21st Century Space Grant Modernization Act of 2021
Bill: S.360 | Sponsor: Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore (R-WV)
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
21st Century Space Grant Modernization Act of 2021
This bill revises provisions relating to the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) shall carry out the program with the objective of providing hands-on research, training, and education programs with measurable outcomes in each state.
NASA shall carry out the program through a space grant consortium in each state.
The bill revises the purposes of the program to support space research programs that promote equally the state and regional STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) interests of each space grant consortium.
NASA shall award grants to the lead institution of each state's space grant consortium to carry out at least three of six specified research, training, and education programs.
The bill repeals certain provisions relating to the program, including provisions establishing the space grant review panel.

To amend title 51, United States Code, to modify the national space 
     grant college and fellowship program, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``21st Century Space Grant 
Modernization Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL SPACE GRANT COLLEGE AND FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.

    (a) Purposes.--Section 40301 of title 51, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in subparagraph (C), by adding ``and'' after 
                the semicolon at the end; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) promote equally the State and regional STEM 
                interests of each space grant consortium;''; and
            (2) in paragraph (4), by striking ``made up of university 
        and industry members, in order to advance'' and inserting 
        ``comprised of members of universities in each State and other 
        entities, such as 2-year colleges, industries, science learning 
        centers, museums, and government entities, to advance''.
    (b) Definitions.--Section 40302 of title 51, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (3);
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
            ``(3) Lead institution.--The term `lead institution' means 
        an entity in a State that--
                    ``(A) was designated by the Administrator under 
                section 40306, as in effect on the day before the date 
                of the enactment of the 21st Century Space Grant 
                Modernization Act of 2021; or
                    ``(B) is designated by the Administrator under 
                section 40303(d)(3).'';
            (3) in paragraph (4), by striking ``space grant college, 
        space grant regional consortium, institution of higher 
        education,'' and inserting ``lead institution, space grant 
        consortium,'';
            (4) by striking paragraphs (6), (7), and (8);
            (5) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following:
            ``(6) Space grant consortium.--The term `space grant 
        consortium' means a statewide group, led by a lead institution, 
        that has established partnerships with other academic 
        institutions, industries, science learning centers, museums, 
        and government entities to promote a strong educational base in 
        the space and aeronautical sciences.'';
            (6) by redesignating paragraph (9) as paragraph (7);
            (7) in paragraph (7)(B), as so redesignated, by inserting 
        ``and aeronautics'' after ``space'';
            (8) by striking paragraph (10); and
            (9) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(8) STEM.--The term `STEM' means science, technology, 
        engineering, and mathematics.''.
    (c) Program Objective.--Section 40303 of title 51, United States 
Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking subsections (d) and (e);
            (2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (e); and
            (3) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
    ``(b) Program Objective.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall carry out the 
        national space grant college and fellowship program with the 
        objective of providing hands-on research, training, and 
        education programs with measurable outcomes in each State, 
        including programs to provide--
                    ``(A) internships, fellowships, and scholarships;
                    ``(B) interdisciplinary hands-on mission programs 
                and design projects;
                    ``(C) student internships with industry or 
                university researchers or at centers of the 
                Administration;
                    ``(D) faculty and curriculum development 
                initiatives;
                    ``(E) university-based research initiatives 
                relating to the Administration and the STEM workforce 
                needs of each State; or
                    ``(F) STEM engagement programs for kindergarten 
                through grade 12 teachers and students.
            ``(2) Program priorities.--In carrying out the objective 
        described in paragraph (1), the Administrator shall ensure that 
        each program carried out by a space grant consortium under the 
        national space grant college and fellowship program balances 
        the following priorities:
                    ``(A) The space and aeronautics research needs of 
                the Administration, including the mission directorates.
                    ``(B) The need to develop a national STEM 
                workforce.
                    ``(C) The STEM workforce needs of the State.
    ``(c) Program Administered Through Space Grant Consortia.--The 
Administrator shall carry out the national space grant college and 
fellowship program through the space grant consortia.
    ``(d) Suspension; Termination; New Competition.--
            ``(1) Suspension.--The Administrator may, for cause and 
        after an opportunity for hearing, suspend a lead institution 
        that was designated by the Administrator under section 40306, 
        as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of the 
        21st Century Space Grant Modernization Act of 2021.
            ``(2) Termination.--If the issue resulting in a suspension 
        under paragraph (1) is not resolved within a period determined 
        by the Administrator, the Administrator may terminate the 
        designation of the entity as a lead institution.
            ``(3) New competition.--If the Administrator terminates the 
        designation of an entity as a lead institution, the 
        Administrator may initiate a new competition in the applicable 
        State for the designation of a lead institution.''.
    (d) Grants.--Section 40304 of title 51, United States Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 40304. Grants
    ``(a) Eligible Space Grant Consortium Defined.--In this section, 
the term `eligible space grant consortium' means a space grant 
consortium that the Administrator has determined--
            ``(1) has the capability and objective to carry out not 
        fewer than 3 of the 6 programs under section 40303(b)(1);
            ``(2) will carry out programs that balance the priorities 
        described in section 40303(b)(2); and
            ``(3) is engaged in research, training, and education 
        relating to space and aeronautics.
    ``(b) Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall award grants to 
