[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3648 Introduced in House (IH)]







104th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 3648

         To reestablish the National Science Scholars Program.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 13, 1996

  Mr. Markey introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities, and in addition to 
the Committee on Science, for a period to be subsequently determined by 
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
         To reestablish the National Science Scholars Program.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. PURPOSE; APPROPRIATIONS AUTHORIZED.

    (a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act--
            (1) to establish a National Science Scholars Program to 
        recognize student excellence and achievement in the physical, 
        life, and computer sciences, mathematics, and engineering;
            (2) to provide financial assistance to students under 
        paragraph (1) to continue their postsecondary education in such 
        fields of study at sustained high levels of performance;
            (3) to contribute to strengthening the leadership of the 
        United States in such fields;
            (4) to strengthen the United States mathematics, science, 
        and engineering base by offering opportunities to pursue 
        postsecondary education in life, physical, and computer 
        sciences, mathematics, and engineering;
            (5) to encourage role models in scientific, mathematics, 
        and engineering fields for young people;
            (6) to strengthen the United States mathematics, 
        scientific, and engineering potential by encouraging equal 
        participation of women with men in mathematics, scientific, and 
        engineering fields; and
            (7) to attract talented students to teaching careers in 
        mathematics and science in elementary and secondary schools.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $4,500,000 for fiscal year 1997 and such sums as may be 
necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years for awards to 
National Science Scholars.

SEC. 2. SCHOLARSHIPS AUTHORIZED.

    (a) Program Authority.--The Secretary is authorized, in accordance 
with the provisions of this Act, to carry out a program of awarding 
scholarships to students for the study of the physical, life, or 
computer sciences, mathematics, or engineering, who--
            (1) are selected by the President;
            (2) have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement in 
        the physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, or 
        engineering; and
            (3) show promise of continued outstanding academic 
        performance in such field of study.
    (b) Period of Awards.--
            (1) Period of initial award.--A student who satisfies the 
        requirements of section 4(a) may receive a scholarship, for a 
        period of 1 academic year, for the first year of undergraduate 
        study at an institution of higher education.
            (2) Continuation awards.--A student who satisfies the 
        requirements of section 4(b) may receive additional 
        scholarships, each awarded for a period of 1 academic year, in 
        order to complete his or her undergraduate course of study. A 
        student may receive additional scholarships for not more than 3 
        academic years of undergraduate study, except that, in the case 
        of a student who is enrolled in an undergraduate course of 
        study that requires attendance for 5 academic years, the 
        student may receive additional scholarships for not more than 4 
        academic years of undergraduate study.
    (c) Use at Any Institution Permitted.--A student awarded a 
scholarship under this Act may attend any institution of higher 
education.
    (d) National Science Scholars.--Students awarded scholarships under 
this Act shall be known as ``National Science Scholars''.

SEC. 3. SELECTION OF SCHOLARS.

    (a) Selection Criteria for Initial Awards.--
            (1) Selection criteria.--The Director shall develop and 
        submit to the Secretary proposed criteria to be used in the 
        selection of National Science Scholars for initial year awards 
        under section 2(b)(1). Such criteria shall provide for the 
        selection of such scholars on the basis of potential to 
        successfully complete a postsecondary program in the physical, 
        life, or computer sciences, mathematics, or engineering, and on 
        the basis of motivation to pursue a career in such fields. In 
        addition, consideration may be given to the financial need of 
        the individual, and to promoting participation by minorities 
        and individuals with disabilities. The Director shall 
determine proposed criteria for measuring the potential and motivation 
of nominees.
            (2) Publication.--The Secretary and the Director shall 
        agree to, and jointly publish in the Federal Register, 
        appropriate selection criteria.
    (b) Selection Process for Initial Awards.--
            (1) Nominating committee.--Each State desiring to qualify 
        its students for selection as National Science Scholars shall 
        establish a nominating committee. Such committee shall be 
        appointed by the chief State school officer or by an existing 
        grant agency or panel designated by such officer, and shall be 
        approved by the Secretary. The nominating committee shall be a 
        broad-based committee composed of educators, scientists, 
        mathematicians, and engineers, who shall serve as volunteers 
        without compensation.
            (2) Nominations.--The nominating committee in each State 
        shall submit to the President the nominations of at least four 
        individuals from each congressional district in the State, at 
        least half of whom are female. Such selections shall be ranked 
        in order of priority.
            (3) Selection.--The President, after consultation with the 
        Secretary and the Director, shall select two National Science 
        Scholars for each academic year from each congressional 
        district, at least one of whom shall be female.
            (4) Announcement and award of scholarships.--The selection 
        process shall be completed, and the announcement of the 
        selection of National Science Scholars shall be made by the 
        President prior to January 1st of each fiscal year. The 
        Secretary shall notify each Member of Congress of selections 
        made from such Member's district and State before the public 
        announcement by the President. Presentation of scholarships may 
        be made in a public ceremony.
            (5) Congressional district.--For purposes of this 
        subsection, the term ``congressional district'' includes the 
        part or all of a State (within the meaning of section 1201(b) 
        of the Higher Education Act of 1965) represented by a Member or 
        Delegate of the House of Representatives, and includes the 
        Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
    (c) Continuation Awards.--The Secretary shall award additional 
scholarships under section 2(b)(2) to recipients of initial awards 
under section 2(b)(1) who the Secretary determines meet the 
requirements of section 4(b).
    (d) Disbursal of Scholarship Proceeds.--Scholarship proceeds shall 
be disbursed on behalf of students who receive scholarships under this 
Act to the institutions of higher education at which the students are 
enrolled. No scholarship proceeds shall be disbursed on behalf of a 
student until the student is enrolled at an institution of higher 
education.
    (e) Special Rule.--The Director and the Secretary shall encourage 
the support and assistance of civic groups, the business community, 
professional associations, institutions of higher education, and others 
in providing scholarship assistance to National Science Scholarship 
finalists.

