51 U.S.C. § 40904 — Microgravity research

Page 99 TITLE 51—NATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL SPACE PROGRAMS § 40904 Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2011—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 112–55 added subsec. (d). § 40903. Established Program to Stimulate Com- petitive Research—merit grant competition requirements (a) DEFINITION OF ELIGIBLE STATE.—In this sec- tion, the term ‘‘eligible State’’ means a State designated by the Administrator as eligible to compete in the National Science Foundation’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research. (b) COMPETITION.—Making use of the existing infrastructure established in eligible States by the National Science Foundation, the Adminis- trator shall conduct a merit grant competition among the eligible States in areas of research important to the mission of the Administration. With respect to a grant application by an eligi- ble State, the Administrator shall consider— (1) the application’s merit and relevance to the mission of the Administration; (2) the potential for the grant to serve as a catalyst to enhance the ability of researchers in the State to become more competitive for regular Administration funding; (3) the potential for the grant to improve the environment for science, mathematics, and en- gineering education in the State; and (4) the need to ensure the maximum dis- tribution of grants among eligible States, con- sistent with merit. (c) SUPPLEMENTAL GRANTS.—The Adminis- trator shall endeavor, where appropriate, to sup- plement grants made under subsection (b) with such grants for fellowships, traineeships, equip- ment, or instrumentation as are available. (d) INFORMATION IN ANNUAL BUDGET SUBMIS- SION.—In order to ensure that research expertise and talent throughout the Nation is developed and engaged in Administration research and education activities, the Administration shall, as part of its annual budget submission, detail additional steps that can be taken to further in- tegrate the participating eligible States in both existing and new or emerging Administration research programs and center activities. (Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3392; Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title VII, § 10851(e), Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1754.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 40903(a) ...... 42 U.S.C. 2467b(c). Pub. L. 102–588, title III, § 304, Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5120. 40903(b) ...... 42 U.S.C. 2467b(a). 40903(c) ...... 42 U.S.C. 2467b(b). 40903(d) ...... 42 U.S.C. 17781(b). Pub. L. 110–422, title VII, § 704(b), Oct. 15, 2008, 122 Stat. 4802. In subsection (d) the words ‘‘eligible States’’ are sub- stituted for ‘‘EPSCoR States’’ for clarity and consist- ency in the section. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2022—Pub. L. 117–167, § 10851(e)(1), substituted ‘‘Estab- lished’’ for ‘‘Experimental’’ in section catchline. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10851(e)(2), substituted ‘‘Established’’ for ‘‘Experimental’’. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS AND POLICY Pub. L. 102–588, title III, §§ 301–303, Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5119, provided that: ‘‘SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE. ‘‘This title [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Experimental Program to Stimulate Com- petitive Research on Space and Aeronautics Act’. ‘‘SEC. 302. FINDINGS. ‘‘Congress finds that— ‘‘(1) the report of the Advisory Committee on the Future of the United States Space Program has pro- vided a framework within which a consensus on the goals of the space program can be developed; ‘‘(2) the National Aeronautics and Space Adminis- tration’s space science and applications, aeronautical research and technology, and space research and technology programs will serve as the fulcrum for fu- ture initiatives by the United States in civil space and aviation; ‘‘(3) colleges and universities in many States are currently not able to compete successfully for re- search grants awarded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration through its space science and applications, aeronautical research and tech- nology, and space research and technology programs; ‘‘(4) balanced programs of space science and appli- cations, aeronautical research and technology, and space research and technology should include initia- tives designed to foster competitive research capac- ity in all geographic areas of the Nation; and ‘‘(5) by strengthening the competitive research ca- pacity in those geographic areas of the Nation which are not currently fully competitive, the education and training of scientists and engineers important to the future of the United States civil space and avia- tion programs will be fostered. ‘‘SEC. 303. POLICY. ‘‘It is the policy of the United States that— ‘‘(1) the Administrator [of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration], in planning for national programs in space science and applications, aero- nautical research, space flight, and exploration, should ensure the resilience of the space and aero- nautics research infrastructure; ‘‘(2) a stable and balanced program of space science and applications, aeronautical research and tech- nology, and space research and technology should in- clude programs to assure that geographic areas of the United States that currently do not successfully par- ticipate in competitive space and aeronautical re- search activities are enabled to become more com- petitive; and ‘‘(3) programs to improve competitive capabilities should be a part of the research and the educational activities of the National Aeronautics and Space Ad- ministration.’’ § 40904. Microgravity research The Administrator shall— (1) ensure the capacity to support ground- based research leading to space-based basic and applied scientific research in a variety of disciplines with potential direct national ben- efits and applications that can be advanced significantly from the uniqueness of micro- gravity and the space environment; and (2) carry out, to the maximum extent prac- ticable, basic, applied, and commercial Inter- national Space Station research in fields such as molecular crystal growth, animal research, Page 100 TITLE 51—NATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL SPACE PROGRAMS § 40905 basic fluid physics, combustion research, cel- lular biotechnology, low-temperature physics, and cellular research at a level that will sus- tain the existing United States scientific ex- pertise and research capability in micro- gravity research. (Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3393.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 40904(1) ...... 42 U.S.C. 16655(2). Pub. L. 109–155, title III, § 305(2), (3), Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2918. 40904(2) ...... 42 U.S.C. 16655(3). § 40905. Program to expand distance learning in rural underserved areas (a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall de- velop or expand programs to extend science and space educational outreach to rural commu- nities and schools through video conferencing, interpretive exhibits, teacher education, class- room presentations, and student field trips. (b) PRIORITIES.—In carrying out subsection (a), the Administrator shall give priority to existing programs, including Challenger Learning Cen- ters— (1) that utilize community-based partner- ships in the field; (2) that build and maintain video conference and exhibit capacity; (3) that travel directly to rural communities and serve low-income populations; and (4) with a special emphasis on increasing the number of women and minorities in the science and engineering professions. (Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3393.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 40905 .......... 42 U.S.C. 16791. Pub. L. 109–155, title VI, § 612, Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2932. § 40906. Equal access to the Administration’s edu- cation programs (a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall strive to ensure equal access for minority and economically disadvantaged students to the Ad- ministration’s education programs. (b) REPORT.—Every 2 years, the Administrator shall submit a report to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Rep- resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate de- scribing the efforts by the Administrator to en- sure equal access for minority and economically disadvantaged students under this section and the results of such efforts. As part of the report, the Administrator shall provide— (1) data on minority participation in the Ad- ministration’s education programs, at a min- imum in the categories of— (A) elementary and secondary education; (B) undergraduate education; and (C) graduate education; and (2) the total value of grants the Administra- tion made to Historically Black Colleges and Universities and to Hispanic Serving Institu- tions through education programs during the period covered by the report. (c) PROGRAM.—The Administrator shall estab- lish the Dr. Mae C. Jemison Grant Program to work with Minority Serving Institutions to bring more women of color into the field of space and aeronautics. (Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3393.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 40906 .......... 42 U.S.C. 16794. Pub. L. 109–155, title VI, § 615, Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2934. In subsection (b), in the matter before paragraph (1), the words ‘‘Every 2 years’’ are substituted for ‘‘Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [December 30, 2005], and every 2 years thereafter’’ to eliminate obsolete language. In subsection (b), in the matter before paragraph (1), the words ‘‘Committee on Science and Technology’’ are substituted for ‘‘Committee on Science’’ on authority of Rule X(1)(o) of the Rules of the House of Representa- tives, adopted by House Resolution No. 6 (110th Con- gress, January 5, 2007). Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries CHANGE OF NAME Committee on Science and Technology of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Jan. 5, 2011. § 40907. Museums The Administrator may provide grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements with, muse- ums and planetariums to enable them to en- hance programs related to space exploration, aeronautics, space science, Earth science, or microgravity. (Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3394.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 40907 .......... 42 U.S.C. 16795. Pub. L. 109–155, title VI, § 616, Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2934. § 40908. Continuation of certain education pro- grams From amounts appropriated to the Adminis- tration for education programs, the Adminis- trator shall ensure the continuation of the Space Grant Program, the Experimental Pro- gram to Stimulate Competitive Research, and, consistent with the results of the review under section 614 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–155, 119 Stat. 2933), the Adminis- tration Explorer School program, to motivate and develop the next generation of explorers. (Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3394.)