[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8251 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8251

    To authorize the National Science Foundation to make awards to 
   institutions of higher education and non-profit organizations for 
  research, development, and related activities to advance innovative 
   approaches to developing, improving, and expanding evidence-based 
  microelectronics education and workforce development activities and 
    learning experiences at all levels of education, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 28, 2022

 Ms. Stevens (for herself, Mr. Waltz, Mr. Kildee, and Mr. Gonzalez of 
    Ohio) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
  Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the 
   Committee on Education and Labor, 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 authorize the National Science Foundation to make awards to 
   institutions of higher education and non-profit organizations for 
  research, development, and related activities to advance innovative 
   approaches to developing, improving, and expanding evidence-based 
  microelectronics education and workforce development activities and 
    learning experiences at all levels of education, 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 ``Creating Helpful Initiatives to 
Produce Personnel In Needed Growth INdustries Act of 2022'' or the 
``CHIPPING IN Act of 2022''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) While microelectronics are a primary driver of economic 
        growth and scientific advancement, the United States has lost 
        much of its capacity to design and manufacture, test, and 
        package microelectronics and microelectronics systems 
        domestically.
            (2) Current educational and vocational training 
        opportunities are insufficient to meet the domestic 
        microelectronics industry workforce needs. The deficit between 
        open jobs and qualified workers is projected to grow as design 
        and manufacturing activities increase.
            (3) Growth in microelectronics design and manufacturing 
        capabilities may be limited by a lack of qualified workers.
            (4) The United States education pathways for 
        microelectronics faces significant challenges, from a lack of 
        gender and racial diversity to an inability of universities and 
        community colleges to attract and retain faculty and other 
        instructors qualified to teach microelectronics.
            (5) Students often fail to get the hands-on training they 
        need to succeed in microelectronics careers, especially at the 
        community or technical college level.
            (6) Skilled technical jobs in the manufacturing industry 
        and in the microelectronics design industry are well-suited for 
        apprenticeship and other paid training models, however 
        prospective participants must have adequate STEM training.
            (7) The microelectronics industry suffers from a lack of 
        awareness and visibility as pre-college students, students 
        pursuing STEM degrees, technical workers, and doctorate-level 
        researchers seek employment in other industries.
            (8) Lack of access to co-located design and fabrication 
        facilities, including attendant software licensing issues is a 
        deterrent for United States competitiveness and workforce 
        development.
            (9) In order to help drive forward advances in 
        microelectronics and increase domestic microelectronics design 
        and manufacturing capability, the Federal Government must 
        provide sufficient resources and use its convening power to 
        facilitate the growth of microelectronics talent in academia, 
        the Federal Government, and the microelectronics industry.

SEC. 3. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION MICROELECTRONICS EDUCATION 
              ACTIVITIES.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the National Science Foundation.
            (2) Foundation.--The term ``Foundation'' means the National 
        Science Foundation.
            (3) Historically black college or university.--The term 
        ``historically Black college or university'' has the meaning 
        given the term ``part B institution'' in section 322 of the 
        Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061).
            (4) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001(a)).
            (5) K-12 education.--The term ``K-12 education'' means 
        elementary school and secondary education, as such terms are 
        defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (6) Labor organization.--The term ``labor organization'' 
        has the meaning given the term in paragraph (5) of section 2 of 
        the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 152), except that 
        such term shall also include--
                    (A) any organization composed of labor 
                organizations, such as a labor union federation or a 
                State or municipal labor body; and
                    (B) any organization which would be included in the 
                definition of such term under such paragraph (5) but 
                for the fact the organization represents--
                            (i) individuals employed by the United 
                        States, any wholly owned Government 
                        corporation, any Federal Reserve Bank, or any 
                        State or political subdivision thereof;
                            (ii) individuals employed by persons 
                        subject to the Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 151 
                        et seq.); or
                            (iii) individuals employed as agricultural 
                        laborers.
            (7) Minority-serving institution.--The term ``minority-
        serving institution'' means--
                    (A) a Hispanic-serving institution (as such term is 
                defined in section 502 of the Higher Education Act of 
                1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a));
                    (B) an Alaska Native-serving institution and Native 
                Hawaiian-serving institution (as such terms are defined 
                in section 317 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 1059d)); and
                    (C) Predominantly Black institutions, Asian 
                American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving 
                Institutions, and Native American-serving Nontribal 
                Institutions (as such terms are defined in section 371 
                of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                1067q(c))).
