CHAPTER 409 —MISCELLANEOUS
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Cybersecurity in STEM Programs of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NASA Internship and Fellowship Opportunities
Education and Outreach
"(a)
"(1) United States competitiveness in the 21st century requires engaging the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (referred to in this section as 'STEM') talent in all States;
"(2) the [National Aeronautics and Space] Administration is uniquely positioned to educate and inspire students and the broader public on STEM subjects and careers;
"(3) the Administration's Education and Communication Offices, Mission Directorates, and Centers have been effective in delivering educational content because of the strong engagement of Administration scientists and engineers in the Administration's education and outreach activities;
"(4) the Administration's education and outreach programs, including the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) and the Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, reflect the Administration's successful commitment to growing and diversifying the national science and engineering workforce; and
"(5) in order to grow and diversify the Nation's engineering workforce, it is vital for the Administration to bolster programs, such as High Schools United with NASA to Create Hardware (HUNCH) program, that conduct outreach activities to underserved rural communities, vocational schools, and tribal colleges and universities and encourage new participation in the STEM workforce.
"(b)
"(1)
"(2)
Inspiring the Next Space Pioneers, Innovators, Researchers, and Explorers (INSPIRE) Women
"SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
"This Act may be cited as the 'Inspiring the Next Space Pioneers, Innovators, Researchers, and Explorers (INSPIRE) Women Act'.
"SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
"The Congress finds that—
"(1) NASA GIRLS and NASA BOYS are virtual mentoring programs using commercially available video chat programs to pair National Aeronautics and Space Administration mentors with young students anywhere in the country. NASA GIRLS and NASA BOYS give young students the opportunity to interact and learn from real engineers, scientists, and technologists.
"(2) The Aspire to Inspire (A2I) program engages young girls to present science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) career opportunities through the real lives and jobs of early career women at NASA.
"(3) The Summer Institute in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Research (SISTER) program at the Goddard Space Flight Center is designed to increase awareness of, and provide an opportunity for, female middle school students to be exposed to and explore nontraditional career fields with Goddard Space Flight Center women engineers, mathematicians, scientists, technicians, and researchers.
"SEC. 3. SUPPORTING WOMEN'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE FIELDS OF AEROSPACE AND SPACE EXPLORATION.
"The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall encourage women and girls to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, pursue careers in aerospace, and further advance the Nation's space science and exploration efforts through support of the following initiatives:
"(1) NASA GIRLS and NASA BOYS.
"(2) Aspire to Inspire.
"(3) Summer Institute in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Research.
"SEC. 4. PLAN.
"Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Feb. 28, 2017], the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a plan for how NASA can best facilitate and support both current and retired astronauts, scientists, engineers, and innovators, including early career female astronauts, scientists, engineers, and innovators, to engage with K–12 female STEM students and inspire the next generation of women to consider participating in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and to pursue careers in aerospace. This plan shall—
"(1) report on existing activities with current and retired NASA astronauts, scientists, engineers, and innovators;
"(2) identify how NASA could best leverage existing authorities to facilitate and support current and retired astronaut, scientist, engineer, and innovator participation in NASA outreach efforts;
"(3) propose and describe a program specific to retired astronauts, scientists, engineers, and innovators; and
"(4) identify any additional authorities necessary to institute such a program."
NASA's Contribution to Education
"(a)
"(b)
"(1) to carry out and support research based programs and activities designed to increase student interest and participation in STEM, including students from minority and underrepresented groups;
"(2) to improve public literacy in STEM;
"(3) that employ proven strategies and methods for improving student learning and teaching in STEM;
"(4) to provide curriculum support materials and other resources that—
"(A) are designed to be integrated with comprehensive STEM education;
"(B) are aligned with national science education standards;
"(C) promote the adoption and implementation of high-quality education practices that build toward college and career-readiness; and
"(5) to create and support opportunities for enhanced and ongoing professional development for teachers using best practices that improve the STEM content and knowledge of the teachers, including through programs linking STEM teachers with STEM educators at the higher education level."
[For definition of "STEM" as used in section 202 of
Reports
"(a)
"(1)
"(2)
"(B) Not later than three years after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 30, 2005], 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)
"(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)
"(1)
"(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)
"(3)
"(d)
"(e)
"(1)
"(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)
"(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)
Review of MUST Program
Denial of Financial Assistance to Campus Disrupters
1 Section catchline amended by
§40901. Science, Space, and Technology Education Trust Fund
There is appropriated, by transfer from funds appropriated in the Department of Housing and Urban Development—Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1989 (
(
Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
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40901 |
In the first sentence, the words "the Department of Housing and Urban Development—Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1989 (
In the second sentence, the words "of the Treasury" are inserted after "the Secretary" for clarity.
