§1862n–9 Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee

Summary

Creates an Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee that the Foundation, NASA, and the Department of Energy must set up together. The committee must review and make recommendations about how those agencies’ astronomy and astrophysics programs work together and how their work lines up with the National Research Council’s 2001 report and later similar reports. The committee must send a written report by March 15 each year to the Director, the Administrator of NASA, the Secretary of Energy, the House Committee on Science, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. The committee will have 13 members who are not Federal employees: 4 picked by the Director, 4 by the NASA Administrator, 3 by the Secretary of Energy, and 2 by the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Initial picks must be made within 3 months after December 19, 2002, and vacancies are filled the same way. Members pick a chair. The committee must coordinate with other federal advisory groups, meet at least 4 times a year (in person or electronically), members serve without pay but get travel and per diem under sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, a majority is a quorum, and section 1013 of title 5 does not apply.