Volume 81 · 168
Public Law 90–67
To authorize appropriations to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for research and development, construction of facilities, and administrative operations, and for other purposes.
Approved August 21, 1967
Statutory text
AN ACT
To authorize appropriations to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for research and development, construction of facilities, and administrative operations, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That there is hereby authorized to be appropriated to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration the sum of $4,865,751,000, as follows:
For “Research and development,” for the following programs:
Apollo, $2,521,500,000;
Apollo applications, $347,700,000;
Advanced missions, $2,500,000;
Physics and astronomy, $145,500,000;
Lunar and planetary exploration, $131,900,000;
Voyager, $42,000,000;
Bioscience, $41,800,000;
Space applications, $99,500,000;
Launch vehicle procurement, $157,700,000;
Space vehicle systems, $36,000,000;
Electronics systems, $39,200,000;
Human factor systems, $21,000,000;
Basic research, $21,465,000;
Space power and electric propulsion systems, $44,000,000;
Nuclear rockets, $73,000,000;
Chemical propulsion, $41,000,000 of which $3,000,000 is to be used only for the large solid motor project;
Aeronautics, $66,800,000;
Tracking and data acquisition, $290,000,000;
Sustaining university program, $20,000,000;
Technology utilization, $5,000,000.
For “Construction of facilities,” including land acquisitions, as follows:
Ames Research Center, Moffet Field, California, $5,365,000;
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, $565,000;
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, $3,125,000;
John F. Kennedy Space Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, $24,885,000;
Lewis Research Center, Cleveland and Sandusky, Ohio, $2,115,000;
Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston, Texas, $2,425,000;
George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama, $870,000;
Michoud Assembly Facility, New Orleans and Slidell, Louisiana, $2,010,000;
Nuclear Rocket Development Station, Nevada, $19,500,000;
Wallops Station, Wallops Island, Virginia, $740,000;
Various locations, $2,880,000;
Facility planning and design not otherwise provided for, $5,500,000.
For “Administrative operations”, $648,206,000.
Appropriations for “Research and development” may be used (1) for any items of a capital nature (other than acquisition of land) which may be required for the performance of research and develop-ment contracts and (2) for grants to nonprofit institutions of higher education, or to nonprofit organizations whose primary purpose is the conduct of scientific research, for purchase or construction of additional research facilities; and title to such facilities shall be vested in the United States unless the Administrator determines that the national program of aeronautical and space activities will best be served by vesting title in any such grantee institution or organization. Each such grant shall be made under such conditions as the Administrator shall determine to be required to insure that the United States will receive therefrom benefit adequate to justify the making of that grant. None of the funds appropriated for “Research and development”
Notice to congressional committees.
pursuant to this Act may be used for construction of any major facility, the estimated cost of which, including collateral equipment, exceeds $250,000, unless the Administrator or his designee has notified the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate and the Committee on Science and Astronautics of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences of the Senate of the nature, location, and estimated cost of such facility.
When so specified in an appropriation Act, (1) any amount appropriated for “Research and development” or for “Construction of facilities” may remain available without fiscal year limitation, and (2) maintenance and operation of facilities, and support services contracts may be entered into under the “Administrative operations” appropriation for periods not in excess of twelve months beginning at any time during the fiscal year.
Appropriations made pursuant to subsection 1 (c) may be used,
Scientific consultations.
but not to exceed $35,000, for scientific consultations or extraordinary expenses upon the approval or authority of the Administrator and his determination shall be final and conclusive upon the accounting officers of the Government.
No part of the funds appropriated pursuant to subsection 1 (c) for maintenance, repairs, alterations, and minor construction shall be used for the construction of any new facility the estimated cost of which, including collateral equipment, exceeds $100,000.
Sec. 2.
Authorization is hereby granted whereby any of the amounts prescribed in paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10), and (11) of subsection 1(b) may, in the discretion of the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, be varied upward 5 per centum to meet unusual cost variations, but the total cost of all work authorized under such paragraphs shall not exceed the total of the amounts specified in such paragraphs.
