authorizes the Administrator to accept land conveyances from Cleveland and Brook Park, Ohio, for a Visitor Center for the Lewis Research Center.
(Sec. 108) Requires NASA to give consideration to geographical distribution of research and development funds whenever feasible.
(Sec. 110) Expresses the sense of the Congress that, when consistent with NASA goals, depressed community sites should be selected for new NASA programs.
(Sec. 111) Requires the establishment with the Office of Space Access and Technology a program of expedited technology procurement to demonstrate how innovative technology can rapidly be brought to bear on NASA space missions. Requires: (1) use of nongovernmental sector expertise to the maximum extent practicable, through the use of existing special appointment procedures; and (2) integration of existing commercial, non-development, and off-the-shelf hardware and services.
Requires coordination of NASA resources in the areas of procurement, commercial programs, and advanced technology.
(Sec. 112) Directs the Administrator to coordinate with other Federal agencies all NASA education activities to encourage participation of women, minorities who are underrepresented in science, engineering, and mathematics, and persons with disabilities.
(Sec. 113) Requires independent cost analysis of specified new NASA projects costing more than $100 million.
(Sec. 114) Prohibits obligation of funds for the Small Spacecraft Technology Initiative to duplicate private sector activities.
(Sec. 115) Expresses the sense of the Senate that NASA should seek joint scientific activities with Russia, with an initial focus on robotic exploration of Mars.
(Sec. 116)) Authorizes the use of specified unobligated funds to establish a Visitor Center for the Lewis Research Center, under specified circumstances.
(Sec. 117) Prohibits the Consortium for International Earth Science Information Network from obligating more than a specified amount of funds for new building construction.
(Sec. 118) Amends the Global Change Research Act of 1990 to require NASA to develop a Global Change Data and Information System to design a system to process, archive, and distribute data from the Global Change Research Program. Sets forth design specifications and operating responsibilities.
(Sec. 119) Requires the National Science and Technology Council, through its Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, to submit to the Congress a plan for access to declassified data from classified archives and systems for global change research.
(Sec. 120) Directs the Administrator to study the feasibility of a University Innovative Research Program which uses institutions of higher education to help meet NASA research and development needs by stimulating non-duplicative technology transfer between education and industry and encouraging participation by minority and disadvantaged persons in technological innovation.
(Sec. 121) Directs the Administrator to study and report to Congress on the convergence of the NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) with commercial communications satellite systems.
(Sec. 122) Requires NASA to report to Congress on: (1) specific space shuttle cost reduction initiatives; and (2) a plan for an advanced launch technology program.
(Sec. 124) Expresses the sense of the Congress that NASA should pursue life and microgravity sciences research related to the causes of breast and ovarian cancers, bone-related diseases, and other women's health issues.
(Sec. 125) Requires NASA to transmit annually to the Congress a report containing a complete accounting of all costs of the space station, including cash and other payments to Russia. Requires the Administrator to obtain quarterly financial reports from the Russian Space Agency.
(Sec. 126) Requires NASA to purchase private sector space science data to the maximum extent practicable.
(Sec. 127) Establishes a five-year cooperative initiative between NASA and the Department of Agriculture to make remote sensing agricultural information available to farmers.
(Sec. 128) Requires an assessment and report to the Congress on methods of maximizing, based on various funding levels, opportunities for human and robotic space exploration, using space vehicles and platforms.
(Sec. 129) Requires NASA, in coordination with the Department of Defense and foreign space agencies, to catalogue certain comets and asteroids.
Subtitle B: Aeronautics - Declares it is U.S. policy that: (1) revitalizing national aeronautical facilities shall be a major element of Federal investment in aeronautical research and development; and (2) industry and government cost-sharing for facilities construction and use shall be investigated to achieve goals within a constrained Federal budget.
(Sec. 152) Directs the President to identify and assess all domestic and foreign aeronautics facilities and determine the risk to U.S. industry competitiveness due to potential unintended transfer of technology.
(Sec. 153) Requires the President to work with domestic industries to develop a prioritized strategy for Federal investment in aeronautics research, technology, and facilities.
(Sec. 154) Requires the President to develop a site selection plan for the location of new aeronautics research facilitates. Details site selection factors.
(Sec. 155) Directs NASA to develop an aeronautical basic research investment plan and work with other Federal agencies to prioritize aeronautical technologies research to enhance U.S. competitiveness.
Title II: Commercial Space Launch Amendments - Amends Federal law with regard to commercial space launch activities to extend the authority of the Secretary of Transportation to license commercial reentry vehicles.
Requires an annual report to the Congress by the Secretary of Transportation describing licensing activities and reviewing the effectiveness of the Office of Commercial Space Transportation.
Limits the launching of obtrusive space advertising. Requests the President to negotiate with foreign launching nations to reach an agreement prohibiting obtrusive outer space advertising.
Title III: Revisions to Land Remote Sensing Policy Act of 1992 - Amends the Land Remote Sensing Policy Act of 1992 with respect to management and licensing of commercial remote sensing satellites.
Title IV: Technology Investment Policy for Aeronautics and Space - Declares U.S. policy and goals regarding technology investment, commercialization, and the competitive capability of the U.S. aerospace industry.
Amends the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1989 to require NASA to work with industry in compatible areas of technology development.
(Sec. 405) Directs NASA to establish a competitive program of funding research and development projects proposed by industry-led consortia, alliances, or other entities, for the purpose of advancing aeronautics and space technologies. Prescribes cost-sharing and financing mechanisms.
(Sec. 407) Prescribes the role of NASA procurement in technology investment and requires coordination with other Federal technology and technology transfer programs.
(Sec. 409) Requires NASA's annual budget submission to provide specified funding, milestone, and projection information on interagency technology projects.
(Sec. 410) Directs coordination of technology investment activities with the Small Business Innovation Research activities of NASA.
(Sec. 411) Requires NASA to provide personnel incentives, including promotions and bonuses, to staff to encourage technology innovations and development.
Title V: National Aeronautics and Space Administration Budget - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Consistency in Budgeting Act of 1994 - Requires the Administrator of NASA to submit annually to Congress a five-year program plan of expenditures consistent with proposed appropriations.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science, Space and Technology. H. Rept. 103-654.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 354.
Mr. Brown (CA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7097-7108)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Committee on Commerce. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Committee on Commerce. Reported to Senate by Senator Hollings with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. Without written report.
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Committee on Commerce. Reported to Senate by Senator Hollings with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. Without written report.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 674.
Measure laid before Senate.
Amendment SP 2615 proposed by Senator Ford for Senator Rockefeller.
Amendment SP 2615 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR S14222-14229)
Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S14222-14229)
The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Voice Vote.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.