(a) Sense of the Congress

It is the sense of Congress that NASA should not dilute, distort, suppress, or impede scientific research or the dissemination thereof.

(b) Study

Within 60 days after October 15, 2008, the Comptroller General shall—

(1) initiate a study to be completed within 270 days to determine whether the regulations set forth in part 1213 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, are being implemented in a clear and consistent manner by NASA to ensure the dissemination of research; and

(2) transmit a report to the Congress setting forth the Comptroller General's findings, conclusions, and recommendations.

The Administrator shall work to ensure that NASA's policies on the sharing of climate related data respond to the recommendations of the Government Accountability Office's report on climate change research and data-sharing policies and to the recommendations on the processing, distribution, and archiving of data by the National Academies Earth Science Decadal Survey, “Earth Science and Applications from Space”, and other relevant National Academies reports, to enhance and facilitate their availability and widest possible use to ensure public access to accurate and current data on global warming.