            (8) Tribal college or university.--The term ``Tribal 
        College or University'' has the meaning given the term ``Tribal 
        College or University'' in section 316 of the Higher Education 
        Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c).
            (9) STEM.--The term ``STEM'' means the academic and 
        professional disciplines of science, technology, engineering, 
        and mathematics, including computer science.
            (10) Microelectronics.--The term ``microelectronics'' means 
        semiconductors and related materials, processing chemistries, 
        design, fabrication, manufacturing, lithography, packaging, 
        sensors, devices, integrated circuits, processors, computing 
        architectures, modeling and simulation, software tools, and 
        related technologies.
    (b) National Science Foundation Microelectronics Education 
Activities.--
            (1) In general.--The Director shall make awards to 
        institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations, or 
        consortia thereof, for research, development, and related 
        activities to advance innovative approaches to developing, 
        improving, and expanding evidence-based education and workforce 
        development activities and learning experiences at all levels 
        of education in fields and disciplines related to 
        microelectronics.
            (2) Purposes.--Activities carried out under this section 
        shall be for the purpose of supporting the growth, retention, 
        and development of a diverse, flexible, and sustainable 
        microelectronics workforce that meets the evolving needs of 
        industry, academia, and Federal laboratories.
            (3) Uses of funds.--Awards made under this subsection shall 
        be used for the following:
                    (A) To develop curricula and teaching modules for 
                topics relevant to microelectronics, including those 
                modules that provide meaningful hands-on learning 
                experiences, including at the K-12 education level.
                    (B) To disseminate materials developed pursuant to 
                subparagraph (A), including through the creation and 
                maintenance of a publicly accessible database.
                    (C) To implement training, research, and 
                professional development programs for teachers, 
                including innovative pre-service and in-service 
                programs, in microelectronics and related fields.
                    (D) To support learning activities that provide 
                physical, simulated, or remote access to training 
                facilities and industry-standard processes and tools, 
                including equipment and software for the design, 
                development, and manufacture of microelectronics.
                    (E) To increase the integration of microelectronics 
                content into STEM curricula at all education levels.
                    (F) To provide informal hands-on learning 
                opportunities for K-12 students in microelectronics, 
                including competitions.
                    (G) To carry out such other activities as the 
                Director determines appropriate.
            (4) Advanced microelectronics traineeships.--
                    (A) In general.--The Director shall make awards to 
                institutions of higher education and non-profit 
                organizations (or consortia of such institutions and 
                organizations) to establish traineeship programs for 
                graduate students who pursue microelectronics research 
                leading to a masters or doctorate degree by providing 
                funding and other assistance, and by providing graduate 
                students with opportunities for research experiences in 
                government or industry related to such students' 
                microelectronics studies.
                    (B) Use of funds.--An institution of higher 
                education or non-profit organizations (or consortia of 
                such institutions and organizations) shall use award 
                funds provided under subparagraph (A) for the following 
                purposes:
                            (i) Paying tuition and fees, and providing 
                        stipends, for students receiving traineeships 
                        who are citizens, nationals, or aliens lawfully 
                        admitted for permanent residence.
                            (ii) Facilitating opportunities for 
                        scientific internship programs for students 
                        receiving traineeships in microelectronics at 
                        private industry, non-profit research 
                        institutions, or Federal laboratories.
                            (iii) Such other costs associated with the 
                        administration of the program.
            (5) Microelectronics research experiences through existing 
        programs.--The Director shall seek to increase opportunities 
        for microelectronics research for students and trainees at all 
        levels by encouraging proposals in microelectronics through 
        existing programs, including the following:
                    (A) Research experiences for undergraduates 
                pursuant to section 514 of the America COMPETES 
                Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p-6).
                    (B) Postdoctoral fellowship programs established 
                pursuant to section 522 of the America COMPETES Act of 
                2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p-11).
                    (C) Graduate fellowships established pursuant to 
                section 10 of the National Science Foundation Act of 
                1950 (42 U.S.C. 1869).
                    (D) Informal STEM education programs established 
                pursuant to section 3 of the STEM Education Act of 2015 
                (42 U.S.C. 1862q).
