I
105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3894
To reinvigorate science and technology functions of the Department of the
Air Force.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 19, 1998
Mr. HALL of Ohio (for himself, Mr. BOEHLERT, and Mr. HOBSON) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on National Security
A BILL
To reinvigorate science and technology functions of the
Department of the Air Force.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Air Force Science and
Technology Reinvigoration Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) When the Air Force was established in
1947 as an independent service, its founders ex-
pected that it would ensure that scientific research
and technology development would be a priority of
America’s aeronautical defenses.
(2) Scientific investigation, accompanied by the
new knowledge it generates, is the cornerstone of
air, space, and information superiority. To maintain
air, space, and information superiority, a strong re-
search base is critical. Sustaining a strong research
and development base is a continuous effort, taking
place both inside and outside the Air Force and in-
volving the best minds of the Nation.
(3) The vision of Air Force founder General
Henry H. Arnold and others—that the Air Force
should be built around science—remains as vital
today as it was more than 50 years ago.
(4) Investment in Air Force research and devel-
opment has resulted in benefits to American indus-
try, especially the aerospace industry, and made sig-
nificant contributions to the American economy.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY FUNCTIONS OF THE DEPART-
MENT OF THE AIR FORCE.
It is the sense of Congress that—
(1) to ensure sufficient financial resources are
devoted to emerging technologies, not less than 2.5
percent of the funds available for obligation by the
Air Force should be dedicated to science and tech-
nology;
(2) management and funding for science and
technology by the Air Force should be separate from
management and funding for acquisition by the Air
Force;
(3) to increase long-term investments, not less
than 15 percent of science and technology funds
available for obligation by the Air Force should be
invested in new technology areas, including critical
information technology programs, for the next 5
years;
(4) to maintain a sufficient base of scientists
and engineers to meet the technological challenges of
the future, the Air Force should—
(A) increase the number of Air Force offi-
cers and civilian employees holding doctorate
degrees in technical fields; and
(B) increase the number and variety of
technical degrees at the master’s level granted
to Air Force officers and civilian employees
from both the Air Force Institute of Technology
and civilian universities; and
(5) to ensure Air Force science and technology
does not stagnate, a concentrated effort should be
made to eliminate 5 percent of science and tech-
nology programs each year, with funds from the dis-
continued programs used for new science and tech-
nology programs.
SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO SCIENCE AND TECH-
NOLOGY FUNCTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF THE AIR FORCE.
(a) SEPARATION OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
FUNCTION FROM EQUIPPING FUNCTION OF SECRETARY
OF THE AIR FORCE.—Section 8013(b) of title 10, United
States Code, is amended—
(1) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘(including re-
search and development)’’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
‘‘(13) Research and development.’’.
(b) RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FUNCTION OF
THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE.—
(1) Section 8014(c)(1) of such title is amended by adding
at the end the following new subparagraph:
‘‘(H) Research and Development.’’.
(2) Section 8014 of such title is amended—
(A) by striking out subsection (d); and
(B) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as
subsections (d) and (e), respectively.
(c) ESTABLISHMENT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF
THE AIR FORCE FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.—(1)
Section 8016 of such title is amended—
(A) in subsection (a), by striking out ‘‘four’’
and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘five’’; and
(B) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the
following new paragraph:
‘‘(4) One of the Assistant Secretaries shall be the As-
sistant Secretary of the Air Force for Science and Tech-
nology. The Assistant Secretary shall have as his principal
duty the overall supervision of science and technology
functions of the Department of the Air Force.’’.
(2) Section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, is
amended in the item relating to the Assistant Secretaries
of the Air Force by striking out ‘‘(4)’’ and inserting in
lieu thereof ‘‘(5)’’.
(d) ESTABLISHMENT OF DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF
FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.—Section 8035 of title
10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end
the following new subsection:
‘‘(c) One of the Deputy Chiefs of Staff shall be the
Deputy Chief of Staff for Science and Technology.’’.
SEC. 5. STUDY.
(a) REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary of the Air Force
shall enter into a contract with the National Research