I 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3219

To establish an independent committee to oversee the National Aeronautics 

and Space Administration’s Space Shuttle return-to-flight plans, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 1, 2003

Mr. HALL (for himself, Mr. ROHRABACHER, and Mr. GORDON) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science 

A BILL

To establish an independent committee to oversee the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Space 

Shuttle return-to-flight plans, 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. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Space Shuttle Inde5 pendent Oversight Act of 2003’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act—
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1 (1) the term ‘‘Administrator’’ means the Ad2 ministrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 

3 Administration; and 

4 (2) the term ‘‘NASA’’ means the National Aer5 onautics and Space Administration. 

6 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT 

7 COMMITTEE. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall enter 

9 into an arrangement with the National Academy of 

10 Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering for the 

11 establishment of an independent committee to oversee 

12 NASA’s implementation of the recommendations of the 

13 Columbia Accident Investigation Board, with the excep14 tion of those recommendations associated with return-to15 flight activities of the Space Shuttle fleet. 

16 (b) MEMBERSHIP AND OPERATING PROCEDURES.—

17 The size, composition, and operating procedures of the 

18 committee shall be determined solely by the National 

19 Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engi20 neering, in consultation with the National Academy of 

21 Public Administration. 

22 (c) TASKS.—The committee shall—

23 (1) review and evaluate the plans NASA devel24 ops to implement the recommendations of the Co25 lumbia Accident Investigation Board and make rec-
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1 ommendations to the Administrator as appropriate 

2 with respect to the plans’ adequacy and responsive3 ness to the findings and recommendations of the Co4 lumbia Accident Investigation Board; 

5 (2) monitor and assess the implementation of 

6 the Columbia Accident Investigation Board rec7 ommendations by NASA and report the committee’s 

8 findings on a semi-annual basis to the Adminis9 trator; 

10 (3) provide technical oversight of any required 

11 design activities and test or certification procedures 

12 and plans; 

13 (4) review and evaluate the results of any re14 quired test or certification programs; and 

15 (5) each year for five years after the date of 

16 termination of NASA’s Return-to-Flight Task 

17 Force, determine whether NASA is still complying 

18 with all of the Columbia Accident Investigation 

19 Board’s Return-to-Flight recommendations. 

20 (d) SUPPORT.—The Administrator shall provide to 

21 the committee in a timely manner—

22 (1) all information and technical data necessary 

23 to complete the committee’s tasks; 
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1 (2) briefings and interviews by personnel from 

2 NASA, its contractors, and the Columbia Accident 

3 Investigation Board; and 

4 (3) access to all test and certification activities, 

5 as needed. 

6 (e) DURATION.—The committee shall be established 

7 within 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act 

8 and shall remain in existence for six years after the date 

9 of termination of NASA’s Return-to-Flight Task Force 

10 unless otherwise extended by the Administrator. 

11 SEC. 4. REPORTS. 

12 The committee established under section 3 shall pro13 vide to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans14 portation of the Senate and the Committee on Science of 

15 the House of Representatives—

16 (1) copies of any interim reports or correspond17 ence it provides to the Administrator at the same 

18 time as they are provided to the Administrator; and 

19 (2) at the conclusion of the committee’s activi20 ties, a final report summarizing the committee’s 

21 findings, recommendations, and any other matters 

22 that the committee wishes to address.

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