U.S. CODE

U.S. Code

§ 16611a. 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 National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s mission, including authorized activities.

(b) Historic foundation

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.

The balanced science program authorized by section 16611 (d) of this title shall be an element of the contribution by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to such interagency programs.

(d) Sense of Congress on contribution of appropriately funded National Aeronautics and Space Administration

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 16631 and 16632 of this title and at appropriate levels in subsequent fiscal years—

(1) can contribute significantly to innovation in, and the competitiveness of, the United States;

(2) would enable a fair balance among science, aeronautics, education, exploration, and human space flight programs; and

(3) would allow full participation in any interagency efforts to promote innovation and economic competitiveness.

(e) Annual report

(1) Requirement

The Administrator shall submit to Congress and the President an annual report describing the activities conducted pursuant to this section, 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.

(f) Assessment plan

Not later than 1 year after August 9, 2007, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on its plan for instituting assessments of the effectiveness of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education programs in improving student achievement, including with regard to challenging State achievement standards.

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