[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 28, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11290-S11291]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KENNEDY (for himself and Mr. Kerry):
  S. 1322. A bill to establish doctoral fellowships designed to 
increase the pool of scientists and engineers trained specifically to 
address the global energy and environmental challenges of the 21st 
century; to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources.


               THE SENATOR PAUL E. TSONGAS FELLOWSHIP ACT

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, it is a privilege to introduce the Paul 
E. Tsongas Fellowship Act. This bill commemorates an outstanding leader 
and former colleague in the Senate who was an impressive and dedicated 
advocate of technology and environmental protection. Congressman Joe 
Kennedy is the sponsor of a companion bill in the House of 
Representatives.
  As a Senator, Paul Tsongas worked skillfully to guarantee that 
technology and environmental concerns are at the forefront of our 
country's priorities. He was an extraordinary leader who understood the 
importance of addressing the serious energy and environmental 
challenges we face at home and around the world. Today, we honor his 
commitment to these important priorities by proposing a national 
fellowship program to support graduate students in science and 
engineering.
  As a nation, we need to do more to encourage the best students to 
pursue graduate studies in these basic fields, which are so essential 
to a strong future for the Nation. As much as 50 percent of economic 
growth is attributed to technological innovation. The Paul E. Tsongas 
Fellowship will support the modern pioneers who will keep the Nation at 
the cutting edge of the technology revolution.
  The fellowship is modeled on the successful Office of Naval Research 
Graduate Fellowship Program, which over the past 15 years has provided 
fellowships to 592 graduate students in 11 disciplines, and has made 
significant contributions to research. The Tsongas fellowships in 
science and engineering can

[[Page S11291]]

make a comparable contribution in these fields. They will enhance our 
efforts to improve educational opportunity for students, and strengthen 
our country's economy by investing wisely in the future.
  The Tsongas fellowships will be a living memorial to one of the 
outstanding Senators of our time, and I hope that Congress will act 
quickly on this important legislation.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1322

       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 ``Paul E. Tsongas Fellowship 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.

       It is the purpose of this Act to encourage individuals of 
     exceptional achievement and promise, especially members of 
     traditionally underrepresented groups, to pursue careers in 
     fields that confront the global energy and environmental 
     challenges of the 21st century.

     SEC. 3. DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS AUTHORIZED.

       (a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary of Energy is 
     authorized to award doctoral fellowships, to be known as Paul 
     E. Tsongas Doctoral Fellowships, in accordance with the 
     provisions of this Act for study and research in fields of 
     science or engineering that relate to energy or the 
     environment such as physics, mathematics, chemistry, biology, 
     computer science, materials science, environmental science, 
     behavioral science, and social sciences at institutions 
     proposed by applicants for such fellowships.
       (b) Period of Award.--A fellowship under this section shall 
     be awarded for a period of three succeeding academic years, 
     beginning with the commencement of a program of doctoral 
     study.
       (c) Fellowship Portability.--Each Fellow shall be entitled 
     to use the fellowship in a graduate program at any accredited 
     institution of higher education in which the recipient may 
     decide to enroll.
       (d) Number of Fellowships.--As many fellowships as may be 
     fully funded according to this Act shall be awarded each 
     year.
       (e) Designation of Fellows.--Each individual awarded a 
     fellowship under this Act shall be known as a ``Paul E. 
     Tsongas Fellow'' (hereinafter in this Act referred to as a 
     ``Fellow'').

     SEC. 4. ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION OF FELLOWS.

