I
103D CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4621
To establish a National Academy of Space, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 21, 1994
Mr. TRAFICANT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
A BILL
To establish a National Academy of Space, 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. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SPACE.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF ACADEMY.—The Adminis-
trator shall establish a National Academy of Space for the
instruction and preparation of selected individuals for
service in a space-related capacity in the employ of the
United States or a United States corporation. The Acad-
emy shall consist of a program of instruction leading to
baccalaureate degrees in science, mathematics, and engi-
neering at not less than 6 nor more than 10 universities
selected under subsection (b)(3), with uniform curriculum
criteria established by the Board, in conjunction with the
Director. The Academy shall establish a permanent head-
quarters within 85 miles of an existing National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration facility for its adminis-
trative staff and for use by the Board.
(b) BOARD.—
(1) MEMBERSHIP.—The Administrator shall
appoint a Board of the National Academy of Space
(in this section referred to as the ‘‘Board’’) consist-
ing of a broadly representative group of scientists,
engineers, educators, and businessmen representing
space-related industries, along with the president of
each university selected under paragraph (3).
(2) FUNCTIONS.—The Board shall—
(A) develop an exam for secondary stu-
dents testing knowledge in science, mathe-
matics, and engineering, or select an exam from
among existing national exams, and annually
administer such exam;
(B) establish uniform curriculum criteria
for Member Institutes;
(C) provide for the placement at one of the
Member Institutes of students awarded scholar-
ships under this section at the Academy;
(D) administer the awarding of such schol-
arships; and
(E) establish a placement program to as-
sist recipients of awards under this section in
obtaining positions described in subsection
(k)(1)(A).
(3) SELECTION OF UNIVERSITIES FOR ACAD-
EMY.—The Board shall select not less than 6 nor
more than 10 State universities that are regional in
scope and that have outstanding degree programs in
science, mathematics, and engineering to be des-
ignated as Member Institutes of the Academy. The
selections shall come from universities that have ap-
plied to the Board and that have demonstrated the
willingness and capability to provide room, in a sep-
arate dormitory or portion of a dormitory, and board
to scholarship winners and to offer the Academy’s
uniform curriculum.
(c) RESULTS OF EXAM.—The Board shall annually
certify the top 10 scorers in each congressional district
on the exam developed or selected under subsection
(b)(2)(A), and award to the top 2 scorers in each State,
and to the top scorer in each district who is not one of
the top 2 scorers in the State, a scholarship under this
section.
(d) SCHOLARSHIPS AUTHORIZED.—(1) The Board
shall establish a scholarship program for students to at-
tend the Academy who are willing to commit themselves
to service described in subsection (k).
(2) A student who satisfies the requirements of sub-
section (f)(1) may receive a scholarship for a period of
1 academic year of undergraduate study at the Academy.
(3) A student who satisfies the requirements of sub-
section (f)(2) may receive additional scholarships, each
awarded for a period of 1 academic year, in order to com-
plete his or her undergraduate course of study to a maxi-
mum of 3 such additional awards.
(4) The individuals awarded scholarships under this
section shall be referred to as the ‘‘Space Corps’’.
(e) DISBURSAL
OF
SCHOLARSHIP
PROCEEDS.—
Scholarship proceeds shall be disbursed on behalf of stu-
dents who receive scholarships under this section to the
institutions of higher education at which the students are
enrolled. No scholarship proceeds shall be disbursed on be-
half of a student unless the student is enrolled at an insti-
tution of higher education.
(f) ELIGIBILITY.—
(1) INITIAL ELIGIBILITY.—Only individuals who
are—
(A) citizens or nationals of the United
States, or aliens lawfully admitted to the
United States for permanent residence;
(B) majoring in the physical, life, or com-
puter sciences, mathematics, or engineering;
and
(C) enrolled in an institution of higher
education as a full-time undergraduate student
(as determined by the institution of higher edu-
cation),
shall be eligible for awards under this section.
