To amend the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000 to allow extraordinary payments in connection with the International Space Station to be made to the Russian Aviation and Space Agency for safety and maintenance purposes during any period in which the United States Space Shuttle fleet is grounded, and for other purposes.

February 27, 2003

Mr. LAMPSON (for himself, Mr. GORDON, and Mr. HALL) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition to the Committee on Science, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

To amend the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000 to allow extraordinary payments in connection with the International Space Station to be made to the Russian Aviation and Space Agency for safety and maintenance purposes during any period in which the United States Space Shuttle fleet is grounded, 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 `Amendment to the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000'.

SEC. 2. AMENDMENT.

Section 6 of the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-178; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note), is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

`(i) EXCEPTION FOR INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION SUPPORT ACTIVITIES WHILE THE SPACE SHUTTLE FLEET IS GROUNDED-

`(1) EXCEPTION- The National Aeronautics and Space Administration may make extraordinary payments that may otherwise be prohibited under this section to the Russian Aviation and Space Agency if the President has notified the Congress in writing that such payments are necessary to ensure the safety of the crew aboard the International Space Station and to maintain continued operation of the International Space Station during such period that the United States Space Shuttle fleet is grounded due to an accident or other safety-related matter. Such payments shall cease not later than 60 days after the Space Shuttle operations resume at the end of such period.

`(2) REPORTS- Not later than 90 days after Space Shuttle operations resume at the end of a period described in paragraph (1) during which the Space Shuttle fleet is grounded, the President shall submit to the Congress a report describing--

`(A) any payments made to the Russian Aviation and Space Agency under paragraph (1) by reason of such grounding, and any specific goods and services obtained in return for those payments; and

`(B) any agreements made between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Russian Aviation and Space Agency related to such payments.'.

END