I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7632 

To amend title 51, United States Code, to exempt from disclosure by NASA 

certain technical data, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 12, 2024 

Mr. JACKSON of North Carolina introduced the following bill; which was 

referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 

A BILL 

To amend title 51, United States Code, to exempt from 

disclosure by NASA certain technical data, and for other 

purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. EXEMPTION FROM DISCLOSURE BY NASA OF 

4 CERTAIN TECHNICAL DATA. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 20131 of title 51, United 

6 States Code, is amended— 

7 (1) by redesignating subsection (c) as sub8 section (d); and 

9 (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol10 lowing new subsection: 


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1 ‘‘(c) AUTHORITY TO PROTECT CERTAIN TECHNICAL

2 DATA FROM PUBLIC DISCLOSURE.— 

3 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other 

4 provision of law, the Administrator may, pursuant to 

5 section 552 of title 5 (commonly referred to as the 

6 ‘Freedom of Information Act’), withhold any tech7 nical data with aeronautical or space application in 

8 the possession of, or under the control of, the Na9 tional Aeronautics and Space Administration, if such 

10 data may not be exported lawfully outside the 

11 United States without an approval, authorization, or 

12 license under provisions of the Export Control Re13 form Act of 2018 (115–232; 50 U.S.C. 4801 et seq.) 

14 or the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et 

15 seq.). 

16 ‘‘(2) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term 

17 ‘technical data’ means any blueprints, drawings, 

18 photographs, plans, instructions, computer software, 

19 or documentation, or other technical information 

20 that can be used, or be adapted for use, to design, 

21 develop, engineer, produce, manufacture, assemble, 

22 operate, repair, test, maintain, overhaul, modify, or 

23 reproduce any aeronautical or space items, including 

24 subsystems, components, or parts therefor, or techVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:36 Mar 21, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7632.IH H7632

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1 nology concerning such items relating to aero2 nautical or space activities. 

3 ‘‘(3) CONSIDERATION.—For purposes of section 

4 552 of title 5, United States Code, this subsection 

5 shall be considered a statute for purposes of sub6 section (b)(3) of such section. 

7 ‘‘(4) RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in 

8 this subsection may be construed to permit the Ad9 ministrator to withhold any technical data with aero10 nautical or space application in the possession of, or 

11 under the control of, the National Aeronautics and 

12 Space Administration from— 

13 ‘‘(A) an independent, nonpartisan commis14 sion relating to human space flight independent 

15 investigation established by the President pur16 suant to chapter 707 of this title; 

17 ‘‘(B) the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel 

18 established under section 31101 of this title in 

19 the conduct of its duties; 

20 ‘‘(C) any department, agency, or entity of 

21 the Federal Government, if authorized pursuant 

22 to law; 

23 ‘‘(D) Congress; or 

24 ‘‘(E) public disclosure, if regulations pro25 mulgated under the provisions of either the ExVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:36 Mar 21, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H7632.IH H7632

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1 port Control Reform Act of 2018 (115–232; 50 

2 U.S.C. 4801 et seq.) or the Arms Export Con3 trol Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.) authorize the 

4 export of such data pursuant to a general, un5 restricted license or exemption in such regula6 tions.’’. 

7 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Paragraph (3) of 

8 section 20131(a) of title 51, United States Code, is 

9 amended by striking ‘‘subsection (b)’’ and inserting ‘‘sub10 section (b) or (c)’’. 

Æ 


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