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(b) DISCUSSIONS.—The Administrator, in consulta-
tion with other appropriate agencies of the Federal Gov-
ernment, shall initiate discussions with the appropriate 
representatives of other spacefaring nations with the goal 
of determining an appropriate framework under which in-
formation intended to promote safe access into outer 
space, operations in outer space, and return from outer 
space to Earth free from physical or radio-frequency inter-
ference can be shared among those nations. 
SEC. 1103. STUDY OF EXPORT CONTROL POLICIES RE-
LATED TO CIVIL AND COMMERCIAL SPACE 
ACTIVITIES. 
(a) REVIEW.—The Director of OSTP shall carry out 
a study of the impact of current export control policies 
and implementation directives on the United States aero-
space industry and its competitiveness in global markets, 
and on the ability of United States Government agencies 
to carry out cooperative activities in science and tech-
nology and human space flight, including the impact on 
research carried out under the sponsorship of those agen-
cies. 
(b) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the study, the 
Director shall seek input from industry, academia, rep-
resentatives of the science community, all affected United 
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States Government agencies, and any other appropriate 
organizations and individuals. 
(c) REPORT.—The Director shall provide a report de-
tailing the findings and recommendations of the study to 
the Committee on Science and Technology of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate not later than 
9 months after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 1104. ASTRONAUT HEALTH CARE. 
(a) SURVEY.—The Administrator shall administer an 
anonymous survey of astronauts and flight surgeons to 
evaluate communication, relationships, and the effective-
ness of policies. The survey questions and the analysis of 
results shall be evaluated by experts independent of 
NASA. The survey shall be administered on at least a bi-
ennial basis. 
(b) REPORT.—The Administrator shall transmit a re-
port of the results of the survey to Congress not later than 
90 days following completion of the survey. 
SEC. 1105. NATIONAL ACADEMIES DECADAL SURVEYS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall enter 
into agreements on a periodic basis with the National 
Academies for independent assessments, also known as 
decadal surveys, to take stock of the status and opportuni-
ties for Earth and space science discipline fields and Aero-
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nautics research and to recommend priorities for research 
and programmatic areas over the next decade. 
(b) INDEPENDENT COST ESTIMATES.—The agree-
ments described in subsection(a) shall include independent 
estimates of the life cycle costs and technical readiness 
of missions assessed in the decadal surveys whenever pos-
sible. 
(c) REEXAMINATION.—The Administrator shall re-
quest that each National Academies decadal survey com-
mittee identify any conditions or events, such as signifi-
cant cost growth or scientific or technological advances, 
that would warrant NASA asking the National Academies 
to reexamine the priorities that the decadal survey had 
established. 
SEC. 1106. INNOVATION PRIZES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Prizes can play a useful role in 
encouraging innovation in the development of technologies 
and products that can assist NASA in its aeronautics and 
space activities, and the use of such prizes by NASA 
should be encouraged. 
(b) AMENDMENTS.—Section 314 of the National Aer-
onautics and Space Act of 1958 is amended— 
(1) by amending subsection (b) to read as fol-
lows: 
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‘‘(b) TOPICS.—In selecting topics for prize competi-
tions, the Administrator shall consult widely both within 
and outside the Federal Government, and may empanel 
advisory committees. The Administrator shall give consid-
eration to prize goals such as the demonstration of the 
ability to provide energy to the lunar surface from space- 
based solar power systems, demonstration of innovative 
near-Earth object survey and deflection strategies, and in-
novative approaches to improving the safety and efficiency 
of aviation systems.’’; and 
(2) 
in 
subsection 
(i)(4) 
by 
striking 
‘‘$10,000,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$50,000,000’’. 
SEC. 1107. COMMERCIAL SPACE LAUNCH RANGE STUDY. 
(a) STUDY BY INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE.—The Di-
rector of OSTP shall work with other appropriate Federal 
agencies to establish an interagency committee to conduct 
a study to— 
(1) identify the issues and challenges associated 
with establishing a space launch range and facilities 
that are fully dedicated to commercial space mis-
sions in close proximity to Federal launch ranges or 
other Federal facilities; and 
(2) develop a coordinating mechanism such that 
States seeking to establish such commercial space 
launch ranges will be able to effectively and effi-
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ciently interface with the Federal Government con-
cerning issues related to the establishment of such 
commercial launch ranges in close proximity to Fed-
eral launch ranges or other Federal facilities. 
(b) REPORT.—The Director shall, not later than May 
31, 2010, submit to the Committee on Science and Tech-
nology of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
a report on the results of the study conducted under sub-
section (a). 
SEC. 1108. NASA OUTREACH AND TECHNOLOGY ASSIST-
ANCE PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—NASA shall contract with an 
organization that has demonstrated the ability to partner 
with NASA centers, aerospace contractors, and academic 
institutions to carry out a program to transfer the knowl-
edge and technology of the space and aeronautics pro-
grams to small, minority-owned, and women-owned busi-
nesses in communities across the United States. The pro-
gram shall support the mission of NASA’s Innovative 
Partnerships Program to provide technical assistance 
through joint partnerships with industry, academia, gov-
ernment agencies, and national laboratories. 