(2) 
REQUIREMENTS
FOR
CONTINUATION
AWARDS.—A student who has received a scholarship
under this section may receive a continuation award
under subsection (d)(3) for a subsequent academic
year of undergraduate education if the student—
(A) maintains a high level of academic
achievement, as determined in accordance with
the regulations of the Administrator;
(B) continues to major in one of the phys-
ical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, or
engineering; and
(C) continues to be enrolled at an institu-
tion of higher education as a full-time under-
graduate student (as determined by the institu-
tion).
(g) WAIVER OF FULL-TIME ATTENDANCE REQUIRE-
MENT.—The Administrator may waive the full-time at-
tendance requirements in this section in unusual cir-
cumstances.
(h) FAILURE
TO
MEET
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIRE-
MENTS.—In the event that the student fails to meet the
requirements of this section, the student’s eligibility to re-
ceive further scholarships (or scholarship proceeds) under
this section shall be suspended in accordance with the reg-
ulations of the Administrator.
(i) REINSTATEMENT OR ELIGIBILITY.—The Adminis-
trator shall determine circumstances under which eligi-
bility of a scholarship recipient under this section may be
reinstated if the recipient seeks to reenter school after an
interruption of schooling for personal reasons, including,
but not limited to, pregnancy, child-rearing, and other
family responsibilities.
(j) SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT.—
(1) AMOUNT OF AWARD.—Except as provided
in paragraph (2), the amount of a scholarship
awarded under this section shall cover the full tui-
tion and fees of the student at the Academy.
(2) ADJUSTMENTS FOR INSUFFICIENT APPRO-
PRIATIONS.—In the event that funds available in a
fiscal year are insufficient to fully fund all awards
under this section, the amount paid to each student
shall be reduced proportionately.
(k) SERVICE REQUIREMENT.—
(1) SPACE SCHOLARSHIPS.—Each recipient of
an award under this section shall, as a condition of
the receipt of such award, agree to complete 4 years
of—
(A) service in a space-related capacity in
the employ of the United States or any corpora-
tion or other entity, organized under the laws of
the United States or of a State of the United
States, at least 50 percent of which is owned by
United States nationals, and which is engaged
in space-related research or endeavor;
(B) postgraduate education in physical,
life, or computer science, mathematics, or engi-
neering at an institution of higher education; or
(C) a combination of service and education
described under subparagraphs (A) and (B).
(2) REPAYMENT OBLIGATION.—As part of the
agreement required under paragraph (1), each recip-
ient shall agree, in the event of failure to complete
the service obligation described in paragraph (1), to
repay an amount equal to—
(A) the total amount of awards received by
such individual under this section; plus
(B) the interest on such amounts which
would be payable if at the time the amounts
were received the amounts were loans bearing
interest at the maximum legal prevailing rate,
as determined by the Treasurer of the United
States.
Such repayment shall be made within 1 year after
the recipient has ceased to perform the service obli-
gation described in paragraph (1).
(3) EXCEPTIONS.—The Administrator may pro-
vide for the partial or total waiver or suspension of
any service obligation or payment by an individual
under this section in the same manner as is per-
mitted under section 558 of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 with respect to scholarships under sub-
part 1 of part D of title V of the Higher Education
Act of 1965, except that pregnancy, child-rearing, or
comparable family responsibilities shall also be
grounds for deferral.
(l) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this sec-
tion—
(1) $9,000,000 for fiscal year 1996, of which
$5,000,000 shall be for the establishment of a per-
manent headquarters for the Academy pursuant to
section 1(a);
(2) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 1997;
(3) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 1998;
(4) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 1999; and
(5) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2000.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act—
(1) the term ‘‘Administrator’’ means the Ad-
ministrator of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration;
(2) the term ‘‘institution of higher education’’
has the meaning given such term in section 1201(a)
of the Higher Education Act of 1965; and
(3) the term ‘‘State’’ means each of the 50
States and any other Commonwealth, territory, or
possession of the United States represented in the
Congress by a Member or Delegate.
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