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April 28, 2003

Administration Response to Caucus Concerns on Independence of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board

Image of the NASA Administrator's letterhead
April 28, 2003

The Honorable Ralph Hall
Ranking Democrat
Committee on Science
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C.  20515

...Your observations and suggestions, and the spirit in which they have been made, are appreciated.  In response to your concerns and those expressed by other Members of Congress about the independent operation of the CAIB, the operation and reporting requirements of the Board have been changed to respond to those concerns.  The CAIB charter was amended to eliminate the requirement that the Board operate with direction from the NASA Administrator and issue its final report to NASA.  Instead, the CAIB will simultaneously release its investigation report to the President, Congress, NASA and the American public.  Further, the CAIB's charter now states that the Board will "work with" the office of the NASA Administrator in scheduling activities and reports, as the Board deems appropriate....

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