I
104TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2059
To authorize appropriations to the National Aeronautics and Space Adminis-
tration for human space flight, science, aeronautics, and technology,
mission support, and Inspector General, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 19, 1995
Mr. BROWN of California introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committee on the
Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned
A BILL
To authorize appropriations to the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration for human space flight, science,
aeronautics, and technology, mission support, and In-
spector General, 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 ‘‘National Aeronautics
and Space Administration Authorization Act, Fiscal Year
1996’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that—
(1) a balanced civil space program is a critical
element of the Nation’s investment in research and
development that needs to be maintained even as the
United States reduces its deficit;
(2) the National Aeronautics and Space Admin-
istration will require predictable and adequate fund-
ing over the next 5 years in order to carry out a bal-
anced program of initiatives in human space flight
and science, aeronautics, and technology;
(3) international cooperation can play a major
role in leveraging American investments in space ex-
ploration and utilization and should be encouraged;
and
(4) the National Aeronautics and Space Admin-
istration should continue its efforts to reduce insti-
tutional costs, through management restructuring,
facility consolidation when appropriate, procurement
reform, personnel base downsizing, and convergence
with other defense and private sector systems.
SEC. 3. DEFINITION.
For purposes of this Act, the term ‘‘Administrator’’
means the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration.
TITLE I—AUTHORIZATION OF
APPROPRIATIONS
Subtitle A—Authorizations
SEC. 101. HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT.
(a) AUTHORIZATIONS.—There are authorized to be
appropriated to the National Aeronautics and Space Ad-
ministration for fiscal year 1996 for Human Space Flight
the following amounts:
(1) For the Space Station, $1,833,600,000.
(2) For Russian Cooperation, $129,200,000.
(3) For the Space Shuttle, $3,171,800,000.
(4) For Payload and Utilization Operations,
$315,000,000.
(b) CONSTRUCTION
OF FACILITIES.—(1) Of the
funds authorized to be appropriated under subsection
(a)(1), $14,800,000 are authorized for construction of a
Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, Johnson Space Center.
The Administrator is authorized to exercise an option to
purchase, for not more than $35,000,000, the Clear Lake
Development Facility, containing the Sonny Carter Train-
ing Facility and the approximately 13.7 acre parcel of land
on which it is located, using funds authorized by this Act.
(2) Of the funds authorized to be appropriated under
subsection (a)(3), $7,500,000 are authorized for replace-
ment of the Chemical Analysis Facility, Kennedy Space
Center.
(3) Of the funds authorized to be appropriated under
subsection (a)(3), $4,900,000 are authorized for replace-
ment of the Space Shuttle Main Engine Processing Facil-
ity, Kennedy Space Center.
(4) Of the funds authorized to be appropriated under
subsection (a)(3), $5,000,000 are authorized for mod-
ernization of the Firex System, Pads A and B, Kennedy
Space Center.
SEC. 102. SCIENCE, AERONAUTICS, AND TECHNOLOGY.
(a) AUTHORIZATIONS.—There are authorized to be
appropriated to the National Aeronautics and Space Ad-
ministration for fiscal year 1996 for Science, Aeronautics,
and Technology the following amounts:
(1) For Space Science, $1,972,400,000, of
which—
(A) $1,154,600,000 are authorized for
Physics and Astronomy, including $7,000,000
for the Space Infrared Telescope Facility,
$28,700,000 for the Stratospheric Observatory
for Infrared Astronomy, and $51,500,000 for
the Gravity Probe B Relativity Mission; and
(B) $817,800,000 are authorized for Plan-
etary Exploration, including $20,000,000 for
the New Millenium program.
(2) For Life and Microgravity Sciences and Ap-
plications, $504,000,000.
(3) 
For 
Mission 
to 
Planet 
Earth,
$1,287,460,000.
(4) 
For 
Space 
Access 
and 
Technology,
$557,300,000, of which—
(A) $59,000,000 are authorized for the
Reusable Launch Vehicle technology develop-
ment program, and, to the extent provided in
appropriations Acts, the Administrator may uti-
lize up to $100,000,000 from funds otherwise
provided to the Department of Defense for the
Reusable Launch Vehicle;
(B) $140,500,000 are authorized for
Spacecraft and Remote Sensing; and
(C) $22,600,000 are authorized for the
Small Spacecraft Technology Initiative.
