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HR 2153 IH

To recognize and enhance the contributions of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to the Nation's competitiveness in the 21st Century, and for other purposes.

May 3, 2007

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science and Technology

To recognize and enhance the contributions of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to the Nation's competitiveness in the 21st Century, 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 Competitiveness Act of 2007'.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the sense of Congress that a robust National Aeronautics and Space Administration, funded at the levels authorized for fiscal years 2007 and 2008 under sections 202 and 203 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 16631 and 16632) and at appropriate levels in subsequent fiscal years, would enable a robust and balanced set of programs in science, aeronautics, education, and human space flight and exploration, and allow full participation in any interagency efforts to promote innovation and economic competitiveness.

SEC. 3. NASA'S CONTRIBUTION TO INNOVATION.

(a) Participation in Interagency Activities- The National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall be a full participant in any interagency effort to promote innovation and economic competitiveness through near-term and long-term basic scientific research and development and the promotion of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education, consistent with the agency mission, including authorized activities.

(b) Considerations- In order to carry out the participation described in subsection (a), the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall build on the historic role of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in stimulating excellence in the advancement of physical science and engineering disciplines and in providing opportunities and incentives for the pursuit of academic studies in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

(c) Annual Report-

(1) REQUIREMENT- The Administrator shall submit to Congress and the President an annual report describing the activities conducted pursuant to this Act, including a description of the goals and the objective metrics upon which funding decisions were made.

(2) CONTENT- Each report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include, with regard to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education programs, at a minimum, the following:

(A) A description of each program.

(B) The amount spent on each program.

(C) The number of students or teachers served by each program.

(D) Measurement of how each program improved student achievement, including with regard to challenging State achievement standards.