       (a) Eligibility--Only United States citizens are eligible 
     to receive awards under this Act.
       (b)  Fellowship Board.--
       (1) Appointment.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
     Director of the National Science Foundation, shall appoint a 
     Paul E. Tsongas Fellowship Board (hereinafter in this part 
     referred to as the ``Board'') consisting of 5 representatives 
     of the academic science and engineering communities who are 
     especially qualified to serve on the Board. The Secretary 
     shall assure that individuals appointed to the Board are 
     broadly knowledgeable about and have experience in graduate 
     education in relevant fields.
       (2) Duties.--The Board shall--
       (A) establish general policies for the program established 
     by this part and oversee its operation;
       (B) establish general criteria for awarding fellowships;
       (C) award fellowships; and
       (D) prepare and submit to the Congress at least once in 
     every 3-year period a report on any modifications in the 
     program that the Board determines are appropriate.
       (4) Term.--The term of office of each member of the Board 
     shall be 3 years, except that any member appointed to fill a 
     vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the term for which 
     the predecessor of the member was appointed. No member may 
     serve for a period in excess of 6 years.
       (5) Initial meeting; vacancy.--The Secretary shall call the 
     first meeting of the Board, at which the first order of 
     business shall be the election of a Chairperson and a Vice 
     Chairperson, who shall serve until 1 year after the date of 
     their appointment. Thereafter each officer shall be elected 
     for a term of 2 years. In case a vacancy occurs in either 
     office, the Board shall elect an individual from among the 
     members of the Board to fill such vacancy.
       (6) Quorum; additional meetings.--(A) A majority of the 
     members of the Board shall constitute a quorum.
       (B) The Board shall meet at least once a year or more 
     frequently, as may be necessary, to carry out its 
     responsibilities.
       (7) Compensation.--Members of the Board, while serving on 
     the business of the Board, shall be entitled to receive 
     compensation at rates fixed by the Secretary, but not 
     exceeding the rate of basic pay payable for level IV of the 
     Executive Schedule, including traveltime, and while so 
     serving away from their homes or regular places of business, 
     they may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in 
     lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 
     5, United States Code, for persons in Government service 
     employed intermittently.
       (c) Underrepresented Groups.--In designing selection 
     criteria and awarding fellowships, the Board shall--
       (1) consider the need to prepare a larger number of women 
     and individuals from minority groups, especially from among 
     such groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in 
     the professional and academic fields referred to in section 
     2, but nothing contained in this or any other provision of 
     this Act shall be interpreted to require the Secretary to 
     grant any preference or disparate treatment to the members of 
     any underrepresented group; and
       (2) take into account the need to expand access by women 
     and minority groups to careers heretofore lacking adequate 
     representation of women and minority groups.

     SEC. 5. PAYMENTS, STIPENDS, TUITION, AND EDUCATION AWARDS.

       (a) Amount of Award.--
       (1) Stipends.--The Secretary shall pay to each individual 
     awarded a fellowship under this Act a stipend in the amount 
     of $15,000, $16,500, and $18,000 during the first, second, 
     and third years of study, respectively.
       (2) Tuition.--The Secretary shall pay to the appropriate 
     institution an amount adequate to cover the tuition, fees, 
     and health insurance of each individual awarded a fellowship 
     under this Act.
       (3) Administrative and Travel Allowance.--The Secretary 
     shall pay to each host institution an annual $5,000 allowance 
     for the purpose of covering--
       (A) administrative expenses;
       (B) travel expenses associated with Fellow participation in 
     academic seminars or conferences approved by the host 
     institution; and
       (C) round-trip travel expenses associated with Fellow 
     participation in the internship required by section 6 of this 
     Act.

     SEC. 6. REQUIREMENT.

       Each Fellow shall participate in a 3-month internship 
     related to the dissertation topic of the Fellow at a national 
     laboratory or equivalent industrial laboratory as approved by 
     the host institution.

     SEC. 7. FELLOWSHIP CONDITIONS.

       (a) Academic Progress Required.--No student shall receive 
     support pursuant to an award under this Act--
       (1) except during periods in which such student is 
     maintaining satisfactory progress in, and devoting 
     essentially full time to, study or research in the field in 
     which such fellowship was awarded, or
       (2) if the student is engaging in gainful employment other 
     than part-time employment involved in teaching, research, or 
     similar activities determined by the institution to be in 
     support of the student's progress toward a degree.
       (b) Reports From Recipients.--The Secretary is authorized 
     to require reports containing such information in such form 
     and filed at such times as the Secretary determines necessary 
     from any person awarded a fellowship under the provisions of 
     this Act. The reports shall be accompanied by a certificate 
     from an appropriate official at the institution of higher 
     education, or other research center, stating that such 
     individual is fulfilling the requirements of this section.
       (c) Failure To Earn Degree.--A recipient of a fellowship 
     under this Act found by the Secretary to have failed in or 
     abandoned the course of study for which assistance was 
     provided under this Act may be required, at the discretion of 
     the Secretary, to repay a pro rata amount of such fellowship 
     assistance received, plus interest and, where applicable, 
     reasonable collection fees, on a schedule and at a rate of 
     interest to be prescribed by the Secretary by regulations 
     issued pursuant to this Act.

     SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated for this Act 
     $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1998 and such sums as may be 
     necessary for the succeeding fiscal years.

     SEC. 9. APPLICATION OF GENERAL EDUCATIONAL PROVISIONS ACT.

       Section 421 of the General Educational Provisions Act, 
     pertaining to the availability of funds, shall apply to this 
     Act.

     SEC. 10. DEFINITIONS.

       For purposes of this Act--
       (1) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Energy.
       (2) The term ``host institution'' means an institution 
     where a Paul E. Tsongas Fellow is enrolled for the purpose of 
     pursuing doctoral studies for which support is provided under 
     this Act.
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