[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 153 Reported in Senate (RS)]

<DOC>





                                                       Calendar No. 314
116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 153

                          [Report No. 116-164]

To promote veteran involvement in STEM education, computer science, and 
              scientific research, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 16, 2019

  Mr. Rubio (for himself, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Daines, Mr. Gardner, Mr. 
Rounds, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. 
  Peters, Mr. Cramer, and Mr. Hoeven) introduced the following bill; 
    which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation

                            December 5, 2019

               Reported by Mr. Wicker, with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
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,

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    This Act may be cited as the ``Supporting Veterans in STEM 
Careers Act''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    In this Act:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the 
        Director of the National Science Foundation.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Foundation.--The term ``Foundation'' means the 
        National Science Foundation.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Veteran.--The term ``veteran'' has the meaning 
        given the term in section 101 of title 38, United States 
        Code.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 3. SUPPORTING VETERANS IN STEM EDUCATION AND COMPUTER 
              SCIENCE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) report on the Foundation's existing outreach 
        activities;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in subsection (a)(5)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                ``and'' at the end;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the 
                period at the end and inserting ``; and''; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) by adding at the end the 
                following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) higher education programs that serve 
                or support veterans.'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in subsection (b)(2)(F)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) by striking ``and students'' and 
                inserting ``, students''; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) by inserting ``, and veterans'' before 
                the period at the end;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) in subsection (c)(2), by inserting ``and 
        veterans'' before the period at the end; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) in subsection (d)(2), by inserting ``and 
        veterans'' before the period at the end.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in paragraph (3)(F)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) by striking ``and individuals'' and 
                inserting ``, individuals''; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) by inserting ``, and veterans'' before 
                the period at the end; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in paragraph (4)(B), by inserting ``and 
        veterans'' before the period at the end.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``and students 
        who are veterans'' after ``these fields''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in paragraph (3)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in subparagraph (I), by striking 
                ``and'' at the end;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) by redesignating subparagraph (J) as 
                subparagraph (K); and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) by inserting after subparagraph (I) 
                the following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(J) creating opportunities for veterans 
                to transition to careers in computer and network 
                security; and''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (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''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (h) Veterans and Military Families STEM Education 
Interagency Working Group.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--The Director of the Office of 
        Science and Technology Policy shall establish an interagency 
        working group to coordinate Federal programs and policies for 
        transitioning and training veterans and military spouses for 
        STEM careers.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Duties of interagency working group.--The 
        interagency working group established under paragraph (1) 
        shall--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) coordinate any Federal agency STEM 
                outreach activities and programs for veterans and 
                military spouses; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) develop and facilitate the 
                implementation by participating agencies of a strategic 
                plan, which shall--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) specify and prioritize short- 
                        and long-term objectives;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) specify the common metrics 
                        that will be used by Federal agencies to assess 
                        progress toward achieving such 
                        objectives;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iii) 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;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iv) identify barriers military 
                        spouses face in establishing careers in STEM 
                        fields;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (v) describe the approaches that 
                        each participating agency will take to address 
                        administratively the barriers described in 
                        clauses (iii) and (iv); and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (vi) identify any barriers that 
                        require Federal or State legislative or 
                        regulatory changes in order to be 
                        addressed.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Duties of ostp.--The Director of the Office of 
        Science and Technology Policy shall encourage and monitor the 
        efforts of the Federal agencies participating in the 
        interagency working group to ensure that the strategic plan 
        required under paragraph (2)(B) is developed and executed 
        effectively and that the objectives of such strategic plan are 
        met.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Report.--The Director of the Office of Science 
        and Technology Policy shall--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) not later than 1 year after the date 
                of enactment of this Act, submit to Congress the 
                strategic plan required under paragraph (2)(B); 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (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)(B) of this 
                subsection.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) Sunset.--The interagency working group 
        established under paragraph (1) shall terminate on the date 
        that is 5 years after the date that it is 
        established.</DELETED>

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.
                                                       Calendar No. 314

116th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                                 S. 153

                          [Report No. 116-164]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

To promote veteran involvement in STEM education, computer science, and 
              scientific research, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                            December 5, 2019

                       Reported with an amendment