(b) PROGRAM STRUCTURE.—In carrying out the pro-
gram described in subsection (a), the organization shall 
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support the mission of NASA’s Innovative Partnerships 
Program by undertaking the following activities: 
(1) Facilitating technology transfer to the pri-
vate sector to produce viable commercial products. 
(2) Creating a network of academic institutions, 
aerospace contractors, and NASA centers that will 
commit to donating technical assistance to small 
businesses, giving preference to socially and eco-
nomically disadvantaged small business concerns, 
small business concerns owned and controlled by 
service-disabled veterans, and HUBZone small busi-
ness concerns. This paragraph shall not apply to any 
contracting actions entered into or taken by the 
Agency. 
(3) Creating a network of economic develop-
ment organizations to increase the awareness and 
enhance the effectiveness of the program nationwide. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Ad-
ministrator shall submit a report to the Committee on 
Science and Technology of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate describing the efforts and accomplish-
ments of the program established under subsection (a) in 
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support of NASA’s Innovative Partnerships Program. As 
part of the report, the Administrator shall provide— 
(1) data on the number of small businesses re-
ceiving assistance, jobs created and retained, and 
volunteer hours donated by NASA, contractors, and 
academic institutions nationwide; 
(2) an estimate of the total dollar value of the 
economic impact made by small businesses that re-
ceived technical assistance through the program; and 
(3) an accounting of the use of funds appro-
priated for the program. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to NASA for the pro-
gram established under subsection (a), $4,000,000 for fis-
cal year 2009 from the funding available for the Innova-
tive Partnerships Program, to remain available until ex-
pended. 
SEC. 1109. REDUCTION-IN-FORCE MORATORIUM. 
NASA shall not initiate or implement a reduction-in- 
force, or conduct any other involuntary separations of per-
manent, non-Senior Executive Service, civil servant em-
ployees except for cause on charges of misconduct, delin-
quency, or inefficiency prior to December 31, 2010. 
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SEC. 1110. LIMIT ON THE USE OF TERM POSITIONS. 
NASA shall limit the percentage of employees in term 
positions, excluding students and cooperatives, within 
NASA to less than or equal to ten percent of the total 
number of non-Senior Executive Service, civil servant em-
ployees in fiscal year 2009. 
SEC. 1111. TEMPORARY CONTINUATION OF COVERAGE OF 
HEALTH BENEFITS. 
(a) Section 8905a(d) of title 5, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following new para-
graph: 
‘‘(6)(A) If the basis for continued coverage 
under this section is, as a result of the termination 
of the Space Shuttle Program, an involuntary sepa-
ration from a position due to a reduction-in-force or 
declination of a directed reassignment or transfer of 
function, or a voluntary separation from a surplus 
position in the National Aeronautics and Space Ad-
ministration— 
‘‘(i) the individual shall be liable for not 
more than the employee contributions referred 
to in paragraph (1)(A)(i); and 
‘‘(ii) the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration shall pay the remaining portion 
of the amount required under paragraph 
(1)(A). 
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‘‘(B) This paragraph shall only apply with re-
spect to individuals whose continued coverage is 
based on a separation occurring on or after the date 
of enactment of this paragraph and before December 
31, 2010. 
‘‘(C) For purposes of this paragraph, ‘‘surplus 
position’’ means a position which is— 
‘‘(i) identified in pre-reduction-in-force 
planning as no longer required, and which is ex-
pected to be eliminated under formal reduction- 
in-force procedures as a result of the termi-
nation of the Space Shuttle Program; or 
‘‘(ii) encumbered by an employee who has 
received official certification from the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration con-
sistent with the Administration’s career transi-
tion assistance program regulations that the po-
sition is being abolished as a result of the ter-
mination of the Space Shuttle Program.’’. 
(b) Paragraph (1)(A) of such subsection (d) is 
amended by striking ‘‘(4) and (5)’’ and inserting ‘‘(4), (5), 
and (6)’’. 
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SEC. 1112. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that NASA should not 
dilute, distort, suppress, or impede scientific research or 
the dissemination thereof. 
SEC. 1113. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING THE NEED 
FOR A ROBUST WORKFORCE. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) a robust and highly skilled workforce is crit-
ical to the success of NASA’s programs; 
(2) voluntary attrition, the retirement of many 
senior workers, and difficulties in recruiting could 
leave NASA without access to the intellectual capital 
necessary to compete with its global competitors; 
and 
(3) NASA should work cooperatively with other 
agencies of the United States Government respon-
sible for programs related to space and the aero-
space industry to develop and implement policies, in-
cluding those with an emphasis on improving 
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
education at all levels, to sustain and expand the di-
verse workforce available to NASA. 
SEC. 1114. EXCEPTION TO ALTERNATIVE FUEL PROCURE-
MENT REQUIREMENT. 
Section 526(a) of the Energy Independence and Se-
curity Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17142(a)) does not prohibit 
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