SEC. 402. AERONAUTICS RESEARCH GOALS. 
The Administrator shall ensure that the Administra-
tion maintains a strong aeronautics research portfolio 
ranging from fundamental research through integrated 
systems research with specific research goals, including 
the following: 
(1) ENHANCE
AIRSPACE
OPERATIONS
AND 
SAFETY.—The Administration’s Aeronautics Re-
search Mission Directorate shall address research 
needs of the Next Generation Air Transportation 
System and identify critical gaps in technology 
which must be bridged to enable the implementation 
of the Next Generation Air Transportation System 
so that safety and productivity improvements can be 
achieved as soon as possible. 
(2) IMPROVE
AIR
VEHICLE
PERFORMANCE.— 
The Administration’s Aeronautics Research Mission 
Directorate shall conduct research to improve air-
craft performance and minimize environmental im-
pacts. The Associate Administrator for the Aero-
nautics Research Mission Directorate shall consider 
and pursue concepts to reduce noise, emissions, and 
fuel consumption while maintaining high safety 
standards, and shall conduct research related to the 
impact of alternative fuels on the safety, reliability 
and maintainability of current and new air vehicles. 
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(3) STRENGTHEN AVIATION SAFETY.—The Ad-
ministration’s Aeronautics Research Mission Direc-
torate shall proactively address safety challenges as-
sociated with current and new air vehicles and with 
operations in the Nation’s current and future air 
transportation system. 
(4) DEMONSTRATE CONCEPTS AT THE SYSTEM 
LEVEL.—The Administration’s Aeronautics Research 
Mission Directorate shall mature the most promising 
technologies to the point at which they can be dem-
onstrated in a relevant environment and shall inte-
grate individual components and technologies as ap-
propriate to ensure that they perform in an inte-
grated manner as well as they do when operated in-
dividually. 
SEC. 403. UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH AND DE-
VELOPMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator, in consulta-
tion with the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration and other Federal agencies, shall carry out 
research and technological development to facilitate the 
safe integration of unmanned aerial systems into the Na-
tional Airspace System, including— 
(1) positioning and navigation systems; 
(2) sense and avoid capabilities; 
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(3) secure data and communication links; 
(4) flight recovery systems; and 
(5) human systems integration. 
(b) ROADMAP.—The Administrator shall update a 
roadmap for unmanned aerial systems research and devel-
opment and transmit this roadmap to the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(c) COOPERATIVE UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE AC-
TIVITIES.—Section 31504 of title 51, United States Code, 
is amended by inserting ‘‘Operational flight data derived 
from these cooperative agreements shall be made available, 
in appropriate and usable formats, to the Administration 
and the Federal Aviation Administration for the develop-
ment of regulatory standards.’’ after ‘‘in remote areas.’’. 
SEC. 404. RESEARCH PROGRAM ON COMPOSITE MATERIALS 
USED IN AERONAUTICS. 
(a) PURPOSE
OF RESEARCH.—The Administrator 
shall continue the Administration’s cooperative research 
program with industry to identify and demonstrate more 
effective and safe ways of developing, manufacturing, and 
maintaining composite materials for use in airframes, sub-
systems, and propulsion components. 
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(b) EXPOSURE OF RESEARCH TO NEXT GENERATION 
OF ENGINEERS AND TECHNICIANS.—To the extent prac-
ticable, the Administration’s cooperative research program 
with industry on composite materials shall provide timely 
access to that research to the next generation of engineers 
and technicians at universities, community colleges, and 
vocational schools, thereby helping to develop a workforce 
ready to take on the development, manufacture, and main-
tenance of components reliant on advanced composite ma-
terials. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—The Administrator, in over-
seeing the Administration’s work on composite materials, 
shall consult with relevant Federal agencies and partners 
in industry to accelerate safe development and certifi-
cation processes for new composite materials and design 
methods while maintaining rigorous inspection of new 
composite materials. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit 
a report to the Committee on Science, Space, and Tech-
nology of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
detailing the Administration’s work on new composite ma-
terials and the coordination efforts among Federal agen-
cies and industry partners. 
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SEC. 405. HYPERSONIC RESEARCH. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with other 
Federal agencies, shall develop and transmit to the Com-
mittee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a research and 
development roadmap for hypersonic aircraft research 
with the objective of exploring hypersonic science and 
technology using air-breathing propulsion concepts, 
through a mix of theoretical work, basic and applied re-
search, and development of flight research demonstration 
vehicles. The roadmap shall prescribe appropriate agency 
contributions, coordination efforts, and technology mile-
stones. 
SEC. 406. SUPERSONIC RESEARCH. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 
(1) the ability to fly commercial aircraft over 
land at supersonic speeds without adverse impacts 
on the environment or on local communities could 
open new global markets and enable new transpor-
tation capabilities; and 
(2) continuing the Administration’s research 
program is necessary to assess the impact in a rel-
evant environment of commercial supersonic flight 
operations and provide the basis for establishing ap-
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propriate sonic boom standards for such flight oper-
ations. 
