National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s
astrobiology initiatives to effectively utilize the initia-
tives of the scientific and technical communities; and
(4) recommendations for possible coordination
or integration of National Aeronautics and Space
Administration initiatives with initiatives of other
entities described in paragraph (2).
(c) REPORT
TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 18
months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Administrator shall transmit to the Congress a report on
the results of the review carried out under this section.
SEC. 216. RESEARCH ON INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
(a) STUDY.—The Administrator shall enter into a
contract with the National Research Council and the Na-
tional Academy of Public Administration to jointly con-
duct a study of the status of life and microgravity research
as it relates to the International Space Station. The study
shall include—
(1) an assessment of the United States sci-
entific community’s readiness to use the Inter-
national Space Station for life and microgravity re-
search;
(2) an assessment of the current and projected
factors limiting the United States scientific commu-
nity’s ability to maximize the research potential of
the International Space Station, including, but not
limited to, the past and present availability of re-
sources in the life and microgravity research ac-
counts within the Office of Human Spaceflight and
the Office of Life and Microgravity Sciences and Ap-
plications, and the past, present, and projected ac-
cess to space of the scientific community; and
(3) recommendations for improving the United
States scientific community’s ability to maximize the
research potential of the International Space Sta-
tion, including an assessment of the relative costs
and benefits of—
(A) dedicating an annual mission of the
Space Shuttle to life and microgravity research
during assembly of the International Space Sta-
tion; and
(B) maintaining the schedule for assembly
in place at the time of the enactment.
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall
transmit to the Committee on Science of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the
results of the study conducted under this section.
SEC. 217. REMOTE SENSING FOR AGRICULTURAL AND RE-
SOURCE MANAGEMENT.
(a) INFORMATION DEVELOPMENT.—The Adminis-
trator shall—
(1) consult with the Secretary of Agriculture to
determine data product types that are of use to
farmers which can be remotely sensed from air or
space;
(2) consider useful commercial data products
related to agriculture as identified by the focused re-
search program between the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration’s Stennis Space Center
and the Department of Agriculture; and
(3) examine other data sources, including com-
mercial sources, LightSAR, RADARSAT I, and
RADARSAT II, which can provide domestic and
international agricultural information relating to
crop conditions, fertilization and irrigation needs,
pest infiltration, soil conditions, projected food, feed,
and fiber production, and other related subjects.
(b) PLAN.—After performing the activities described
in subsection (a) the Administrator shall, in consultation
with the Secretary of Agriculture, develop a plan to inform
farmers and other prospective users about the use and
availability of remote sensing products that may assist
with agricultural and forestry applications identified in
subsection (a). The Administrator shall transmit such
plan to the Congress not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
(c) IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than 90 days after
the plan has been transmitted under subsection (b), the
Administrator shall implement the plan.
SEC. 218. INTEGRATED SAFETY RESEARCH PLAN.
(a) REQUIREMENT.—Not later than March 1, 2000,
the Administrator and the Administrator of the Federal
Aviation Administration shall jointly prepare and transmit
to the Congress an integrated civil aviation safety research
and development plan.
(b) CONTENTS.—The plan required by subsection (a)
shall include—
(1) an identification of the respective research
and development requirements, roles, and respon-
sibilities of the National Aeronautics and Space Ad-
ministration and the Federal Aviation Administra-
tion;
(2) formal mechanisms for the timely sharing of
information between the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration and the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration, including a requirement that the FAA-
NASA Coordinating Committee established in 1980
meet at least twice a year; and
(3) procedures for increased communication and
coordination between the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration research advisory committee established
under section 44508 of title 49, United States Code,
and the NASA Aeronautics and Space Transpor-
tation Technology Advisory Committee, including a
proposal for greater cross-membership between those
two advisory committees.
SEC. 219. 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF FLIGHT EDUCATIONAL
INITIATIVE.
(a) EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE.—In recognition of the
100th anniversary of the first powered flight, the Adminis-
trator, in coordination with the Secretary of Education,
shall develop and provide for the distribution, for use in
the 2000–2001 academic year and thereafter, of age-ap-
propriate educational materials curriculum, for use at the
kindergarten, elementary, and secondary levels, on the his-
tory of flight, the contribution of flight to global develop-
ment in the 20th century, the practical benefits of aero-
nautics and space flight to society, the scientific and math-
ematical principles used in flight, and any other related
topics the Administrator considers appropriate. The Ad-
ministrator shall integrate into the educational materials
plans for the development and flight of the Mars plane.
(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than May 1,
2000, the Administrator shall transmit a report to the
Congress on activities undertaken pursuant to this section.
SEC. 220. INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION.
The Administrator shall make available through the
Internet home page of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration the abstracts relating to all research
grants and awards made with funds authorized by this
Act. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require
or permit the release of any information prohibited by law
or regulation from being released to the public.
SEC. 221. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS; REQUIREMENT RE-
GARDING NOTICE.
(a) PURCHASE
OF AMERICAN-MADE EQUIPMENT
AND PRODUCTS.—In the case of any equipment or prod-
ucts that may be authorized to be purchased with financial
assistance provided under this Act, it is the sense of the
Congress that entities receiving such assistance should, in
expending the assistance, purchase only American-made
equipment and products.
(b) NOTICE
TO RECIPIENTS
OF ASSISTANCE.—In
providing financial assistance under this Act, the Adminis-
trator shall provide to each recipient of the assistance a
notice describing the statement made in subsection (a) by
the Congress.
SEC. 222. USE OF ABANDONED AND UNDERUTILIZED
BUILDINGS, GROUNDS, AND FACILITIES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—In meeting the needs of the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration for addi-
tional facilities, the Administrator shall select abandoned
and underutilized buildings, grounds, and facilities in de-
pressed communities that can be converted to National
Aeronautics and Space Administration facilities at a rea-
sonable cost, as determined by the Administrator.
(b) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section, the
term ‘‘depressed communities’’ means rural and urban
communities that are relatively depressed, in terms of age
of housing, extent of poverty, growth of per capita income,
extent of unemployment, job lag, or surplus labor.
SEC. 223. SPACE STATION COMMERCIALIZATION.
In order to promote commercialization of the Inter-
national Space Station, the Administrator shall—
(1) allocate sufficient resources as appropriate
to accelerate the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration’s initiatives promoting commercial
participation in the International Space Station;
(2) instruct all National Aeronautics and Space
Administration staff that they should consider the
potential impact on commercial participation in the
International Space Station in developing policies or
program priorities not directly related to crew safe-
ty; and
(3) publish a list, not later than 90 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually
thereafter with the annual budget request of the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration, of the
opportunities for commercial participation in the
International Space Station consistent with safety
and mission assurance.
SEC. 224. ANTI-DRUG MESSAGE ON INTERNET SITES.
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with
the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy,
shall place anti-drug messages on Internet sites controlled
by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Passed the House of Representatives May 19, 1999.
Attest:
Clerk.