Amends the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 to provide for a Centennial Challenge Program to award competitive prizes for innovations with the potential for application to the space and aeronautical goals and activities of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Sets forth program requirements.
[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5385 Introduced in House (IH)]
108th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5385
To authorize the establishment of a Centennial Challenge Prize Program
at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 18, 2004
Mr. Boehlert introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Science
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the establishment of a Centennial Challenge Prize Program
at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. CENTENNIAL CHALLENGE PRIZE.
Title III of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 (42
U.S.C. 2451 et seq.) is amended by adding the following new section:
``centennial challenge prize
``Sec. 316. (a) Prize Program.--The Administrator may carry out a
Program, to be known as the Centennial Challenge Program (referred to
in this section as `the Program'), to award competitive prizes for
innovations with the potential for application to the space and
aeronautical goals and activities of the Administration.
``(b) Program Requirements.--(1) The Program shall use a
competitive process for the selection of prize recipients. The Program
shall widely advertise and solicit participation in prize competitions.
``(2) No individual or entity shall participate in a prize
competition unless the individual or entity has registered with the
Program in accordance with requirements established by the
Administrator. At a minimum those requirements shall--
``(A) limit participation in Program competitions to--
``(i) individuals who are citizens of the United
States;
``(ii) entities organized or existing under the
laws of the United States or a State; and
``(iii) entities organized or existing under the
laws of a foreign country if the controlling interest
(as defined by the Administrator) is held by an
individual or entity described in clause (i) or (ii);
``(B) require any individual or entity that registers for a
Program competition to assume any and all risks arising from
participation in the competition, and to waive any and all
claims against the United States Government for damages arising
from participation in the competition, including any and all
claims for injury, death, damage or loss of property, or loss
of revenue or profits, whether direct, indirect, or
consequential, whether through negligence or otherwise, except
in the case of willful misconduct; and
``(C) require any individual or entity that registers for a
Program competition to waive claims against any non-Federal
entity involved with the Program (such as a private contractor
managing a competition for the Program) to the extent the
Administrator believes is necessary to protect the interests of
the United States Government.
``(c) Availability of Funds.--(1) Any funds appropriated to carry
out this section shall remain available until expended.
``(2) Funds appropriated to carry out this section shall not be
available for any other purpose and shall not be subject to
reprogramming.
``(d) Limitations.--(1) No prize competitions under this section
may be commenced after Sept. 30, 2006.
``(2) No prize offered by the Program may exceed $1,000,000.
``(e) Relationship to Other Authority.--The Administrator may
exercise the authority in this section in conjunction with or in
addition to any other authority of the Administrator to acquire,
support, or stimulate innovations with the potential for application to
the space and aeronautical goals and activities of the United States.
``(f) Reports.--(1) The Administrator may not accept any
registrations for a competition under the Program until 30 days after
the Administrator has submitted a description of the competition to the
Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the Committee
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. The description
shall include eligibility criteria for registrants, criteria for
selecting a winner, and the amount of the prize to be awarded.
``(2) In the proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning October
1, 2005, the Administrator shall include an estimate of the amounts
proposed to be expended on the Program and a list of the competitions
proposed for that fiscal year.
``(3) Not later than December 31, 2006, the Administrator shall
submit to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate an
accounting of previously appropriated Program funds, including an
accounting of administrative costs, of amounts remaining that are
allocated to pending prize competitions, and of amounts remaining that
are not yet so allocated.''.
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Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Science.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics.
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