[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 255 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

<DOC>
115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 255


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 11, 2017

    Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
To authorize the National Science Foundation to support entrepreneurial 
                          programs for women.

    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 ``Promoting Women in Entrepreneurship 
Act''.

SEC. 2. 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 successful when women are in top 
        management positions; and
            (6) the National Science Foundation's mission includes 
        supporting women in STEM disciplines.

SEC. 3. 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) encourage its entrepreneurial programs to recruit 
        and support women to extend their focus beyond the laboratory 
        and into the commercial world.''.

            Passed the House of Representatives January 10, 2017.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.