[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 153 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 153
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To promote veteran involvement in STEM education, computer science, and
scientific research, and for other purposes.
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 ``Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers
Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
the National Science Foundation.
(2) Foundation.--The term ``Foundation'' means the National
Science Foundation.
(3) STEM.--The term ``STEM'' has the meaning given the term
in section 2 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of
2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621 note).
(4) Veteran.--The term ``veteran'' has the meaning given
the term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
SEC. 3. SUPPORTING VETERANS IN STEM EDUCATION AND COMPUTER SCIENCE.
(a) Supporting Veteran Involvement in Scientific Research and STEM
Education.--The Director shall, through the research and education
activities of the Foundation, encourage veterans to study and pursue
careers in STEM and computer science, in coordination with other
Federal agencies that serve veterans.
(b) Veteran Outreach Plan.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit to the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a plan
for how the Foundation can enhance its outreach efforts to veterans.
Such plan shall--
(1) report on the Foundation's existing outreach
activities;
(2) identify the best method for the Foundation to leverage
existing authorities and programs to facilitate and support
veterans in STEM careers and studies, including teaching
programs; and
(3) include options for how the Foundation could track
veteran participation in research and education programs of the
Foundation, and describe any barriers to collecting such
information.
(c) National Science Board Indicators Report.--The National Science
Board shall provide in its annual report on indicators of the state of
science and engineering in the United States any available and relevant
data on veterans in science and engineering careers or education
programs.
(d) Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program Update.--Section 10 of
the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C.
1862n-1) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(5)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) higher education programs that serve or
support veterans.'';
(2) in subsection (b)(2)(F)--
(A) by striking ``and students'' and inserting ``,
students''; and
(B) by inserting ``, and veterans'' before the
period at the end;
(3) in subsection (c)(2), by inserting ``and veterans''
before the period at the end; and
(4) in subsection (d)(2), by inserting ``and veterans''
before the period at the end.
(e) National Science Foundation Teaching Fellowships and Master
Teaching Fellowships Update.--Section 10A(d) of the National Science
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-1a(d)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (3)(F)--
(A) by striking ``and individuals'' and inserting
``, individuals''; and
(B) by inserting ``, and veterans'' before the
period at the end; and
(2) in paragraph (4)(B), by inserting ``and veterans''
before the period at the end.
(f) National Science Foundation Computer and Network Security
Capacity Building Grants Update.--Section 5(a) of the Cyber Security
Research and Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7404(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``and students who are
veterans'' after ``these fields''; and
(2) in paragraph (3)--
(A) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (J) as
subparagraph (K); and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (I) the
following:
``(J) creating opportunities for veterans to
transition to careers in computer and network security;
and''.
(g) Graduate Traineeships in Computer and Network Security Research
Update.--Section 5(c)(6)(C) of the Cyber Security Research and
Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7404(c)(6)(C)) is amended by inserting ``or
veterans'' after ``disciplines''.
(h) Veterans and Military Families STEM Education Interagency
Working Group.--
(1) In general.--The Director of the Office of Science and
Technology Policy shall establish, or designate, an interagency
working group to improve veteran and military spouse equity and
representation in STEM fields.
(2) Duties of interagency working group.--An interagency
working group established under paragraph (1) shall develop and
facilitate the implementation by participating agencies of a
strategic plan, which shall--
(A) specify and prioritize short- and long-term
objectives;
(B) specify the common metrics that will be used by
Federal agencies to assess progress toward achieving
such objectives;
(C) identify barriers veterans face in reentering
the workforce, including a lack of formal STEM
education, career guidance, and the process of
transferring military credits and skills to college
credits;
(D) identify barriers military spouses face in
establishing careers in STEM fields;
(E) describe the approaches that each participating
agency will take to address administratively the
barriers described in subparagraphs (C) and (D); and
(F) identify any barriers that require Federal or
State legislative or regulatory changes in order to be
addressed.
(3) Report.--The Director of the Office of Science and
Technology Policy shall--
(A) not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, submit to Congress the strategic
plan required under paragraph (2); and
(B) include in the annual report required by
section 101(d) of the America COMPETES Reauthorization
Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621(d)) a description of any
progress made in carrying out the activities described
in paragraph (2) of this subsection.
(4) Sunset.--An interagency working group established under
paragraph (1) shall terminate on the date that is 3 years after
the date that it is established.
SEC. 4. COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES STUDY AND REPORT ON
BARRIERS FACED BY STUDENT VETERANS PURSUING DEGREES IN
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, OR MATH.
(a) Study.--Not later than August 1, 2022, the Comptroller General
of the United States shall complete a study on academic success rates
of student veterans pursuing covered degrees and barriers faced by such
students in pursuing such degrees.
(b) Elements.--The study required by subsection (a) shall include
the following:
(1) Assessment of available information on the percentage
or number of student veterans pursuing a covered degree with
educational assistance furnished under chapter 33 of title 38,
United States Code.
(2) Assessment of available information on the percentage
or number of such students who pursue a covered degree and do
not obtain such degree in four or fewer academic years.
(3) Identification of the reasons that such students do not
obtain such degree in four or fewer academic years and whether
such reasons are barriers to obtaining such degrees.
(4) Development of recommendations for legislative or
administrative action to better align the educational
assistance furnished under chapter 33 of title 38, United
States Code, with the needs of such students and address the
reasons identified under paragraph (3).
(c) Report.--Not later than August 1, 2022, the Comptroller General
shall submit to Congress a report on the findings of the Comptroller
General with respect to the study completed under subsection (a), along
with recommendations for such legislative or administrative action as
the Comptroller General considers appropriate.
(d) Definition of Covered Degree.--In this section, the term
``covered degree'' means a standard, undergraduate college degree in a
field listed under section 3320(b)(4)(A)(i) of title 38, United States
Code.
Passed the Senate December 18, 2019.
Attest:
Secretary.
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 153
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To promote veteran involvement in STEM education, computer science, and
scientific research, and for other purposes.