(b) ROADMAP
FOR SUPERSONIC RESEARCH.—Not 
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Administrator shall develop and transmit to the Com-
mittee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a roadmap that 
allows for flexible funding profiles for supersonic aero-
nautics research and development with the objective of de-
veloping and demonstrating, in a relevant environment, 
airframe and propulsion technologies to minimize the envi-
ronmental impact, including noise, of supersonic overland 
flight in an efficient and economical manner. The roadmap 
shall include— 
(1) the baseline research as embodied by the 
Administration’s existing research on supersonic 
flight; 
(2) a list of specific technological, environ-
mental, and other challenges that must be overcome 
to minimize the environmental impact, including 
noise, of supersonic overland flight; 
(3) a research plan to address such challenges, 
as well as a project timeline for accomplishing rel-
evant research goals; 
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(4) a plan for coordination with stakeholders, 
including relevant government agencies and indus-
try; and 
(5) a plan for how the Administration will en-
sure that sonic boom research is coordinated as ap-
propriate with relevant Federal agencies. 
SEC. 407. RESEARCH ON NEXTGEN AIRSPACE MANAGE-
MENT CONCEPTS AND TOOLS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall, in con-
sultation with other Federal agencies, review at least an-
nually the alignment and timing of the Administration’s 
research and development activities in support of the 
NextGen airspace management modernization initiative, 
and 
shall 
make 
any 
necessary 
adjustments 
by 
reprioritizing or retargeting the Administration’s research 
and development activities in support of the NextGen ini-
tiative. 
(b) ANNUAL REPORTS.—The Administrator shall re-
port to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate an-
nually regarding the progress of the Administration’s re-
search and development activities in support of the 
NextGen airspace management modernization initiative, 
including details of technologies transferred to relevant 
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Federal agencies for eventual operation implementation, 
consultation with other Federal agencies, and any adjust-
ments made to research activities. 
SEC. 408. ROTORCRAFT RESEARCH. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with other 
Federal agencies, shall prepare and transmit to the Com-
mittee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a roadmap for 
research relating to rotorcraft and other runway-inde-
pendent air vehicles, with the objective of developing and 
demonstrating improved safety, noise, and environmental 
impact in a relevant environment. The roadmap shall in-
clude specific goals for the research, a timeline for imple-
mentation, metrics for success, and guidelines for collabo-
ration and coordination with industry and other Federal 
agencies. 
SEC. 409. TRANSFORMATIVE AERONAUTICS RESEARCH. 
It is the sense of Congress that the Administrator, 
in looking strategically into the future and ensuring that 
the Administration’s Center personnel are at the leading 
edge of aeronautics research, should encourage investiga-
tions into the early-stage advancement of new processes, 
novel concepts, and innovative technologies that have the 
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potential to meet national aeronautics needs. The Admin-
istrator shall continue to ensure that awards for the inves-
tigation of these concepts and technologies are open for 
competition among Administration civil servants at its 
Centers, separate from other awards open only to non-Ad-
ministration sources. 
SEC. 410. STUDY OF UNITED STATES LEADERSHIP IN AERO-
NAUTICS RESEARCH. 
(a) STUDY.—The Administrator shall enter into an 
arrangement with the National Academies for a study to 
benchmark the position of the United States in civil aero-
nautics research compared to the rest of the world. The 
study shall— 
(1) seek to define metrics by which relative 
leadership in civil aeronautics research can be deter-
mined; 
(2) ascertain how the United States compares 
to other countries in the field of civil aeronautics re-
search and any relevant trends; and 
(3) provide recommendations on what can be 
done to regain or retain global leadership, includ-
ing— 
(A) 
identifying 
research 
areas 
where 
United States expertise has been or is at risk 
of being overtaken; 
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(B) defining appropriate roles for the Ad-
ministration; 
(C) identifying public-private partnerships 
that could be formed; and 
(D) estimating the impact on the Adminis-
tration’s budget should such recommendations 
be implemented. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall pro-
vide the results of the study to the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate. 
TITLE V—SPACE TECHNOLOGY 
SEC. 501. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that space technology is 
critical to— 
(1) enabling a new class of Administration mis-
sions beyond low-Earth orbit; 
(2) developing technologies and capabilities that 
will make the Administration’s missions more afford-
able and more reliable; and 
(3) improving technological capabilities and pro-
moting innovation for the Administration and the 
Nation. 
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SEC. 502. SPACE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM. 
(a) AMENDMENT.—Section 70507 of title 51, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 70507. Space Technology Program authorized 
‘‘(a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—The Administrator 
shall establish a Space Technology Program to pursue the 
research and development of advanced space technologies 
that have the potential of delivering innovative solutions 
and to support human exploration of the solar system or 
advanced space science. The program established by the 
Administrator shall take into consideration the rec-
ommendations of the National Academies’ review of the 
Administration’s Space Technology roadmaps and prior-
ities, as well as applicable enabling aspects of the Human 
Exploration Roadmap specified in section 70504. In con-
ducting the space technology program established under 
this section, the Administrator shall— 
‘‘(1) to the maximum extent practicable, use a 
competitive process to select projects to be supported 
as part of the program; 
‘‘(2) make use of small satellites and the Ad-
ministration’s suborbital and ground-based plat-
forms, to the extent practicable and appropriate, to 
demonstrate space technology concepts and develop-
ments; and 
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‘‘(3) undertake partnerships with other Federal 
agencies, universities, private industry, and other 
spacefaring nations, as appropriate. 