In the sixth sentence, the word "hereafter", which appeared after "each calendar quarter", is omitted as unnecessary.
§40902. National Aeronautics and Space Administration Endeavor Teacher Fellowship Trust Fund
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(
Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
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40902 |
In subsection (a), the words "The Trust Fund shall consist of amounts" are substituted for "The Trust Fund shall consist of gifts and donations accepted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration pursuant to section 208 of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 (
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2011—Subsec. (d).
§40903. Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research—merit grant competition requirements
(a)
(b)
(1) the application's merit and relevance to the mission of the Administration;
(2) the potential for the grant to serve as a catalyst to enhance the ability of researchers in the State to become more competitive for regular Administration funding;
(3) the potential for the grant to improve the environment for science, mathematics, and engineering education in the State; and
(4) the need to ensure the maximum distribution of grants among eligible States, consistent with merit.
(c)
(d)
(
Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
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40903(a) | ||
40903(b) | ||
40903(c) | ||
40903(d) |
In subsection (d) the words "eligible States" are substituted for "EPSCoR States" for clarity and consistency in the section.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2022—
Subsec. (a).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Congressional Findings and Policy
"SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.
"This title [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the 'Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research on Space and Aeronautics Act'.
"SEC. 302. FINDINGS.
"Congress finds that—
"(1) the report of the Advisory Committee on the Future of the United States Space Program has provided a framework within which a consensus on the goals of the space program can be developed;
"(2) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's space science and applications, aeronautical research and technology, and space research and technology programs will serve as the fulcrum for future initiatives by the United States in civil space and aviation;
"(3) colleges and universities in many States are currently not able to compete successfully for research grants awarded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration through its space science and applications, aeronautical research and technology, and space research and technology programs;
"(4) balanced programs of space science and applications, aeronautical research and technology, and space research and technology should include initiatives designed to foster competitive research capacity in all geographic areas of the Nation; and
"(5) by strengthening the competitive research capacity in those geographic areas of the Nation which are not currently fully competitive, the education and training of scientists and engineers important to the future of the United States civil space and aviation programs will be fostered.
"SEC. 303. POLICY.
"It is the policy of the United States that—
"(1) the Administrator [of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration], in planning for national programs in space science and applications, aeronautical research, space flight, and exploration, should ensure the resilience of the space and aeronautics research infrastructure;
"(2) a stable and balanced program of space science and applications, aeronautical research and technology, and space research and technology should include programs to assure that geographic areas of the United States that currently do not successfully participate in competitive space and aeronautical research activities are enabled to become more competitive; and
"(3) programs to improve competitive capabilities should be a part of the research and the educational activities of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration."
§40904. Microgravity research
The Administrator shall—
(1) 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
(2) carry out, to the maximum extent practicable, basic, applied, and commercial International Space Station 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.
(
Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
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40904(1) | ||
40904(2) |
§40905. Program to expand distance learning in rural underserved areas
(a)
(b)
(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.
(
Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
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40905 |
§40906. Equal access to the Administration's education programs
(a)
(b)
(1) data on minority participation in the Administration's education programs, at a minimum in the categories of—
(A) elementary and secondary education;
(B) undergraduate education; and
(C) graduate education; and
(2) the total value of grants the Administration made to Historically Black Colleges and Universities and to Hispanic Serving Institutions through education programs during the period covered by the report.
(c)
(
Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
---|---|---|
40906 |
In subsection (b), in the matter before paragraph (1), the words "Every 2 years" are substituted for "Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [December 30, 2005], and every 2 years thereafter" to eliminate obsolete language.
In subsection (b), in the matter before paragraph (1), the words "Committee on Science and Technology" are substituted for "Committee on Science" on authority of Rule X(1)(o) of the Rules of the House of Representatives, adopted by House Resolution No. 6 (110th Congress, January 5, 2007).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Committee on Science and Technology of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Jan. 5, 2011.
§40907. 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.
(
Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
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40907 |
§40908. Continuation of certain education programs
From amounts appropriated to the Administration 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 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005 (
(
Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
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40908 |
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Section 614 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005, referred to in text, was classified to former
§40909. Compliance with title IX of Education Amendments of 1972
To comply with title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (
(
Revised Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
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40909 |
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Education Amendments of 1972, referred to in text, is