To amend title 51, United States Code, to exempt from disclosure by NASA certain technical data, and for other purposes.

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7632 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7632

  To amend title 51, United States Code, to exempt from disclosure by 
          NASA certain technical data, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 12, 2024

Mr. Jackson of North Carolina introduced the following bill; which was 
      referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend title 51, United States Code, to exempt from disclosure by 
          NASA certain technical data, 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. EXEMPTION FROM DISCLOSURE BY NASA OF CERTAIN TECHNICAL DATA.

    (a) In General.--Section 20131 of title 51, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new 
        subsection:
    ``(c) Authority To Protect Certain Technical Data From Public 
Disclosure.--
            ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        law, the Administrator may, pursuant to section 552 of title 5 
        (commonly referred to as the `Freedom of Information Act'), 
        withhold any technical data with aeronautical or space 
        application in the possession of, or under the control of, the 
        National Aeronautics and Space Administration, if such data may 
        not be exported lawfully outside the United States without an 
        approval, authorization, or license under provisions of the 
        Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (115-232; 50 U.S.C. 4801 et 
        seq.) or the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.).
            ``(2) Definition.--In this section, the term `technical 
        data' means any blueprints, drawings, photographs, plans, 
        instructions, computer software, or documentation, or other 
        technical information that can be used, or be adapted for use, 
        to design, develop, engineer, produce, manufacture, assemble, 
        operate, repair, test, maintain, overhaul, modify, or reproduce 
        any aeronautical or space items, including subsystems, 
        components, or parts therefor, or technology concerning such 
        items relating to aeronautical or space activities.
            ``(3) Consideration.--For purposes of section 552 of title 
        5, United States Code, this subsection shall be considered a 
        statute for purposes of subsection (b)(3) of such section.
            ``(4) Rules of construction.--Nothing in this subsection 
        may be construed to permit the Administrator to withhold any 
        technical data with aeronautical or space application in the 
        possession of, or under the control of, the National 
        Aeronautics and Space Administration from--
                    ``(A) an independent, nonpartisan commission 
                relating to human space flight independent 
                investigation established by the President pursuant to 
                chapter 707 of this title;
                    ``(B) the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel 
                established under section 31101 of this title in the 
                conduct of its duties;
                    ``(C) any department, agency, or entity of the 
                Federal Government, if authorized pursuant to law;
                    ``(D) Congress; or
                    ``(E) public disclosure, if regulations promulgated 
                under the provisions of either the Export Control 
                Reform Act of 2018 (115-232; 50 U.S.C. 4801 et seq.) or 
                the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.) 
                authorize the export of such data pursuant to a 
                general, unrestricted license or exemption in such 
                regulations.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Paragraph (3) of section 20131(a) of 
title 51, United States Code, is amended by striking ``subsection (b)'' 
and inserting ``subsection (b) or (c)''.
                                 <all>