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United States · Law · S

S. 2240 (96th)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act, 1981

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

30 January 1980

Last action

30 July 1980 · President

Status

Public Law 96-316.

Sponsors

Sen. Cannon, Howard W. [D-NV], Sen. Stevenson, Adlai E., III [D-IL], Sen. Schmitt, Harrison H. [R-NM]

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

2 September 2025

Summary

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act, 1981 - Authorizes appropriations to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for research and development, construction of facilities, and research and program management. Permits appropriations for research and development to be used: (1) for any items of a capital nature (other than acquisition of land) which may be required at locations other than NASA installations for the performance of research and development 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. Stipulates that when so specified and to the extent provided in an appropriation Act, any amount appropriated for "research and development" or for "construction of facilities" may remain available without fiscal year limitation. Permits the funds for construction of any of specified facilities: (1) in the discretion of the NASA Administrator, to be varied upward ten percent; or (2) following a report by the Administrator to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on the circumstances of such action, to be varied upward 25 percent to meet unusual cost variations. Limits the total cost of all construction work to the total of the amounts specified. Permits one half of one percent of the funds appropriated for research and development to be transferred to the "construction of facilities" appropriation. Authorizes the expenditure of such funds, together with $10,000,000 of the funds appropriated for construction of facilities, to construct, expand, or modify laboratories and other installations. Disallows any amount appropriated pursuant to this Act from being used for any program deleted by the Congress from requests as originally made to either the House Committee on Science and Technology or the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Disallows any amounts appropriated pursuant to this Act from being used for any program in excess of the amount actually authorized for that particular program for research and development or research and program management. Disallows any amount from being used for any program which has not been presented to or requested of such committees, with certain exceptions. Expresses the sense of the Congress that it is in the national interest that consideration be given to geographical distribution of Federal research funds whenever feasible, and that NASA should explore ways and means of distributing its research and development funds whenever feasible.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 30 January 1980

    Introduced

    Referred to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 30 January 1980

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 15 May 1980

    Reported

    Reported to Senate from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation with amendment, S. Rept. 96-719.

    Source: Committee

  4. 15 May 1980

    Reported

    Reported to Senate from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation with amendment, S. Rept. 96-719.

    Source: Committee

  5. 3 June 1980

    Floor

    Call of calendar in Senate.

    Source: Floor

  6. 3 June 1980

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Measure passed Senate, amended.

    Source: Floor

  7. 13 June 1980

    Passed

    Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R.6413.

    Source: Floor

  8. 13 June 1980

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in House: Measure passed House, amended, in lieu of H.R.6413.

    Source: Floor

  9. 13 June 1980

    Floor

    Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.

    Source: Floor

  10. 20 June 1980

    ResolvingDifferences

    Conference scheduled in Senate.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  11. 25 June 1980

    ResolvingDifferences

    Conference scheduled in House.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  12. 27 June 1980

    ResolvingDifferences

    Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-1142.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  13. 27 June 1980

    ResolvingDifferences

    Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 96-1142.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  14. 2 July 1980

    Vote

    House agreed to conference report, roll call #392 (384-21).

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  15. 2 July 1980

    Vote

    Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, roll call #392 (384-21).

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  16. 21 July 1980

    President

    Measure enrolled in House.

    Source: President

  17. 21 July 1980

    Passed

    Senate agreed to conference report.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  18. 21 July 1980

    Passed

    Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.

    Source: ResolvingDifferences

  19. 22 July 1980

    Floor

    Measure presented to President.

    Source: Floor

  20. 22 July 1980

    President

    Measure presented to President.

    Source: President

  21. 22 July 1980

    President

    Measure enrolled in Senate.

    Source: President

  22. 30 July 1980

    President

    Public Law 96-316.

    Source: President

  23. 30 July 1980

    Became law

    Signed by President.

    Source: BecameLaw

  24. 30 July 1980

    President

    Signed by President.

    Source: President

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

6 official files

Public Law (PDF)

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  • Public Law (PDF)

    Public Law · EN · 31 July 1980

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

  • Conference report filed in House

    summary · EN · 27 June 1980

    Open at official source

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  • Passed House amended

    summary · EN · 13 June 1980

    Open at official source

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  • Passed Senate amended

    summary · EN · 3 June 1980

    Open at official source

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  • Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

    summary · EN · 15 May 1980

    Open at official source

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  • Introduced in Senate

    summary · EN · 30 January 1980

    Open at official source

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