SEC. 4. ELIGIBILITY OF SCHOLARS.

    (a) Requirements for Initial Award.--To be eligible to receive a 
scholarship under section 2(b)(1), a student shall--
            (1) be scheduled to graduate from a public or private 
        secondary school, or to obtain the equivalent of a certificate 
        of graduation (as recognized by the State in which the student 
        resides), during the school year in which the award is made;
            (2) be a citizen or national of the United States or the 
        entities set forth in section 3(b)(5), or be an alien lawfully 
        admitted to the United States for permanent residence;
            (3) have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement in 
        secondary school in physical, life, or computer sciences, 
        mathematics, or engineering;
            (4) have been accepted for enrollment at an institution of 
        higher education as a full-time undergraduate student (as 
        determined by the institution); and
            (5) have declared a major in 1 of the physical, life, or 
        computer sciences, mathematics, or engineering, or provided a 
        written statement to the State of his or her intent to major in 
        1 of these fields of study, if it is the policy of the 
        institution at which the student has been accepted for 
        enrollment that students not declare a major until a later 
        point in their course of study.
    (b) Requirements for Continuation Awards.--A student who has 
received a scholarship under section 2(b)(1) may receive a scholarship 
for a subsequent academic year of undergraduate education under section 
2(b)(2) if the student--
            (1) maintains a high level of academic achievement, as 
        determined in accordance with the regulations of the Secretary;
            (2) continues to major in, or provides a statement to the 
        State as described in subsection (a)(5) of his or her 
continuing intent to major in, one of the physical, life, or computer 
sciences, mathematics, or engineering; and
            (3) continues to be enrolled at an institution of higher 
        education as a full-time undergraduate student (as determined 
        by the institution).
    (c) Waiver of Full-Time Attendance Requirement.--The Secretary may 
waive the full-time attendance requirements in this section in unusual 
circumstances.
    (d) Failure To Meet Eligibility Requirements.--In the event that 
the student fails to meet the requirements of this section, the 
student's eligibility to receive further scholarships (or scholarship 
proceeds) under this Act shall be suspended in accordance with the 
regulations of the Secretary.
    (e) Reinstatement of Eligibility.--The Secretary shall determine 
circumstances under which eligibility of a scholarship recipient under 
this Act may be reinstated if the recipient seeks to re-enter school 
after an interruption of schooling for personal reasons, including, but 
not limited to, pregnancy, child-rearing, and other family 
responsibilities.
    (f) Notification of Secondary Schools.--The Secretary shall notify 
all public and private secondary schools and all institutions of higher 
education in each State annually of the availability of scholarships 
under this Act.

SEC. 5. SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT.

    (a) Amount of Award.--Except as provided in subsections (b) and 
(c), the amount of a scholarship awarded under this Act for any 
academic year shall be $5,000.
    (b) Relation to Cost of Attendance.--Notwithstanding subsection 
(a), the amount of a scholarship awarded under this Act shall be 
reduced by the amount that the scholarship exceeds the student's cost 
of attendance, as defined in section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 
1965. A scholarship awarded under this Act shall not be reduced on the 
basis of the student's receipt of other forms of Federal student 
financial assistance, but shall be taken into account in determining 
the eligibility of the student for those other forms of Federal student 
financial assistance.
    (c) Adjustments for Insufficient Appropriations.--In the event that 
funds available in a fiscal year are insufficient to fully fund all 
awards under this Act, the amount paid to each student shall be reduced 
proportionately.

SEC. 6. SUMMER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCHOLARS.

    (a) Priority for Summer Employment.--To the extent that they are 
otherwise qualified, students receiving scholarships under this Act 
shall be given priority consideration for federally financed summer 
employment in federally funded research and development centers, that, 
to the maximum extent practicable, complements and reinforces the 
educational program of these students.
    (b) Federal Agency Cooperation.--Federal agencies shall cooperate 
fully with the Secretary and participate actively in providing 
appropriate summer employment opportunities for such students.

SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this Act--
            (1) the term ``Director'' shall refer to the Director of 
        the National Science Foundation;
            (2) the term ``elementary school'' has the same meaning 
        given that term in section 14101(14) of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965;
            (3) the term ``institution of higher education'' has the 
        same meaning given that term in section 1201(a) of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965;
            (4) the term ``minorities'' refers to members of those 
        racial and ethnic groups underrepresented in mathematics, 
        science and engineering, including American Indians, Black 
        Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Alaskans, or Native 
        Pacific Islanders;
            (5) the term ``scholarship'' refers to a financial award 
        made to a student which enables a student to pursue a desired 
        course of study at an institution of higher education;
            (6) the term ``secondary school'' has the same meaning 
        given that term in section 14101(25) of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965; and
            (7) the term ``Secretary'' refers to the Secretary of the 
        Department of Education.
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