Sec. 3.
Not to exceed onehalf of 1 per centum of the funds appropriated
Transfer of funds.
pursuant to subsection 1 (a) hereof may be transferred to the “Construction of facilities” appropriation, and. when so transferred, together with $10,000,000 of the funds appropriated pursuant to subsection 1 (b) hereof (other than funds appropriated pursuant to paragraph (12) of such subsection) shall be available for expenditure to construct, expand, or modify laboratories and other installations at any location (including locations specified in subsection 1(b), if (1) the Administrator determines such action to be necessary because of changes in the national program of aeronautical and space activities or new scientific or engineering developments, and (2) he determines that deferral of such action until the enactment of the next authorization Act would be inconsistent with the interest of the Nation in aeronautical and space activities. The funds so made available may be expended to acquire, construct, convert, rehabilitate, or install permanent or temporary public works, including land acquisition, site preparation, appurtenances, utilities, and equipment. No portion
Report to congressional committees.
of such sums may be obligated for expenditure or expended to construct, expand, or modify laboratories and other installations unless (A) a period of thirty days has passed after the Administrator or his designee has transmitted to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and to the President of the Senate and to the Committee on Science and Astronautics of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences of the Senate a written report containing a full and complete statement concerning (1) the nature of such construction, expansion, or modification, (2) the cost thereof including the cost of any real estate action pertaining thereto, and (3) the reason why such construction, expansion, or modification is necessary in the national interest, or (B) each such committee before the expiration of such period has transmitted to the Administrator written notice to the effect that such committee has no objection to the proposed action.
Sec. 4.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act—
no amount appropriated pursuant to this Act may be used for any program deleted by the Congress from requests as originally made to either the House Committee on Science and Astronautics or the Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences,
no amount appropriated pursuant to this Act may be used for any program in excess of the amount actually authorized for that particular program by sections 1(a) and 1(c), and
no amount appropriated pursuant to this Act may be used for any program which has not been presented to or requested of either such committee,
Notice to congressional committees.
unless (A) a period of thirty days has passed after the receipt by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate and each such committee of notice given by the Administrator or his designee containing a full and complete statement of the action proposed to be taken and the facts and circumstances relied upon in support of such proposed action, or (B) each such committee before the expiration of such period has transmitted to the Administrator written notice to the effect that such committee has no objection to the proposed action.
Sec. 5.
It is the sense of Congress that it is in the national interest that consideration be given to geographical distribution of Federal research funds whenever feasible, and that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration should explore ways and means of distributing its research and development funds whenever feasible.
Sec. 6.
There is hereby established an Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel consisting of a maximum of nine members who shall be appointed by the Administrator for terms of six years each. The Panel shall review safety studies and operations plans referred to it and shall make reports thereon, shall advise the Administrator with respect to the hazards of proposed or existing facilities and proposed operations and with respect to the adequacy of proposed or existing safety standards and shall perform such other duties as the Administrator may request. One member shall be designated by the Panel as its Chairman.
Compensation; travel expenses.
Members of the Panel who are officers or employees of the Federal Government shall receive no compensation for their services as such, but shall be allowed necessary travel expenses (or in the alternative, mileage for use of privately owned vehicles and a per diem in lieu of
80 Stat. 498, 499.
subsistence not to exceed the rates prescribed in 5 U.S.C. 5702, 5704), and other necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of duties vested in the Panel, without regard to the provisions of
subchapter I, chapter 57 of title 5 of the United States Code, the Standardized Government Travel Regulations, or 5 U.S.C. 5731. Members of the Panel appointed from outside the Federal Government shall each receive compensation at the rate of $100 for each day such member is engaged in the actual performance of duties vested in the Panel in addition to reimbursement for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses in accordance with the provisions of the foregoing sentence. Not more than four such members shall be chosen from among the officers and employees of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Sec. 7.
This Act may be cited as the “National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization
Short title.
Act, 1968.”
Approved August 21, 1967.