118 
mathematics research, and provides careers and training 
opportunities in academia, Federal laboratories, and com-
mercial industry. Congress encourages the Administrator 
to augment discovery-based fundamental research and to 
establish requirements reflecting the importance of such 
research in keeping with the priorities established in the 
National Academies’ decadal survey entitled ‘‘Recapturing 
a Future for Space Exploration: Life and Physical 
Sciences Research for a New Era’’. 
(b) BUDGET REQUEST.—The Administrator shall in-
clude as part of the Administration’s annual budget re-
quest for each fiscal year a budget line for fundamental 
space life and physical sciences research, devoted to com-
petitive, peer-reviewed grants, that is separate from the 
International Space Station Operations account. 
(c) STRATEGIC PLAN.— 
(1) DEVELOPMENT.—The Administrator, in 
consultation with academia, other Federal agencies, 
and other potential stakeholders, shall develop a 
strategic plan for carrying out competitive, peer-re-
viewed fundamental space life science and physical 
sciences and related technology research, among 
other activities, consistent with the priorities in the 
National Academies’ decadal survey described in 
subsection (a). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:26 Apr 29, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00118
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2039.IH
H2039
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
119 
(2) TRANSMITTAL.—Not later than 270 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Adminis-
trator shall transmit the strategic plan developed 
under paragraph (1) to the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate. 
SEC. 719. RESTORING COMMITMENT TO ENGINEERING RE-
SEARCH. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that engineering excellence has long been a hallmark 
of the Administration’s ability to make significant ad-
vances in aeronautics and space exploration. However, as 
has been noted in recent National Academies reports, in-
creasingly constrained funding and competing priorities 
have led to an erosion of the Administration’s commitment 
to basic engineering research. This research provides the 
basis for the technology development that enables the Ad-
ministration’s many challenging missions to succeed. If 
current trends continue, the Administration’s ability to at-
tract and maintain the best and brightest engineering 
workforce at its Centers as well as its ability to remain 
on the cutting edge of aeronautical and space technology 
will continue to erode and will threaten the Administra-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:26 Apr 29, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00119
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2039.IH
H2039
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
120 
tion’s ability to be a world leader in aeronautics research 
and development and space exploration. 
(b) PLAN.—The Administrator shall develop a plan 
for restoring a meaningful basic engineering research pro-
gram at the Administration’s Centers, including, as appro-
priate, collaborations with industry, universities, and other 
relevant organizations. The plan shall identify the organi-
zational approach to be followed, an initial set of basic 
research priorities, and a proposed budget. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall transmit 
the plan specified in subsection (b) 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. 
SEC. 720. LIQUID ROCKET ENGINE DEVELOPMENT PRO-
GRAM. 
The Administrator shall consult with the Secretary 
of Defense to ensure that any next generation liquid rock-
et engine made in the United States for national security 
space launch objectives can contribute, to the extent prac-
ticable, to the space programs and missions carried out 
by the Administration. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:26 Apr 29, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00120
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2039.IH
H2039
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
121 
SEC. 721. REMOTE SATELLITE SERVICING DEMONSTRA-
TIONS. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) the Administration plays a key role in dem-
onstrating the feasibility of using robotic tech-
nologies for a spacecraft that could autonomously 
access, inspect, repair, and refuel satellites; 
(2) demonstrating this feasibility would both as-
sist the Administration in its future missions and 
provide other Federal agencies and private sector en-
tities with enhanced confidence in the feasibility to 
robotically refuel, inspect, repair, and maintain their 
satellites in both near and distant orbits; and 
(3) the capability to refuel, inspect, repair, and 
maintain satellites robotically could add years of 
functional life to satellites. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 120 days 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 
describing the Administration’s— 
(1) activities, tools, and techniques associated 
with the ultimate goal of autonomously servicing sat-
ellites using robotic spacecraft; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:26 Apr 29, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00121
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2039.IH
H2039
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
122 
(2) efforts to coordinate its technology develop-
ment and demonstrations with other Federal agen-
cies and private sector entities that conduct pro-
grams, projects, or activities on on-orbit satellite in-
spection and servicing capabilities; 
(3) efforts to leverage the work of these Federal 
agencies and private sector entities into the Admin-
istration’s plans; 
(4) accomplishments to date in demonstrating 
various servicing technologies; 
(5) major technical and operational challenges 
encountered and mitigation measures taken; and 
(6) demonstrations needed to increase con-
fidence in the use of the technologies for operational 
missions, and the timeframe for these demonstra-
tions. 
SEC. 722. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY GOVERNANCE. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that information security is central to the Adminis-
tration’s ability to protect information and information 
systems vital to its mission. 
(b) STUDY.—The Comptroller General of the United 
States shall conduct a study to assess the effectiveness of 
the Administration’s Information Technology Governance. 
The study shall include an assessment of— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:26 Apr 29, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00122
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2039.IH
H2039
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
123 
(1) the resources available for overseeing Ad-
ministration-wide information technology operations, 
investments, and security measures and the Chief 
Information Officer’s visibility into and access to 
those resources; 
(2) the effectiveness of the Administration’s de-
centralized information technology structure, deci-
sionmaking processes and authorities and its ability 
to enforce information security; and 
(3) the impact of providing the Chief Informa-
tion Officer approval authority over information 
technology investments that exceed a defined mone-
tary threshold and any potential impacts of the 
Chief Information Officer having such authority on 
the Administration’s missions, flights programs and 
projects, research activities, and Center operations. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall 
transmit a report detailing the results of the study con-
ducted under subsection (b) 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. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:26 Apr 29, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00123
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2039.IH
H2039
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
124 
SEC. 723. STRENGTHENING ADMINISTRATION SECURITY. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-
ings: 
(1) Following the public disclosure of security 
and export control violations at its research centers, 
the Administration contracted with the National 
Academy of Public Administration to conduct an 
independent assessment of how the Administration 
carried out Foreign National Access Management 
practices and other security matters. 