(5) For Aeronautical Research and Technology,
$877,300,000, of which—
(A) $354,700,000 are authorized for Re-
search and Technology Base activities;
(B) $240,500,000 are authorized for High
Speed Research;
(C) $163,400,000 are authorized for Ad-
vanced Subsonic Technology; and
(D) $65,200,000 are authorized for High
Performance Computing and Communications.
(6) For Mission Communication Services,
$461,300,000.
(7) For Academic Programs, $102,200,000.
(b) CONSTRUCTION
OF FACILITIES.—(1) Of the
funds authorized to be appropriated under subsection
(a)(2), $3,000,000 are authorized for the construction of
an addition to the Microgravity Development Laboratory,
Marshall Space Flight Center.
(2) Of the funds authorized to be appropriated under
subsection (a)(3), $17,000,000 are authorized for con-
struction of Earth Systems Science Building, Goddard
Space Flight Center.
(3) Of the funds authorized to be appropriated under
subsection (a)(5), $5,400,000 are authorized for mod-
ernization of the Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel Complex,
Ames Research Center.
SEC. 103. MISSION SUPPORT.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration for fiscal
year 1996 for Mission Support the following amounts:
(1) For Safety, Reliability, and Quality Assur-
ance, $37,600,000.
(2) 
For 
Space 
Communications 
Services,
$299,400,000, of which $175,800,000 are author-
ized for the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite Re-
plenishment program.
(3) For Research and Program Management,
including personnel and related costs, travel, and re-
search operations support, $2,094,800.
(4) For Construction of Facilities, including
land acquisition, $166,400,000, of which—
(A) $6,300,000 are authorized for restora-
tion of Flight Systems Research Laboratory,
Ames Research Center;
(B) $3,000,000 are authorized for restora-
tion of Chilled Water Distribution System, God-
dard Space Flight Center;
(C) $4,800,000 are authorized for replace-
ment of Chillers, various buildings, Jet Propul-
sion Laboratory;
(D) $1,100,000 are authorized for rehabili-
tation of Electrical Distribution System, White
Sands Test Facility, Johnson Space Center;
(E) $4,200,000 are authorized for replace-
ment of Main Substation Switchgear and Cir-
cuit Breakers, Johnson Space Center;
(F) $1,800,000 are authorized for replace-
ment of 15KV Load Break Switches, Kennedy
Space Center;
(G) $9,000,000 are authorized for rehabili-
tation of Central Air Equipment Building,
Lewis Research Center;
(H) $4,700,000 are authorized for restora-
tion of High Pressure Air Compressor System,
Marshall Space Flight Center;
(I) $6,800,000 are authorized for restora-
tion of Information and Electronic Systems
Laboratory, Marshall Space Flight Center;
(J) $1,400,000 are authorized for restora-
tion of Canal Lock, Stennis Space Center;
(K) $2,500,000 are authorized for restora-
tion of Primary Electrical Distribution System,
Wallops Flight Facility;
(L) $35,000,000 are authorized for repair
of facilities at various locations, not in excess of
$1,500,000 per project;
(M) $35,000,000 are authorized for reha-
bilitation and modification of facilities at var-
ious locations, not in excess of $1,500,000 per
project;
(N) $3,800,000 are authorized for minor
construction of new facilities and additions to
existing facilities at various locations, not in ex-
cess of $1,500,000 per project;
(O) $10,000,000 are authorized for facility
planning and design; and
(P) $37,000,000 are authorized for envi-
ronmental compliance and restoration.
SEC. 104. INSPECTOR GENERAL.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration for fiscal
year 1996 for Inspector General, $17,300,000.
SEC. 105. TOTAL CONSTRUCTION OF FACILITIES AUTHOR-
IZATION.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the
total amount authorized to be appropriated under this Act
for 
Construction 
of 
Facilities 
shall 
not 
exceed
$214,000,000.
Subtitle B—Limitations and
Special Authority
SEC. 111. USE OF FUNDS FOR CONSTRUCTION.
(a) AUTHORIZED USES.—Funds appropriated under
sections 101(a), 102(a), and 103 (1) and (2), and funds
appropriated for research operations support under sec-
tion 103(3), may be used for the construction of new fa-
cilities and additions to, repair of, rehabilitation of, or
modification of existing facilities at any location in support
of the purposes for which such funds are authorized.
