Space Exploration Research Act

This Act may be cited as the Space Exploration Research Act.
The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (referred to in this Act as the Administrator) may, using existing lease authorities available to the Administrator and on such terms as the Administrator considers appropriate, lease, for a term not to exceed 99 years, real property under the jurisdiction of the Administrator to 1 or more entities described in subsection (c) for the purpose of the construction and operation on such real property of 1 or more facilities the purposes of which shall be—
to conduct aeronautical and space research;
to educate and train individuals for careers in the space industry;
to carry out the transfer of aeronautical and space technology between the United States public and domestic private sectors;
to conduct scientific, engineering, medical, or academic activities; and
to conduct any other space-related activity.
The Administrator may renew a lease under this subsection for 1 or more additional periods.
Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Administrator may—
enter into 1 or more agreements, on such terms as the Administrator considers appropriate, with 1 or more entities described in subsection (c) to lease back real property described in subsection (a), including such real property that has been—
leased to a private entity under other lease authority available to the Administrator; and
subleased to an entity described in subsection (c);
enter into 1 or more contracts, grant agreements, cooperative agreements, or other authorized transactions with an entity described in subsection (c) with respect to such property; and
provide administrative, maintenance, instructional, and other appropriate support, with or without reimbursement, to the 1 or more facilities described in subsection (a).
An entity described in this subsection is—
the State in which the real property described in subsection (a) is located;
a subdivision, agent, or agency of such a State;
a corporation or foundation organized exclusively for education or scientific purposes that is exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3)); and
an institution of higher education (as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)).
The Administrator may delegate the authorities under subsections (a) and (b) to subordinate officers and employees of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as the Administrator considers appropriate.
The authority provided by this section shall apply—
regardless of the existing authority used by the Administrator to lease the real property described in subsection (a); and
notwithstanding any provision of—
section 1302 of title 40, United States Code;
section 20145 of title 51, United States Code; or
section 306121 of title 54, United States Code.
This Act may be cited as the Space Exploration Research Act.
The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (referred to in this Act as the Administrator) may, using existing lease authorities available to the Administrator and on such terms as the Administrator considers appropriate to protect the interests of the United States, lease, for a term not to exceed 50 years, real property under the jurisdiction of the Administrator to 1 or more entities described in subsection (c) for the purpose of the construction and operation on such real property of 1 or more facilities the purposes of which shall be—
to conduct aeronautical and space research;
to educate and train individuals for careers in the space industry;
to carry out the transfer of aeronautical and space technology between the United States public and domestic private sectors;
to conduct space-related and aeronautics-related scientific, engineering, medical, or academic activities; and
to conduct any other space-related activity relevant to the mission of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
The Administrator may renew a lease under this subsection for 1 or more additional periods.
Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Administrator may—
enter into 1 or more agreements, on such terms as the Administrator considers appropriate, with 1 or more entities described in subsection (c) to lease back real property described in subsection (a), including such real property that has been subleased to a third party by an entity described in subsection (c);
enter into 1 or more contracts, grant agreements, cooperative agreements, or other authorized transactions with an entity described in subsection (c) with respect to such property; and
provide administrative, instructional, and other appropriate support, with or without reimbursement, to the 1 or more entities described in subsection (c) that are a party to such a contract, agreement, or transaction.
An entity described in this subsection is—
the State in which the real property described in subsection (a) is located;
a subdivision, agent, or agency of such a State;
a corporation or foundation organized exclusively for education or scientific purposes that is exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3)); and
an institution of higher education (as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)).
The Administrator may delegate the authorities under subsections (a) and (b) to subordinate officers and employees of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as the Administrator considers appropriate.
The authority provided by this section shall apply—
regardless of the existing authority used by the Administrator to lease the real property described in subsection (a) to entities described in subsection (c); and
notwithstanding—
section 1302 of title 40, United States Code;
subsection (b)(1) and (e)(1) of section 20145 of title 51, United States Code; or
section 306121 of title 54, United States Code.
Not later than January 31 each year, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report that includes the following:
Information that explains the importance of each lease and leaseback agreement to the accomplishment of 1 or more mission requirements of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Information that identifies and quantifies the value of the arrangements and expenditures of revenues received under this section.
The availability and use of funds received under this section for the Administration's operating plan.
The annual and cumulative number of leases entered into under this section, by National Aeronautics and Space Administration center and facility.
For each active lease agreement under this section, the estimated cost savings to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration resulting from reduced maintenance, operating, and associated costs in the previous fiscal year.
Other quantifiable benefits, including additional cost savings not included under paragraph (4), to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration resulting from the use of leases under this section.