I 
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5385 
To authorize the establishment of a Centennial Challenge Prize Program 
at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 18, 2004 
Mr. BOEHLERT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Science 
A BILL 
To authorize the establishment of a Centennial Challenge 
Prize Program at the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. CENTENNIAL CHALLENGE PRIZE. 
Title III of the National Aeronautics and Space Act 
of 1958 (42 U.S.C. 2451 et seq.) is amended by adding 
the following new section: 
‘‘CENTENNIAL CHALLENGE PRIZE 
‘‘SEC. 316. (a) PRIZE PROGRAM.—The Adminis-
trator may carry out a Program, to be known as the Cen-
tennial Challenge Program (referred to in this section as
‘the Program’), to award competitive prizes for innova-
tions with the potential for application to the space and 
aeronautical goals and activities of the Administration. 
‘‘(b) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—(1) The Program 
shall use a competitive process for the selection of prize 
recipients. The Program shall widely advertise and solicit 
participation in prize competitions. 
‘‘(2) No individual or entity shall participate in a 
prize competition unless the individual or entity has reg-
istered with the Program in accordance with requirements 
established by the Administrator. At a minimum those re-
quirements shall— 
‘‘(A) limit participation in Program competi-
tions to— 
‘‘(i) individuals who are citizens of the 
United States; 
‘‘(ii) entities organized or existing under 
the laws of the United States or a State; and 
‘‘(iii) entities organized or existing under 
the laws of a foreign country if the controlling 
interest (as defined by the Administrator) is 
held by an individual or entity described in 
clause (i) or (ii); 
‘‘(B) require any individual or entity that reg-
isters for a Program competition to assume any and
all risks arising from participation in the competi-
tion, and to waive any and all claims against the 
United States Government for damages arising from 
participation in the competition, including any and 
all claims for injury, death, damage or loss of prop-
erty, or loss of revenue or profits, whether direct, in-
direct, or consequential, whether through negligence 
or otherwise, except in the case of willful mis-
conduct; and 
‘‘(C) require any individual or entity that reg-
isters for a Program competition to waive claims 
against any non-Federal entity involved with the 
Program (such as a private contractor managing a 
competition for the Program) to the extent the Ad-
ministrator believes is necessary to protect the inter-
ests of the United States Government. 
‘‘(c) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—(1) Any funds ap-
propriated to carry out this section shall remain available 
until expended. 
‘‘(2) Funds appropriated to carry out this section 
shall not be available for any other purpose and shall not 
be subject to reprogramming. 
‘‘(d) LIMITATIONS.—(1) No prize competitions under 
this section may be commenced after Sept. 30, 2006.