(b) LIMITATION.—None of the funds used pursuant
to subsection (a) may be expended for a project, the esti-
mated cost of which to the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration, including collateral equipment, ex-
ceeds $500,000, until 30 days have passed after the Ad-
ministrator has notified the Committee on Science of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate of the
nature, location, and estimated cost to the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration of such project.
(c) TITLE TO FACILITIES.—If funds are used pursu-
ant to subsection (a) for grants to institutions of higher
education, or to nonprofit organizations whose primary
purpose is the conduct of scientific research, for purchase
or construction of additional research facilities, title to
such facilities shall be vested in the United States unless
the Administrator determines that the national program
of aeronautical and space activities will best be served by
vesting title in the grantee institution or organization.
Each such grant shall be made under such conditions as
the Administrator shall determine to be required to ensure
that the United States will receive therefrom the benefits
adequate to justify the making of that grant.
SEC. 112. AVAILABILITY OF APPROPRIATED AMOUNTS.
To the extent provided in appropriations Acts, appro-
priations authorized under subtitle A may remain avail-
able without fiscal year limitation.
SEC. 113. REPROGRAMMING FOR CONSTRUCTION OF FA-
CILITIES.
Appropriations authorized under section 101(b),
102(b), or 103(4)—
(1) may be varied upward by 10 percent at the
discretion of the Administrator; or
(2) may be varied upward by 25 percent, to
meet unusual cost variations, after the expiration of
30 days following a report on the circumstances of
such action by the Administrator to the Committee
on Science of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate.
The aggregate amount authorized to be appropriated
under sections 101(b), 102(b), and 103(4) shall not be
increased as a result of actions authorized under para-
graphs (1) and (2) of this section.
SEC. 114. CONSIDERATION BY COMMITTEES.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act—
(1) no amount appropriated to the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration may be used
for any program for which the President’s annual
budget request included a request for funding, but
for which the Congress denied or did not provide
funding;
(2) no amount appropriated to the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration may be used
for any program in excess of the amount actually
authorized for the particular program by subtitle A;
and
(3) no amount appropriated to the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration may be used
for any program which has not been presented to
the Congress in the President’s annual budget re-
quest or the supporting and ancillary documents
thereto,
unless a period of 30 days has passed after the receipt
by the Committee on Science of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate of notice given by the Ad-
ministrator containing a full and complete statement of
the action proposed to be taken and the facts and cir-
cumstances relied upon in support of such proposed ac-
tion. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration
shall keep the Committee on Science of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate fully and currently in-
formed with respect to all activities and responsibilities
within the jurisdiction of those committees. Except as oth-
erwise provided by law, any Federal department, agency,
or independent establishment shall furnish any informa-
tion requested by either committee relating to any such
activity or responsibility.
SEC. 115. USE OF FUNDS FOR SCIENTIFIC CONSULTATIONS
OR EXTRAORDINARY EXPENSES.
Funds appropriated under section 102 may be used,
but not to exceed $35,000, for scientific consultations or
extraordinary expenses upon the authorization of the Ad-
ministrator.
TITLE II—MISCELLANEOUS
PROVISIONS
SEC. 201. PURCHASE OF AIRBORNE INFRARED ASTRONOMY
DATA SERVICES.
(a) CONTRACT FOR SERVICES.—The Administrator
is authorized to enter into multiyear contracts for the pur-
chase of services to provide infrared astronomical data by
airborne platforms. Such contracts may provide for the ac-
quisition of aircraft, instruments, support equipment, and
any capital items necessary to meet Government needs,
and further, the costs of such items may be amortized over
the life of the contract.
(b) TERMINATION LIABILITY.—Any contract entered
into pursuant to this section may provide for the payment
of contingent liability that may accrue in the event that
the Federal Government for its convenience terminates
such contracts. Payments made for such liability shall be
derived from appropriations for Science, Aeronautics, and
Technology which remain unobligated from any fiscal
year.
(c) CALCULATION OF TRANSACTIONS.—For the pur-
poses of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Con-
trol Act of 1985, the Congressional Budget Act of 1974,
the Budget Enforcement Act of 1990, and scorekeeping
guidelines, the Office of Management and Budget and the