[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4030 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4030

 To establish the Congressional Medal for Outstanding Contributions in 
 Math and Science Education program to recognize private entities for 
 their outstanding contributions to elementary and secondary science, 
          technology, engineering, and mathematics education.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 25, 2004

  Mr. Smith of Michigan (for himself and Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of 
    Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                          Committee on Science

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To establish the Congressional Medal for Outstanding Contributions in 
 Math and Science Education program to recognize private entities for 
 their outstanding contributions to elementary and secondary science, 
          technology, engineering, and mathematics education.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Congressional Medal for Outstanding 
Contributions in Math and Science Education Act of 2004''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the National Science Foundation.
            (2) Elementary school and secondary school.--The terms 
        ``elementary school'' and ``secondary school'' have the meaning 
        given those terms in section 9101 of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.

    The Director shall establish a Congressional Medal for Outstanding 
Contributions in Math and Science Education program, which shall be 
designed to--
            (1) recognize private entities for outstanding efforts 
        supporting elementary and secondary schools in improving 
        student achievement in science, technology, engineering, and 
        mathematics;
            (2) encourage private entities to support elementary and 
        secondary schools to improve and underscore the importance of 
        science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education; 
        and
            (3) make information about medal recipients available to 
        schools, institutions of higher education, educators, parents, 
        administrators, policymakers, researchers, public and private 
        entities, and the general public.

SEC. 4. MEDALS.

    (a) Finalists.--Beginning not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director shall annually name as finalists 
for medals under this Act--
            (1) not more than 20 private entities with more than 500 
        employees; and
            (2) not more than 20 private entities with 500 or fewer 
        employees.
Each finalist shall receive a citation describing the basis for the 
entity achieving status as a finalist.
    (b) Medal Winners.--Beginning not later than 2 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, from among finalists named under subsection 
(a), the Director shall annually award medals under this Act to--
            (1) not more than 5 private entities with more than 500 
        employees; and
            (2) not more than 5 private entities with 500 or fewer 
        employees.
    (c) Distribution of Information.--(1) The Director shall distribute 
information about the Congressional Medal for Outstanding Contributions 
in Math and Science Education recipients under this Act in a timely and 
efficient manner (including through the use of a searchable online 
database) to schools, institutions of higher education, educators, 
parents, administrators, policymakers, researchers, public and private 
entities, and the general public.
    (2) An entity that is a finalist or receives a medal under this 
section may use such information for advertising and other publicity 
purposes.

SEC. 5. ELIGIBILITY.

    Any private entity that has, whether working alone or in 
partnership with for-profit or nonprofit entities, assisted students, 
teachers, administrators, or other support staff to improve student 
achievement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in a 
school or community shall be eligible to receive a medal under section 
4. The entity must have been involved in such activities in a sustained 
manner for at least 2 years with at least one elementary or secondary 
school.

SEC. 6. APPLICATION.

    The Director shall establish a system for accepting applications 
from entities seeking to be considered for a medal under this Act. 
Applications shall include at least two letters of support, which may 
come from teachers, professional support staff, administrators, 
professional or business organizations, local, county, or State 
Departments of Education, or any other category of persons as 
designated by the Director. Letters of support shall describe the 
reasons the entity deserves the medal.

SEC. 7. SELECTION.

    In selecting entities to receive medals under this Act, the 
Director shall give priority consideration to evidence of improved 
student achievement in science, technology, engineering, or 
mathematics. In addition to any other criteria the Director may 
establish, the Director shall also consider the following:
            (1) Evidence of innovative approaches to increase interest 
        by students in science, technology, engineering, and 
        mathematics, such as an increase in the number of students 
        enrolled in advanced courses related to such fields.
            (2) Evidence of employee interaction with students or 
        teachers to support and improve mathematics and science 
        learning.
            (3) Evidence of success in positively influencing student 
        attitudes and promoting education and career opportunities in 
        science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
            (4) Evidence of successful outreach to students, parents, 
        and the community regarding the importance of mathematics and 
        science education to the Nation's prosperity, job creation, and 
        standard of living, as well as future earning potential for the 
        individual.
            (5) Evidence of a strong and sustained commitment to the 
        students and schools.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    For each of fiscal years 2005 through 2007, there are authorized to 
be appropriated to the National Science Foundation such sums as may be 
necessary for carrying out this Act, to be derived from amounts 
authorized by the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 
2002.
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