(e) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually 
thereafter until December 31, 2031, the Administrator 
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress 
a report describing the activities, including results, carried 
out pursuant to this section. Each such report, at min-
imum, shall contain the following: 
(1) A description of any research and develop-
ment activities. 
(2) A description of the Administrator’s activi-
ties pursuant to subsection (c). 
(3) An identification of any topics related to 
improvement of aerial responses to wildfires that 
could benefit from further research. 
(4) A description of any continuing efforts 
under this section. 
(5) Any other information determined appro-
priate by the Administrator. 
(f) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘covered 
foreign entity’’ has the meaning given such term in section 
1832 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2024 (Public Law 118–31). 
SEC. 507. HYDROGEN AVIATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of ap-
propriations for such purpose, and taking into consider-
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ation the strategy developed under and research conducted 
pursuant to section 1019 of the FAA Reauthorization Act 
of 2024 (Public Law 118–63), the Administrator may 
carry out research on emerging technologies related to hy-
drogen aviation. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than two years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall sub-
mit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
on NASA research activities under subsection (a) and any 
associated findings. 
SEC. 508. HIGH-PERFORMANCE CHASE AIRCRAFT. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) NASA programs benefit from and rely upon 
high-performance chase aircraft for providing re-
search and mission support; and 
(2) NASA currently faces maintenance chal-
lenges related to its aging high-performance aircraft 
fleet, which is resulting in increased program costs. 
(b) BRIEFING.—Not later than 60 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act and biannually thereafter, 
the Administrator shall provide to the appropriate com-
mittees of Congress a briefing on the strategy of NASA 
relating to the following: 
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(1) Collaboration with the Department of De-
fense on efforts for research and flight asset sharing 
to support NASA’s research mission support and 
pilot training requirements. 
(2) Efforts to seek aircraft parts and engines to 
keep NASA’s current fleet of chase aircraft oper-
ational, including potential use of 3D additive manu-
factured parts. 
(3) Strategies for acquiring or using through 
loan, sharing, or other agreements, as appropriate, 
Department of Defense aircraft to support NASA’s 
research and mission support activities, as required. 
SEC. 509. COLLABORATION WITH ACADEMIA. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) colleges and universities are hubs of re-
search and innovation, with expertise in various 
fields of science and aeronautics; 
(2) collaborating with academia allows NASA to 
access cutting-edge research and expertise that can 
further enable advancements in aeronautics research 
and technology and address complex aeronautical 
challenges; 
(3) a cutting-edge civil aeronautics research and 
development program can inspire the next genera-
tion to pursue education and careers in science, 
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technology, engineering, and mathematics, including 
aeronautics; and 
(4) opportunities for students to participate in 
NASA-supported academic research and develop-
ment projects, such as the University Leadership 
Initiative, the University Students Research Chal-
lenge, and related aeronautic projects and competi-
tions, contributes to training the next generation 
and developing the aeronautics workforce to support 
continued United States leadership and economic 
growth in civil aeronautics and aviation. 
SEC. 510. DECADAL SURVEY FOR NATIONAL AERONAUTICS 
RESEARCH. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) engaging the science and engineering com-
munities, along with industry, through the develop-
ment of a National Academies of Science, Engineer-
ing, and Medicine decadal survey in aeronautics re-
search and development can provide a science and 
engineering community consensus on key research 
and development priorities in national civil aero-
nautics programs; 
(2) a decadal survey— 
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(A) entails a comprehensive review of and 
strategy and priorities for civil national aero-
nautics research and development; and 
(B) prioritizes such research and develop-
ment for the next decade; and 
(3) a decadal survey for civil aeronautics re-
search and development can serve as a guiding 
framework for NASA’s and other relevant Federal 
agencies’ strategic planning and resource allocation 
in the field of civil aeronautics research and develop-
ment for the coming decade. 
(b) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 
(1) in title 51, United States Code, sections ad-
dressing NASA’s decadal surveys for aeronautics re-
search include sections 20305 and 40703; and 
(2) the most recent National Academies’ 
Decadal Survey of Civil Aeronautics was published 
in 2006. 
(c) STUDY.—In accordance with section 20305 of 
title 51, United States Code, the Administrator, in con-
sultation with the heads of other relevant Federal Govern-
ment agencies, as appropriate, shall enter into an arrange-
ment with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineer-
ing, and Medicine to conduct a decadal survey of civil aer-
onautics research for the 2026 through 2036 decade. The 
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