113 HR 5527 IH: Promoting Women in Entrepreneurship Act U.S. House of Representatives 2014-09-18 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5527 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 18, 2014 Ms. Esty (for herself and Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology A BILL To authorize the National Science Foundation to support entrepreneurial programs for women.

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Short title

This Act may be cited as the Promoting Women in Entrepreneurship Act.

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Findings

The Congress finds that— (1)women make up almost 50 percent of the workforce, but less than 25 percent of the workforce in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions; (2)women are less likely to focus on the STEM disciplines in undergraduate and graduate study; (3)only 26 percent of women who do attain degrees in STEM fields work in STEM jobs; (4)there is an increasing demand for individuals with STEM degrees to extend their focus beyond the laboratory so they can be leaders in discovery commercialization; (5)studies have shown that technology and commercialization ventures are more successful when women are in top management positions; and (6)the National Science Foundation’s mission includes supporting women in STEM disciplines.

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Supporting women’s entrepreneurial programs

Section 33 of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a) is amended— (1)by striking and at the end of paragraph (10); (2)by striking the period at the end of paragraph (11) and inserting ; and; and (3)by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (12)support entrepreneurial programs that recruit and support women to extend their focus beyond the laboratory and into the commercial world..