NASA Excerpts from the Conference Report on H.R. 4818 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005
CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 4818, CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2005 — (House of Representatives – November 19, 2004)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
SCIENCE, AERONAUTICS AND EXPLORATION
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, in the conduct and support of science, aeronautics and exploration research and development activities, including research, development, operations, support and services; maintenance; construction of facilities including repair, rehabilitation, revitalization, and modification of facilities, construction of new facilities and additions to existing facilities, facility planning and design, and restoration, and acquisition or condemnation of real property, as authorized by law; environmental compliance and restoration; space flight, spacecraft control and communications activities including operations, production, and services; program management; personnel and related costs, including uniforms or allowances therefor, as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5901-5902; travel expenses; purchase and hire of passenger motor vehicles; not to exceed $35,000 for official reception and representation expenses; and purchase, lease, charter, maintenance and operation of mission and administrative aircraft, $7,742,550,000, to remain available until September 30, 2006, of which amounts as determined by the Administrator for salaries and benefits; training, travel and awards; facility and related costs; information technology services; science, engineering, fabricating and testing services; and other administrative services may be transferred to “Exploration capabilities” in accordance with section 312(b) of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, as amended by Public Law 106-377.
EXPLORATION CAPABILITIES
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, in the conduct and support of exploration capabilities research and development activities, including research, development, operations, support and services; maintenance; construction of facilities including repair, rehabilitation, revitalization and modification of facilities, construction of new facilities and additions to existing facilities, facility planning and design, and acquisition or condemnation of real property, as authorized by law; environmental compliance and restoration; space flight, spacecraft control and communications activities including operations, production, and services; program management; personnel and related costs, including uniforms or allowances therefor, as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5901-5902; travel expenses; purchase and hire of passenger motor vehicles; not to exceed $35,000 for official reception and representation expenses; and purchase, lease, charter, maintenance and operation of mission and administrative aircraft, $8,425,850,000, to remain available until September 30, 2006, of which amounts as determined by the Administrator for salaries and benefits; training, travel and awards; facility and related costs; information technology services; science, engineering, fabricating and testing services; and other administrative services may be transferred to “Science, aeronautics and exploration” in accordance with section 312(b) of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, as amended by Public Law 106-377.
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector General in carrying out the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, $31,600,000.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
Notwithstanding the limitation on the availability of funds appropriated for “Science, aeronautics and exploration”, or “Exploration capabilities” by this appropriations Act, when any activity has been initiated by the incurrence of obligations for construction of facilities or environmental compliance and restoration activities as authorized by law, such amount available for such activity shall remain available until expended. This provision does not apply to the amounts appropriated for institutional minor revitalization and construction of facilities, and institutional facility planning and design.
Notwithstanding the limitation on the availability of funds appropriated for “Science, aeronautics and exploration”, or “Exploration capabilities” by this appropriations Act, the amounts appropriated for construction of facilities shall remain available until September 30, 2007.
The unexpired balances of prior appropriations to NASA for activities for which funds are provided under this Act may be transferred to the new account established for the appropriation that provides such activity under this Act. Balances so transferred may be merged with funds in the newly established account and thereafter may be accounted for as one fund under the same terms and conditions but shall remain available for the same period of time as originally appropriated.
From amounts made available in this Act for these activities, subject to the operating plan procedures of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations, the Administrator may transfer amounts between the “Science, aeronautics, and exploration” account and the “Exploration capabilities” account.
Funds for announced prizes otherwise authorized shall remain available, without fiscal year limitation, until the prize is claimed or the offer is withdrawn. Funding shall not be made available for Centennial Challenges unless authorized.
Funding made available under the headings “Exploration Capabilities” and “Science, aeronautics, and exploration” in this Act shall be governed by the terms and conditions specified in the statement of managers except to the extent changes are made in accordance with the operating plan procedures of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations.
