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SEC. 9. ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Foundation and the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration shall jointly
establish an Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Com-
mittee (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Advisory Com-
mittee’’).
(b) DUTIES.—The Advisory Committee shall—
(1) assess, and make recommendations regard-
ing, the coordination of astronomy and astrophysics
programs of the Foundation and the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration;
(2) assess, and make recommendations regard-
ing, the status of the activities of the Foundation
and the National Aeronautics and Space Administra-
tion as they relate to the recommendations contained
in the National Research Council’s 2001 report enti-
tled ‘‘Astronomy and Astrophysics in the New Mil-
lennium’’, and the recommendations contained in
subsequent National Research Council reports of a
similar nature; and
(3) not later than March 15 of each year,
transmit a report to the Director, the Administrator
of the National Aeronautics and Space Administra-
tion, and the Congress on the Advisory Committee’s
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findings and recommendations under paragraphs (1)
and (2).
(c) MEMBERSHIP.—The Advisory Committee shall
consist of 13 members, none of whom shall be a Federal
employee, including—
(1) 5 members selected by the Foundation;
(2) 5 members selected by the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration; and
(3) 3 members selected by the members selected
under paragraphs (1) and (2).
(d) SELECTION PROCESS.—Initial selections under
subsection (c)(1) and (2) shall be made within 3 months
after the date of the enactment of this Act. Initial selec-
tions under subsection (c)(3) shall be made within 5
months after the date of the enactment of this Act. Vacan-
cies shall be filled in the same manner as provided in sub-
section (c).
(e) CHAIRPERSON.—The Advisory Committee shall
select a chairperson from among its members.
(f) COORDINATION.—The Advisory Committee shall
coordinate with the advisory bodies of other Federal agen-
cies, such as the Department of Energy, which may en-
gage in related research activities.
(g) COMPENSATION.—The members of the Advisory
Committee shall serve without compensation, but shall re-
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ceive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsist-
ence, in accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title
5, United States Code.
(h) MEETINGS.—The Advisory Committee shall con-
vene, in person or by electronic means, at least 4 times
a year.
(i) QUORUM.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), a majority of the members serving on the
Advisory Committee shall constitute a quorum for
purposes of conducting the business of the Advisory
Committee.
(2) EXCEPTION.—The selection of a member
under subsection (c)(3) shall require a vote of 3⁄4 of
the members appointed under subsection (c)(1) and
(2).
(j) DURATION.—Section 14 of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act shall not apply to the Advisory Committee.
SEC. 10. BOARD MEETINGS.
(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to en-
sure that the Board complies with the requirements of sec-
tion 552b of title 5, United States Code, that all meetings,
with the exception of specific narrow statutory exemptions,
be open to the public.
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(b) COMPLIANCE AUDIT.—The Inspector General of
the National Science Foundation shall conduct an annual
audit of the compliance by the Board with the require-
ments described in subsection (a). The audit shall examine
the extent to which the proposed and actual content of
closed meetings is consistent with those requirements.
(c) REPORT.—Not later than February 15 of each
year, the Inspector General of the National Science Foun-
dation shall transmit to the Congress the audit required
under subsection (b) along with recommendations for cor-
rective actions that need to be taken to achieve fuller com-
pliance with the requirements described in subsection (a),
and recommendations on how to ensure public access to
the Board’s deliberations.
SEC. 11. SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY.
The Director shall not exclude part-time students
from eligibility for scholarships under the Computer
Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Scholarship
(CSEMS) program.
Passed the House of Representatives June 5, 2002.
Attest:
JEFF TRANDAHL,
Clerk.