        the lead institutions of eligible space grant consortia to 
        carry out the programs under section 40303(b)(1).
            ``(2) Request for proposals.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after 
                the date of the enactment of the 21st Century Space 
                Grant Modernization Act of 2021, the Administrator 
                shall issue a request for proposals from space grant 
                consortia for the award of grants under this section.
                    ``(B) Applications.--A lead institution of a space 
                grant consortium that seeks a grant under this section 
                shall submit, on behalf of such space grant consortium, 
                an application to the Administrator at such time, in 
                such manner, and accompanied by such information as the 
                Administrator may require.
            ``(3) Grant awards.--The Administrator shall award 1 or 
        more 5-year grants, disbursed in annual installments, to the 
        lead institution of the eligible space grant consortium of--
                    ``(A) each State;
                    ``(B) the District of Columbia; and
                    ``(C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
            ``(4) Use of funds.--A grant awarded under this section 
        shall be used by an eligible space grant consortium to carry 
        out not fewer than 3 of the 6 programs under section 
        40303(b)(1).
    ``(c) Allocation of Funding.--
            ``(1) Program implementation.--
                    ``(A) In general.--To carry out the objective 
                described in section 40303(b)(1), of the funds made 
                available under section 40306 each fiscal year for the 
                national space grant college and fellowship program, 
                the Administrator shall allocate not less than 85 
                percent as follows:
                            ``(i) The 52 eligible space grant consortia 
                        shall each receive an equal share.
                            ``(ii) The territories of Guam and the 
                        United States Virgin Islands shall each receive 
                        funds equal to approximately \1/5\ of the share 
                        for each eligible space grant consortia.
                    ``(B) Matching requirement.--Each eligible space 
                grant consortium shall match the funds allocated under 
                subparagraph (A)(i) on a basis of not less than 1 non-
                Federal dollar for every 1 Federal dollar, except that 
                any program funded under paragraph (3) or any program 
                to carry out 1 or more internships or fellowships shall 
                not be subject to that matching requirement.
            ``(2) Program administration.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Of the funds made available 
                under section 40306 each fiscal year for the national 
                space grant college and fellowship program, the 
                Administrator shall allocate not more than 10 percent 
                for the administration of the program.
                    ``(B) Costs covered.--The funds allocated under 
                subparagraph (A) shall cover all costs of the 
                Administration associated with the administration of 
                the national space grant college and fellowship 
                program, including--
                            ``(i) direct costs of the program, 
                        including costs relating to support services 
                        and civil service salaries and benefits;
                            ``(ii) indirect general and administrative 
                        costs of centers and facilities of the 
                        Administration; and
                            ``(iii) indirect general and administrative 
                        costs of the Administration headquarters.
            ``(3) Special programs.--Of the funds made available under 
        section 40306 each fiscal year for the national space grant 
        college and fellowship program, the Administrator shall 
        allocate not more than 5 percent to the lead institutions of 
        space grant consortia established as of the date of the 
        enactment of the 21st Century Space Grant Modernization Act of 
        2021 for grants to carry out innovative approaches and programs 
        to further science and education relating to the missions of 
        the Administration and STEM disciplines.
    ``(d) Terms and Conditions.--
            ``(1) Limitations.--Amounts made available through a grant 
        under this section may not be applied to--
                    ``(A) the purchase of land;
                    ``(B) the purchase, construction, preservation, or 
                repair of a building; or
                    ``(C) the purchase or construction of a launch 
                facility or launch vehicle.
            ``(2) Leases.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), land, 
        buildings, launch facilities, and launch vehicles may be leased 
        under a grant on written approval by the Administrator.
            ``(3) Records.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Any person that receives or uses 
                the proceeds of a grant under this section shall keep 
                such records as the Administrator shall by regulation 
                prescribe as being necessary and appropriate to 
                facilitate effective audit and evaluation, including 
                records that fully disclose the amount and disposition 
                by a recipient of such proceeds, the total cost of the 
                program or project in connection with which such 
                proceeds were used, and the amount, if any, of such 
                cost that was provided through other sources.
                    ``(B) Maintenance of records.--Records under 
                subparagraph (A) shall be maintained for not less than 
                3 years after the date of completion of such a program 
                or project.
                    ``(C) Access.--For the purpose of audit and 
                evaluation, the Administrator and the Comptroller 
                General of the United States shall have access to any 
                books, documents, papers, and records of receipts 
                relating to a grant under this section, as determined 
                by the Administrator or Comptroller General.''.
    (e) Program Streamlining.--Title 51, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) by striking sections 40305 through 40308, 40310, and 
        40311; and
            (2) by redesignating section 40309 as section 40305.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--Title 51, United States Code, 
is amended by adding after section 40305, as redesignated by subsection 
(e)(2), the following:
``Sec. 40306. Authorization of appropriations
    ``There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out the national space grant college and fellowship 
program.''.
    (g) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning 
of chapter 403 of title 51, United States Code, is amended by striking 
the items relating to sections 40304 through 40311 and inserting the 
following:

``40304. Grants.
``40305. Availability of other Federal personnel and data.
``40306. Authorization of appropriations.''.
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