(2) The assessment by the National Academy of 
Public Administration concluded that ‘‘NASA net-
works are compromised’’, that the Administration 
lacked a standardized and systematic approach to 
export compliance, and that individuals within the 
Administration were not held accountable when 
making serious, preventable errors in carrying out 
Foreign National Access Management practices and 
other security matters. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administration shall report 
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 on how 
it plans to address each of the recommendations made in 
the security assessment by the National Academy of Pub-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:26 Apr 29, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00124
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2039.IH
H2039
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
125 
lic Administration and the recommendations made by the 
Government Accountability Office and the Administra-
tion’s Office of the Inspector General regarding security 
and safeguarding export control information. 
(c) REVIEW.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall report 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 its assessment of how the Administra-
tion has complied with the recommendations described in 
subsection (b). 
SEC. 724. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS FOR CONTRAC-
TORS THAT HAVE COMMITTED FRAUD OR 
OTHER CRIMES. 
None of the funds authorized to be appropriated or 
otherwise made available for fiscal year 2016 or any fiscal 
year thereafter for the Administration may be used to 
enter into a contract with any offeror or any of its prin-
cipals if the offeror certifies, pursuant to the Federal Ac-
quisition Regulation, that the offeror or any of its prin-
cipals— 
(1) within a 3-year period preceding the offer 
has been convicted of or had a civil judgment ren-
dered against it for— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:26 Apr 29, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00125
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2039.IH
H2039
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
126 
(A) commission of fraud or a criminal of-
fense in connection with obtaining, attempting 
to obtain, or performing a public (Federal, 
State, or local) contract or subcontract; 
(B) violation of Federal or State antitrust 
statutes relating to the submission of offers; or 
(C) commission of embezzlement, theft, 
forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of 
records, making false statements, tax evasion, 
violating Federal criminal tax laws, or receiving 
stolen property; 
(2) are presently indicted for, or otherwise 
criminally or civilly charged by a governmental enti-
ty with, commission of any of the offenses enumer-
ated in paragraph (1); or 
(3) within a 3-year period preceding the offer, 
has been notified of any delinquent Federal taxes in 
an amount that exceeds $3,000 for which the liabil-
ity remains unsatisfied. 
SEC. 725. PROTECTION OF APOLLO LANDING SITES. 
(a) ASSESSMENT.—The Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy, in consultation with all rel-
evant agencies of the Federal Government and other ap-
propriate entities and individuals, shall carry out a review 
and assessment of the issues involved in protecting and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:26 Apr 29, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00126
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2039.IH
H2039
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
127 
preserving historically important Apollo Program lunar 
landing sites and Apollo program artifacts residing on the 
lunar surface, including those pertaining to Apollo 11 and 
Apollo 17. The review and assessment shall, at a min-
imum, include determination of what risks to the protec-
tion and preservation of those sites and artifacts exist or 
may exist in the future, what measures are required to 
ensure such protection and preservation, the extent to 
which additional domestic legislation or international trea-
ties or agreements will be required, and specific rec-
ommendations for protecting and preserving those lunar 
landing sites and artifacts. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Director shall transmit 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 the re-
sults of the assessment required under subsection (a). 
SEC. 726. ASTRONAUT OCCUPATIONAL HEALTHCARE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The National Academies’ Insti-
tute of Medicine report ‘‘Health Standards for Long Du-
ration and Exploration Spaceflight: Ethics Principles, Re-
sponsibilities, and Decision Framework’’ found that the 
Administration has ethical responsibilities for and should 
adopt policies and processes related to health standards 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:26 Apr 29, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00127
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2039.IH
H2039
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
128 
for long duration and exploration spaceflights that recog-
nize those ethical responsibilities. In particular, the report 
recommended that the Administration ‘‘provide preventa-
tive long-term health screening and surveillance of astro-
nauts and lifetime health care to protect their health, sup-
port ongoing evaluation of health standards, improve mis-
sion safety, and reduce risks for current and future astro-
nauts’’. 
(b) RESPONSE.—The Administration shall prepare a 
response to the National Academies report recommenda-
tion described in subsection (a). The response shall include 
the estimated budgetary resources required for the imple-
mentation of those recommendations, and any options that 
might be considered as part of the response. 
(c) TRANSMITTAL.—The response required under 
subsection (b) shall be transmitted 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 6 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 727. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON ACCESS TO OBSERVA-
TIONAL DATA SETS. 
It is the sense of Congress that the Administration 
should prioritize the development of tools and interfaces 
that make publicly available observational data sets more 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:26 Apr 29, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00128
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2039.IH
H2039
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
129 
easy to access, analyze, manipulate, and understand for 
students, teachers, and the American public at large, with 
a particular focus on K–12 and undergraduate STEM 
education settings. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
02:26 Apr 29, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00129
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H2039.IH
H2039
smartinez on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with BILLS