[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 360 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 360
To amend title 51, United States Code, to modify the national space
grant college and fellowship program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 23, 2021
Mrs. Capito (for herself and Ms. Sinema) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 51, United States Code, to modify the national space
grant college and fellowship program, 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 Space Grant
Modernization Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL SPACE GRANT COLLEGE AND FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.
(a) Purposes.--Section 40301 of title 51, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (3)--
(A) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in subparagraph (C), by adding ``and'' after
the semicolon at the end; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) promote equally the State and regional STEM
interests of each space grant consortium;''; and
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking ``made up of university
and industry members, in order to advance'' and inserting
``comprised of members of universities in each State and other
entities, such as 2-year colleges, industries, science learning
centers, museums, and government entities, to advance''.
(b) Definitions.--Section 40302 of title 51, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) by striking paragraph (3);
(2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
``(3) Lead institution.--The term `lead institution' means
an entity in a State that--
``(A) was designated by the Administrator under
section 40306, as in effect on the day before the date
of the enactment of the 21st Century Space Grant
Modernization Act of 2021; or
``(B) is designated by the Administrator under
section 40303(d)(3).'';
(3) in paragraph (4), by striking ``space grant college,
space grant regional consortium, institution of higher
education,'' and inserting ``lead institution, space grant
consortium,'';
(4) by striking paragraphs (6), (7), and (8);
(5) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following:
``(6) Space grant consortium.--The term `space grant
consortium' means a statewide group, led by a lead institution,
that has established partnerships with other academic
institutions, industries, science learning centers, museums,
and government entities to promote a strong educational base in
the space and aeronautical sciences.'';
(6) by redesignating paragraph (9) as paragraph (7);
(7) in paragraph (7)(B), as so redesignated, by inserting
``and aeronautics'' after ``space'';
(8) by striking paragraph (10); and
(9) by adding at the end the following:
``(8) STEM.--The term `STEM' means science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics.''.
(c) Program Objective.--Section 40303 of title 51, United States
Code, is amended--
(1) by striking subsections (d) and (e);
(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (e); and
(3) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
``(b) Program Objective.--
``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall carry out the
national space grant college and fellowship program with the
objective of providing hands-on research, training, and
education programs with measurable outcomes in each State,
including programs to provide--
``(A) internships, fellowships, and scholarships;
``(B) interdisciplinary hands-on mission programs
and design projects;
``(C) student internships with industry or
university researchers or at centers of the
Administration;
``(D) faculty and curriculum development
initiatives;
``(E) university-based research initiatives
relating to the Administration and the STEM workforce
needs of each State; or
``(F) STEM engagement programs for kindergarten
through grade 12 teachers and students.
``(2) Program priorities.--In carrying out the objective
described in paragraph (1), the Administrator shall ensure that
each program carried out by a space grant consortium under the
national space grant college and fellowship program balances
the following priorities:
``(A) The space and aeronautics research needs of
the Administration, including the mission directorates.
``(B) The need to develop a national STEM
workforce.
``(C) The STEM workforce needs of the State.
``(c) Program Administered Through Space Grant Consortia.--The
Administrator shall carry out the national space grant college and
fellowship program through the space grant consortia.
``(d) Suspension; Termination; New Competition.--
``(1) Suspension.--The Administrator may, for cause and
after an opportunity for hearing, suspend a lead institution
that was designated by the Administrator under section 40306,
as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of the
21st Century Space Grant Modernization Act of 2021.
``(2) Termination.--If the issue resulting in a suspension
under paragraph (1) is not resolved within a period determined
by the Administrator, the Administrator may terminate the
designation of the entity as a lead institution.
``(3) New competition.--If the Administrator terminates the
designation of an entity as a lead institution, the
Administrator may initiate a new competition in the applicable
State for the designation of a lead institution.''.
(d) Grants.--Section 40304 of title 51, United States Code, is
amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 40304. Grants
``(a) Eligible Space Grant Consortium Defined.--In this section,
the term `eligible space grant consortium' means a space grant
consortium that the Administrator has determined--
``(1) has the capability and objective to carry out not
fewer than 3 of the 6 programs under section 40303(b)(1);
``(2) will carry out programs that balance the priorities
described in section 40303(b)(2); and
``(3) is engaged in research, training, and education
relating to space and aeronautics.
``(b) Grants.--
``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall award grants to
the lead institutions of eligible space grant consortia to
carry out the programs under section 40303(b)(1).
