S 2276
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2276
To enhance United States competitiveness in aeronautics, and
for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 31, 2007
Mr. DODD (for himself, Mr. VOINOVICH, and Mr. WARNER) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
A BILL
To enhance United States competitiveness in aeronautics, 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 `Aeronautics Competitiveness Act of 2007'.
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS
AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION FOR AERONAUTICS.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations- There is hereby authorized to be
appropriated for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for
Science, Aeronautics, and Exploration and available for Aeronautics
Research amounts as follows:
(1) For fiscal year 2009, $1,089,000,000.
(2) For fiscal year 2010, $1,198,000,000.
(3) For fiscal year 2011, $1,250,000,000.
(b) Supplement Not Supplant- The amounts authorized to be appropriated
and available for a fiscal year under subsection (a) for the purposes
specified in that subsection are in addition to any other amounts authorized
to be appropriated and make available for such fiscal year for that
purpose.
SEC. 3. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON PRIORITIES IN AERONAUTICS RESEARCH.
(a) Advisory Committee Required- The Administrator of the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration shall establish an advisory committee of experts
from the private sector to provide advice and consultation to the Administrator
in priorities in aeronautics research conducted by the Administration.
(b) Members- The members of the advisory committee established under
subsection (a) shall include representatives of commercial aviation
groups, general aviation groups, aviation labor groups, aeronautics
research and development agencies, aircraft and systems manufacturers,
academia, and aircraft and air traffic control suppliers.
SEC. 4. DEVELOPMENT OF AERONAUTICS TECHNOLOGIES TO DEMONSTRATION LEVEL.
(a) In General- The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration shall carry out activities to develop particular aeronautics
technologies, including technologies for the Next Generation Air Transportation
System, to a level of readiness that will permit the demonstration of
such technologies, or a system or subsystem model or prototype incorporating
such technologies, in an appropriate environment.
(b) Consultation- The Administrator shall carry out activities under
this section in consultation with the advisory committee established
under section 3.
SEC. 5. AERONAUTICS SCHOLARSHIPS.
(a) Expansion of Number of NASA Aeronautics Scholarships- Section 431
of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act
of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16741) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsection
(c):
`(c) Maximum Number of Scholarships- The maximum number of scholarships
awarded under this section that are in force at any one time may not
exceed seven scholarships.'.
(b) Fellowships for Graduate Research in Aviation or Aeronautics-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration
shall carry out a program to provide fellowships for students enrolled
in institutions of higher education in graduate programs in aviation
or aeronautics for the conduct by such students of research in aviation
or aeronautics.
(2) MAXIMUM NUMBER OF FELLOWSHIPS- The maximum number of fellowships
awarded under the program that are in force at any one time may not
exceed seven fellowships.
(3) OTHER PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS- The Administrator shall prescribe
such requirements for the program as the Administrator considers appropriate,
including qualifications for the award of fellowships under the program
and the amount and duration of fellowships awarded under the program.
SEC. 6. PAYMENTS TO CONTRACTORS FOR COSTS OF EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT OF AERONAUTICS WORKFORCES.
(a) In General- Chapter 139 of title 10, United States Code, is amended
by inserting after section 2372 the following new section:
`Sec. 2372a. Education and professional development of aeronautics
workforces: payments to contractors
`(a) Regulations- The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations
governing the payment, by the Department of Defense, of expenses incurred
by contractors for costs of education and professional development of
their aeronautics workforce.
`(b) Costs Allowable as Indirect Expenses- The regulations prescribed
pursuant to subsection (a) shall provide that costs of education and
professional development of the aeronautics workforce shall be allowable
as indirect expenses on covered contracts to the extent that those costs
are allocable, reasonable, and not otherwise unallowable by law or under
the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
`(c) Definitions- In this section:
`(1) The term `aeronautics workforce' means personnel employed as
engineers or scientists engaged in the development and manufacture
of aeronautics technologies.
`(2) The term `covered contract' has the meaning given that term in
section 23724(l) of this title.
`(3)(A) The term `education and professional development', in the
case of an aeronautics workforce, means each of the following:
`(i) The acquisition by personnel of the workforce of general knowledge
of science and engineering.
`(ii) The development among personnel of the workforce of powers
of reasoning and judgement.
`(iii) The participation of personnel of the workforce in technical
conferences and professional society technical committees relating
to aeronautics.
`(iv) The participation of personnel of the workforce in government
advisory boards or commissions on aeronautics for which participation
the government provides no compensation.
`(B) The term does not include the acquisition by personnel of an
aeronautics workforce of vocational or practical skills for an immediate
and specific job task or purpose.'.
(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections at the beginning of chapter
139 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to
section 2372 the following new item:
`2372a. Education and professional development of aeronautics workforces:
payments to contractors.'.
END
