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(1) increase student interest and participation 
in STEM education; 
(2) improve public literacy in STEM; 
(3) employ proven strategies for improving stu-
dent learning and teaching; 
(4) provide curriculum support materials; and 
(5) create and support opportunities for profes-
sional development for STEM teachers. 
(c) ORGANIZATION.—In order to ensure the inspira-
tion and engagement of children and the general public, 
the Administration shall continue its STEM education and 
outreach activities within the Science, Aeronautics Re-
search, Space Operations, and Exploration Mission Direc-
torates. 
(d) CONTINUATION OF EDUCATION AND OUTREACH 
ACTIVITIES
AND PROGRAMS.—The Administrator shall 
continue to carry out education and outreach programs 
and activities through the Office of Education and the Ad-
ministration mission directorates and shall continue to en-
gage, to the maximum extent practicable, Administration 
and Administration-supported researchers and engineers 
in carrying out those programs and activities. 
(e) CONTINUATION OF SPACE GRANT PROGRAM.— 
The Administrator shall continue to operate the National 
Space Grant College and Fellowship program through a 
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national network consisting of a State-based consortium 
in each State that provides flexibility to the States, with 
the objective of providing hands-on research, training, and 
education programs, with measurable outcomes, to en-
hance America’s STEM education and workforce. 
(f) REAFFIRMATION OF POLICY.—Congress reaffirms 
its commitment to informal science education at science 
centers and planetariums as set forth in section 616 of 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Au-
thorization Act of 2005 (51 U.S.C. 40907). 
SEC. 602. INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF THE NATIONAL SPACE 
GRANT COLLEGE AND FELLOWSHIP PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the National Space Grant College and Fellow-
ship Program, which was established in the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 
1988 (42 U.S.C. 2486 et seq.), has been an important 
program by which the Federal Government has partnered 
with State and local governments, universities, private in-
dustry, and other organizations to enhance the under-
standing and use of space and aeronautics activities and 
their benefits through education, fostering of interdiscipli-
nary and multidisciplinary space research and training, 
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and supporting Federal funding for graduate fellowships 
in space-related fields, among other purposes. 
(b) REVIEW.—The Administrator shall enter into an 
arrangement with the National Academies for— 
(1) a review of the National Space Grant Col-
lege and Fellowship Program, including its structure 
and capabilities for supporting science, technology, 
engineering, and mathematics education and train-
ing consistent with the National Science and Tech-
nology Council’s Federal Science, Technology, Engi-
neering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education 5- 
Year Strategic Plan; and 
(2) recommendations on measures, if needed, to 
enhance the Program’s effectiveness and mecha-
nisms by which any increases in funding appro-
priated by Congress can be applied. 
(c) NATIONAL SPACE GRANT COLLEGE AND FEL-
LOWSHIP PROGRAM AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) PURPOSES.—Section 40301 of title 51, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of para-
graph (5); 
(B) by striking the period at the end of 
paragraph (6) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
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(C) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(7) support outreach to primary and sec-
ondary schools to help support STEM engagement 
and learning at the K–12 level and to encourage K– 
12 students to pursue postsecondary degrees in 
fields related to space.’’. 
(2) REGIONAL CONSORTIUM.—Section 40306 of 
title 51, United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a)— 
(i) by redesignating paragraphs (2) 
and (3) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respec-
tively; and 
(ii) by inserting after paragraph (1) 
the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(2) INCLUSION OF 2-YEAR INSTITUTIONS.—A 
space grant regional consortium designated in para-
graph (1)(B) may include one or more 2-year insti-
tutions of higher education.’’; and 
(B) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘para-
graphs (2)(C) and (3)(D)’’ and inserting ‘‘para-
graphs (3)(C) and (4)(D)’’. 
SEC. 603. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that the Administrator 
should make the continuation of the Administration’s Mi-
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nority University Research and Education Program a pri-
ority in order to further STEM education for underrep-
resented students. 
TITLE VII—POLICY PROVISIONS 
SEC. 701. ASTEROID RETRIEVAL MISSION. 
(a) ASTEROID RETRIEVAL REPORT.—Not later than 
180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Ad-
ministrator shall provide 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 a report on the proposed Asteroid 
Retrieval Mission. Such report shall include— 
(1) a detailed budget profile, including cost esti-
mates for the development of all necessary tech-
nologies and spacecraft required for the mission; 
(2) a detailed technical plan that includes mile-
stones and a specific schedule; 
(3) a description of the technologies and capa-
bilities anticipated to be gained from the proposed 
mission that will enable future human missions to 
Mars which could not be gained by lunar missions; 
(4) a description of the technologies and capa-
bilities anticipated to be gained from the proposed 
mission that will enable future planetary defense 
missions, against impact threats from near-Earth 
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