``(2) Request for proposals.--
``(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after
the date of the enactment of the 21st Century Space
Grant Modernization Act of 2021, the Administrator
shall issue a request for proposals from space grant
consortia for the award of grants under this section.
``(B) Applications.--A lead institution of a space
grant consortium that seeks a grant under this section
shall submit, on behalf of such space grant consortium,
an application to the Administrator at such time, in
such manner, and accompanied by such information as the
Administrator may require.
``(3) Grant awards.--The Administrator shall award 1 or
more 5-year grants, disbursed in annual installments, to the
lead institution of the eligible space grant consortium of--
``(A) each State;
``(B) the District of Columbia; and
``(C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
``(4) Use of funds.--A grant awarded under this section
shall be used by an eligible space grant consortium to carry
out not fewer than 3 of the 6 programs under section
40303(b)(1).
``(c) Allocation of Funding.--
``(1) Program implementation.--
``(A) In general.--To carry out the objective
described in section 40303(b)(1), of the funds made
available under section 40306 each fiscal year for the
national space grant college and fellowship program,
the Administrator shall allocate not less than 85
percent as follows:
``(i) The 52 eligible space grant consortia
shall each receive an equal share.
``(ii) The territories of Guam and the
United States Virgin Islands shall each receive
funds equal to approximately \1/5\ of the share
for each eligible space grant consortia.
``(B) Matching requirement.--Each eligible space
grant consortium shall match the funds allocated under
subparagraph (A)(i) on a basis of not less than 1 non-
Federal dollar for every 1 Federal dollar, except that
any program funded under paragraph (3) or any program
to carry out 1 or more internships or fellowships shall
not be subject to that matching requirement.
``(2) Program administration.--
``(A) In general.--Of the funds made available
under section 40306 each fiscal year for the national
space grant college and fellowship program, the
Administrator shall allocate not more than 10 percent
for the administration of the program.
``(B) Costs covered.--The funds allocated under
subparagraph (A) shall cover all costs of the
Administration associated with the administration of
the national space grant college and fellowship
program, including--
``(i) direct costs of the program,
including costs relating to support services
and civil service salaries and benefits;
``(ii) indirect general and administrative
costs of centers and facilities of the
Administration; and
``(iii) indirect general and administrative
costs of the Administration headquarters.
``(3) Special programs.--Of the funds made available under
section 40306 each fiscal year for the national space grant
college and fellowship program, the Administrator shall
allocate not more than 5 percent to the lead institutions of
space grant consortia established as of the date of the
enactment of the 21st Century Space Grant Modernization Act of
2021 for grants to carry out innovative approaches and programs
to further science and education relating to the missions of
the Administration and STEM disciplines.
``(d) Terms and Conditions.--
``(1) Limitations.--Amounts made available through a grant
under this section may not be applied to--
``(A) the purchase of land;
``(B) the purchase, construction, preservation, or
repair of a building; or
``(C) the purchase or construction of a launch
facility or launch vehicle.
``(2) Leases.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), land,
buildings, launch facilities, and launch vehicles may be leased
under a grant on written approval by the Administrator.
``(3) Records.--
``(A) In general.--Any person that receives or uses
the proceeds of a grant under this section shall keep
such records as the Administrator shall by regulation
prescribe as being necessary and appropriate to
facilitate effective audit and evaluation, including
records that fully disclose the amount and disposition
by a recipient of such proceeds, the total cost of the
program or project in connection with which such
proceeds were used, and the amount, if any, of such
cost that was provided through other sources.
``(B) Maintenance of records.--Records under
subparagraph (A) shall be maintained for not less than
3 years after the date of completion of such a program
or project.
``(C) Access.--For the purpose of audit and
evaluation, the Administrator and the Comptroller
General of the United States shall have access to any
books, documents, papers, and records of receipts
relating to a grant under this section, as determined
by the Administrator or Comptroller General.''.
(e) Program Streamlining.--Title 51, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) by striking sections 40305 through 40308, 40310, and
40311; and
(2) by redesignating section 40309 as section 40305.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--Title 51, United States Code,
is amended by adding after section 40305, as redesignated by subsection
(e)(2), the following:
``Sec. 40306. Authorization of appropriations
``There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out the national space grant college and fellowship
program.''.
(g) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning
of chapter 403 of title 51, United States Code, is amended by striking
the items relating to sections 40304 through 40311 and inserting the
following:
``40304. Grants.
``40305. Availability of other Federal personnel and data.
``40306. Authorization of appropriations.''.
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