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 Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Space 
Shuttle return-to-flight plans, and for other purposes.
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 ‘‘Space Shuttle Inde-
pendent Oversight Act of 2003’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act—
(1) the term ‘‘Administrator’’ means the Ad-
ministrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration; and 
(2) the term ‘‘NASA’’ means the National Aer-
onautics and Space Administration. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT 
COMMITTEE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall enter 
into an arrangement with the National Academy of 
Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering for the 
establishment of an independent committee to oversee 
NASA’s implementation of the recommendations of the 
Columbia Accident Investigation Board, with the excep-
tion of those recommendations associated with return-to-
flight activities of the Space Shuttle fleet. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP AND OPERATING PROCEDURES.—
The size, composition, and operating procedures of the 
committee shall be determined solely by the National 
Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engi-
neering, in consultation with the National Academy of 
Public Administration. 
(c) TASKS.—The committee shall—
(1) review and evaluate the plans NASA devel-
ops to implement the recommendations of the Co-
lumbia Accident Investigation Board and make rec-
ommendations to the Administrator as appropriate 
with respect to the plans’ adequacy and responsive-
ness to the findings and recommendations of the Co-
lumbia Accident Investigation Board; 
(2) monitor and assess the implementation of 
the Columbia Accident Investigation Board rec-
ommendations by NASA and report the committee’s 
findings on a semi-annual basis to the Adminis-
trator; 
(3) provide technical oversight of any required 
design activities and test or certification procedures 
and plans; 
(4) review and evaluate the results of any re-
quired test or certification programs; and 
(5) each year for five years after the date of 
termination 
of 
NASA’s 
Return-to-Flight 
Task 
Force, determine whether NASA is still complying 
with all of the Columbia Accident Investigation 
Board’s Return-to-Flight recommendations. 
(d) SUPPORT.—The Administrator shall provide to 
the committee in a timely manner—
(1) all information and technical data necessary 
to complete the committee’s tasks;
(2) briefings and interviews by personnel from 
NASA, its contractors, and the Columbia Accident 
Investigation Board; and 
(3) access to all test and certification activities, 
as needed. 
(e) DURATION.—The committee shall be established 
within 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act 
and shall remain in existence for six years after the date 
of termination of NASA’s Return-to-Flight Task Force 
unless otherwise extended by the Administrator. 
SEC. 4. REPORTS. 
The committee established under section 3 shall pro-
vide to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans-
portation of the Senate and the Committee on Science of 
the House of Representatives—
(1) copies of any interim reports or correspond-
ence it provides to the Administrator at the same 
time as they are provided to the Administrator; and 
(2) at the conclusion of the committee’s activi-
ties, a final report summarizing the committee’s 
findings, recommendations, and any other matters 
that the committee wishes to address.
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