                    (E) The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program 
                established pursuant to section 10 of the National 
                Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 
                1862n-1).
                    (F) Major research instrumentation programs 
                established pursuant to section 7036 of the America 
                COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 1862o-14).
                    (G) Scientific and technical education programs 
                established pursuant to section 3 of the Scientific and 
                Advanced-Technology Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 1862i).
            (6) Industry partnerships.--In carrying out the activities 
        under this subsection, the Director shall encourage awardees to 
        partner with industry and other private sector organizations to 
        facilitate the expansion of workforce pipelines and enable 
        access to industry-standard equipment and software for use in 
        undergraduate and graduate microelectronics education programs.
            (7) Interagency coordination.--The Director shall 
        collaborate with the Subcommittee on Microelectronics 
        Leadership of the National Science and Technology Council, 
        established pursuant to section 9906(a) of the William M. (Mac) 
        Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
        2021 (Public Law 116-283; 15 U.S.C. 4656), to maintain the 
        effectiveness of microelectronics workforce development 
        activities across the agencies.
    (c) National Network for Microelectronics Education.--
            (1) In general.--The Director shall, on a competitive, 
        merit-reviewed basis, make awards to institutions of higher 
        education and non-profit organizations (or consortia of such 
        institutions and organizations) to establish partnerships to 
        enhance and broaden participation in microelectronics 
        education.
            (2) Activities.--Awards made under this subsection shall be 
        used for the following:
                    (A) To conduct training and education activities, 
                including curricula design, development, dissemination, 
                and assessment, and share information and best 
                practices across the network of awardees.
                    (B) To develop regional partnerships among 
                associate-degree-granting colleges, bachelor-degree-
                granting institutions, workforce development programs, 
                labor organizations, and industry to create a diverse 
                national technical workforce trained in 
                microelectronics and ensure education and training is 
                meeting the evolving needs of industry.
                    (C) To facilitate partnerships with employers, 
                employer consortia or other private sector 
                organizations that offer apprenticeships, internships, 
                or applied learning experiences in the field of 
                microelectronics.
                    (D) To develop shared infrastructure available to 
                institutions of higher education, two-year colleges, 
                and private organizations to enable experiential 
                learning activities and provide physical or digital 
                access to training facilities and industry-standard 
                tools and processes.
                    (E) To create and disseminate public outreach to 
                support awareness of microelectronics education and 
                career opportunities, including through outreach to K-
                12 schools and STEM-related organizations.
                    (F) To collaborate and coordinate with industry and 
                existing public and private organizations conducting 
                microelectronics education and workforce development 
                activities, as practicable.
            (3) National network for microelectronics education.--The 
        Director shall make an award to an organization to establish a 
        national network of partnerships (referred to in this section 
        as the ``National Network for Microelectronics Education'') to 
        coordinate activities, best practice sharing, and access to 
        facilities across the partnerships established in accordance 
        with paragraph (1).
            (4) Incentivizing participation.--To the extent 
        practicable, the Director shall encourage participation in the 
        National Network for Microelectronics Education under paragraph 
        (3) through the coordination of activities and distribution of 
        awards described in subsection (b).
            (5) Partnerships.--The Director shall encourage the 
        submission of proposals that are led by historically Black 
        colleges and universities, Tribal Colleges or Universities, and 
        minority-serving institutions or that include partnerships with 
        or among such institutions to increase the recruitment of 
        students from groups historically underrepresented in STEM to 
        pursue graduate studies in microelectronics.
            (6) Outreach.--In addition to any other requirements as 
        determined appropriate by the Director, the Director shall 
        require that proposals for awards under this subsection shall 
        include a description of how the applicant will develop and 
        implement outreach activities to increase the participation of 
        women and other students from groups historically 
        underrepresented in STEM.
            (7) Coordination across foundation programs.--In carrying 
        out the activities under this subsection, the Director shall 
        ensure awardees coordinate with, and avoid unnecessary 
        duplication of, activities carried out pursuant to the 21st 
        Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (Public Law 
        108-153), the National Quantum Initiative Act (Public Law 115-
        368), the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 
        2020 (enacted as division E of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry 
        National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public 
        Law 116-283)), and other related programs, as appropriate.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $250,000,000 to the Foundation for fiscal years 2023 
through 2027 to carry out this section.
                                 <all>