‘‘(b) SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS.—The Adminis-
trator shall organize and manage the Administration’s 
Small Business Innovation Research program and Small 
Business Technology Transfer Program within the Space 
Technology Program. 
‘‘(c) NONDUPLICATION CERTIFICATION.—The Ad-
ministrator shall include in the budget for each fiscal year, 
as transmitted to Congress under section 1105(a) of title 
31, a certification that no project, program, or mission 
undertaken by the Space Technology Program is duplica-
tive of any other project, program, or mission conducted 
by another office or directorate of the Administration.’’. 
(b) COLLABORATION, COORDINATION, AND ALIGN-
MENT.—The Administrator shall ensure that the Adminis-
tration’s projects, programs, and activities in support of 
technology research and development of advanced space 
technologies are fully coordinated and aligned and that re-
sults from such work are shared and leveraged within the 
Administration. Projects, programs, and activities being 
conducted by the Human Exploration and Operations Mis-
sion Directorate in support of research and development 
of advanced space technologies and systems focusing on 
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human space exploration should continue in that Direc-
torate. The Administrator shall ensure that organizational 
responsibility for research and development activities in 
support of human space exploration not initiated as of the 
date of enactment of this Act is established on the basis 
of a sound rationale. The Administrator shall provide the 
rationale in the report specified in subsection (d). 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall provide 
to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report 
comparing the Administration’s space technology invest-
ments with the high-priority technology areas identified by 
the National Academies in the National Research Coun-
cil’s report on the Administration’s Space Technology 
Roadmaps. The Administrator shall identify how the Ad-
ministration will address any gaps between the agency’s 
investments and the recommended technology areas, in-
cluding a projection of funding requirements. 
(d) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Administrator shall in-
clude in the Administration’s annual budget request for 
each fiscal year the rationale for assigning organizational 
responsibility for, in the year prior to the budget fiscal 
year, each initiated project, program, and mission focused 
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on research and development of advanced technologies for 
human space exploration. 
(e) TABLE OF SECTIONS AMENDMENT.—The item 
relating to section 70507 in the table of sections for chap-
ter 705 of title 51, United States Code, is amended to 
read as follows: 
‘‘70507. Space Technology Program authorized.’’. 
SEC. 503. UTILIZATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE 
STATION FOR TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRA-
TIONS. 
The Administrator shall utilize the International 
Space Station and commercial services for space tech-
nology demonstration missions in low-Earth orbit when-
ever it is practical and cost effective to do so. 
TITLE VI—EDUCATION 
SEC. 601. EDUCATION. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) the Administration’s missions are an inspi-
ration for Americans and in particular for the next 
generation, and that this inspiration has a powerful 
effect in stimulating interest in science, technology, 
engineering, and mathematics (in this section re-
ferred to as ‘‘STEM’’) education and careers; 
(2) the Administration’s Office of Education 
and mission directorates have been effective in deliv-
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ering Administration educational content because of 
the strong engagement of Administration scientists 
and engineers in the Administration’s education and 
outreach activities; and 
(3) the Administration should be a central part-
ner in contributing to the goals of the National 
Science and Technology Council’s Federal Science, 
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) 
Education 5-Year Strategic Plan. 
(b) IN GENERAL.—The Administration shall continue 
its education and outreach efforts to— 
(1) increase student interest and participation 
in STEM education; 
(2) improve public literacy in STEM; 
(3) employ proven strategies for improving stu-
dent learning and teaching; 
(4) provide curriculum support materials; and 
(5) create and support opportunities for profes-
sional development for STEM teachers. 
(c) ORGANIZATION.—In order to ensure the inspira-
tion and engagement of children and the general public, 
the Administration shall continue its STEM education and 
outreach activities within the Science, Aeronautics Re-
search, Space Operations, and Exploration Mission Direc-
torates. 
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105 
(D) authorize Administration contractors 
and subcontractors to identify and use addi-
tional suppliers beyond those identified pursu-
ant to subparagraph (C) provided that— 
(i) the standards and processes for 
identifying such suppliers comply with es-
tablished industry standards; 
(ii) the contractor or subcontractor 
assumes responsibility for the authenticity 
of parts provided by such suppliers as pro-
vided in paragraph (2); and 
(iii) the selection of such suppliers is 
subject to review and audit by appropriate 
Administration officials. 
(4) TIMELY NOTIFICATION.—The revised regu-
lations issued pursuant to paragraph (1) shall re-
quire that any Administration contractor or subcon-
tractor who becomes aware, or has reason to sus-
pect, that any end item, component, part, or mate-
rial contained in supplies purchased by the Adminis-
tration, or purchased by a contractor or subcon-
tractor for delivery to, or on behalf of, the Adminis-
tration, contains counterfeit electronic parts or sus-
pect counterfeit electronic parts, shall provide notifi-
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