S.Amdt. 1480

SA 1480. Mrs. HUTCHISON submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 1042, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2006 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the appropriate place, insert the following:

SEC. ___. AERONAUTICAL RESEARCH CAPABILITIES ASSESSMENT.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense, in cooperation with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, is directed to conduct an assessment of aeronautical research assets and capabilities operated and maintained by the Administration to determine their potential application to existing and planned aeronautical research activities of the Department of Defense.

(b) Matters Covered.--The assessment shall include an identification and inventory of Administration facilities, personnel and supporting infrastructure which offer research capabilities not presently available to the Department for the conduct of aeronautical research and which would make a significant contribution to the Department aeronautical research mission and programs.

(c) Deadline.--The Secretary and the Administrator shall--

(1) complete the assessment within 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act; and

(2) transmit it, together with associated working papers, within 60 days after it is completed to the Joint Aeronautical Research Working Group established under subsection (d).

(d) Establishment and Responsibilities of Joint Aeronautical Research Working Group.--Within 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the Administrator shall establish a Joint Aeronautical Research Working Group for the purpose of identifying opportunities for cooperative aeronautical research between the Administration and the Department, and developing recommendations for implementation of those opportunities. The Secretary and the Administrator shall jointly determine the composition, operational procedures, and statement of work to guide the activities of the Working Group.