---
kind: "section"
citation: "51 U.S.C. § 30503"
title: "51"
title_heading: "National and Commercial Space Programs"
number: "30503"
heading: "Performance assessments"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/51/30503"
units:
  - "Subtitle III — Administrative Provisions"
  - "Chapter 305 — Management and Review"
---

# §30503. Performance assessments

- (a) **In General.—** The performance of each division in the Science directorate of the [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1) shall be reviewed and assessed by the National Academy of Sciences at 5-year intervals.
- (b) **Timing.—** Beginning with the first fiscal year following December 30, 2005, the [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) shall select at least one division for review under this section. The [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) shall select divisions so that all disciplines will have received their first review within 6 fiscal years of December 30, 2005.
- (c) **Reports.—** Not later than March 1 of each year, beginning with the first fiscal year after December 30, 2005, the [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) shall transmit a report to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate—
  - (1) setting forth in detail the results of any external review under [subsection (a)](#a);
  - (2) setting forth in detail actions taken by the [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1) in response to any external review; and
  - (3) including a summary of findings and recommendations from any other relevant external reviews of the [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1)’s science mission priorities and programs.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3368.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 30503 | 42 U.S.C. 16651. | Pub. L. 109–155, title III, § 301, Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2916. |

In subsections (b) and (c), the date “December 30, 2005” is substituted for “the date of enactment of this Act” to reflect the date of enactment of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–155, 119 Stat. 2895).

In subsection (c), the words “Committee on Science and Technology” are substituted for “Committee on Science” on authority of Rule X(1)(o) of the Rules of the House of Representatives, adopted by House Resolution No. 6 (110th Congress, January 5, 2007).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

Committee on Science and Technology of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Jan. 5, 2011.