[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 137 (Monday, September 17, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H10373-H10375]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       ESTABLISHING A SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 1657) to establish a Science and Technology Scholarship Program 
to award scholarships to recruit and prepare students for careers in 
the National Weather Service and in National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration marine research, atmospheric research, and satellite 
programs.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1657

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

       (a) Establishment of Program.--
       (1) In general.--The Administrator is authorized to 
     establish a Science and Technology Scholarship Program to 
     award scholarships to individuals that is designed to recruit 
     and prepare students for careers in the National Weather 
     Service and in Administration marine research, atmospheric 
     research, and satellite programs.
       (2) Competitive process.--Individuals shall be selected to 
     receive scholarships under this section through a competitive 
     process primarily on the basis of academic merit, with 
     consideration given to financial need and the goal of 
     promoting the participation of individuals identified in 
     section 33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal 
     Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b).
       (3) Service agreements.--To carry out the scholarship 
     program, the Administrator shall enter into contractual 
     agreements with individuals selected under paragraph (2) 
     under which the individuals agree to serve as full-time 
     employees of the Administration, for the period described in 
     subsection (f)(1), in positions needed by the Administration 
     in fields described in paragraph (1) and for which the 
     individuals are qualified, in exchange for receiving a 
     scholarship.
       (b) Scholarship Eligibility.--In order to be eligible to 
     participate in the scholarship program, an individual shall--
       (1) be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a full-time 
     student at an institution of higher education in an academic 
     program or field of study described in the list made 
     available under subsection (d);
       (2) be a United States citizen or permanent resident; and
       (3) at the time of the initial scholarship award, not be a 
     Federal employee as defined in section 2105 of title 5 of the 
     United States Code.
       (c) Application Required.--An individual seeking a 
     scholarship under this section shall submit an application to 
     the Administrator at such time, in such manner, and 
     containing such information, agreements, or assurances as the 
     Administrator may require to carry out this section.
       (d) Eligible Academic Programs.--The Administrator shall 
     make publicly available a list of academic programs and 
     fields of study for which scholarships may be utilized in 
     fields described in subsection (a)(1), and shall update the 
     list as necessary.
       (e) Scholarship Requirement.--
       (1) In general.--The Administrator may provide a 
     scholarship under the scholarship program for an academic 
     year if the individual applying for the scholarship has 
     submitted to the Administrator, as part of the application 
     required under subsection (c), a

[[Page H10374]]

     proposed academic program leading to a degree in a program or 
     field of study on the list made available under subsection 
     (d).
       (2) Duration of eligibility.--An individual may not receive 
     a scholarship under this section for more than 4 academic 
     years, unless the Administrator grants a waiver.
       (3) Scholarship amount.--The dollar amount of a scholarship 
     under this section for an academic year shall be determined 
     under regulations issued by the Administrator, but shall in 
     no case exceed the cost of attendance.
       (4) Authorized uses.--A scholarship provided under this 
     section may be expended for tuition, fees, and other 
     authorized expenses as established by the Administrator by 
     regulation.
       (5) Contracts regarding direct payments to institutions.--
     The Administrator may enter into a contractual agreement with 
     an institution of higher education under which the amounts 
     provided for a scholarship under this section for tuition, 
     fees, and other authorized expenses are paid directly to the 
     institution with respect to which the scholarship is 
     provided.
       (f) Period of Obligated Service.--
       (1) Duration of service.--Except as provided in subsection 
     (h)(2), the period of service for which an individual shall 
     be obligated to serve as an employee of the Administration 
     shall be 24 months for each academic year for which a 
     scholarship under this section is provided.
       (2) Schedule for service.--
       (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B), 
     obligated service under paragraph (1) shall begin not later 
     than 60 days after the individual obtains the educational 
     degree for which the scholarship was provided.
       (B) Deferral.--The Administrator may defer the obligation 
     of an individual to provide a period of service under 
     paragraph (1) if the Administrator determines that such a 
     deferral is appropriate. The Administrator shall prescribe 
     the terms and conditions under which a service obligation may 
     be deferred through regulation.
       (g) Penalties for Breach of Scholarship Agreement.--
       (1) Failure to complete academic training.--Scholarship 
     recipients who fail to maintain a high level of academic 
     standing, as defined by the Administrator by regulation, who 
     are dismissed from their educational institutions for 
     disciplinary reasons, or who voluntarily terminate academic 
     training before graduation from the educational program for 
     which the scholarship was awarded, shall be in breach of 
     their contractual agreement and, in lieu of any service 
     obligation arising under such agreement, shall be liable to 
     the United States for repayment not later than 1 year after 
     the date of default of all scholarship funds paid to them and 
     to the institution of higher education on their behalf under 
     the agreement, except as provided in subsection (h)(2). The 
     repayment period may be extended by the Administrator when 
     determined to be necessary, as established by regulation.
       (2) Failure to begin or complete the service obligation or 
     meet the terms and conditions of deferment.--A scholarship 
     recipient who, for any reason, fails to begin or complete a 
     service obligation under this section after completion of 
     academic training, or fails to comply with the terms and 
     conditions of deferment established by the Administrator 
     pursuant to subsection (f)(2)(B), shall be in breach of the 
     contractual agreement. When a recipient breaches an agreement 
     for the reasons stated in the preceding sentence, the 
     recipient shall be liable to the United States for an amount 
     equal to--
       (A) the total amount of scholarships received by such 
     individual under this section; plus
       (B) the interest on the amounts of such awards which would 
     be payable if at the time the awards were received they were 
     loans bearing interest at the maximum legal prevailing rate, 
     as determined by the Treasurer of the United States.
       (h) Waiver or Suspension of Obligation.--
       (1) Death of individual.--Any obligation of an individual 
     incurred under the scholarship program (or a contractual 
     agreement thereunder) for service or payment shall be 
     canceled upon the death of the individual.
       (2) Impossibility or extreme hardship.--The Administrator 
     shall by regulation provide for the partial or total waiver 
     or suspension of any obligation of service or payment 
     incurred by an individual under the scholarship program (or a 
     contractual agreement thereunder) whenever compliance by the 
     individual is impossible or would involve extreme hardship to 
     the individual, or if enforcement of such obligation with 
     respect to the individual would be contrary to the best 
     interests of the Government.
       (i) Definitions.--In this Act the following definitions 
     apply:
       (1) Administration.--The term ``Administration'' means the 
     National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
       (2) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
     Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration.
       (3) Cost of attendance.--The term ``cost of attendance'' 
     has the meaning given that term in section 472 of the Higher 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087ll).
       (4) Institution of higher education.--The term 
     ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given 
     that term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 
     1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
       (5) Scholarship program.--The term ``scholarship program'' 
     means the Science and Technology Scholarship Program 
     established under this section.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Hill) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Indiana.


                             General Leave

  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous material on H.R. 1657, the bill now under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Indiana?
  There was no objection.

                              {time}  1415

  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of H.R. 1657, legislation that establishes a 
science and technology scholarship program. This program will award 
scholarships to recruit and prepare students for careers at the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, better known as NOAA, 
related to weather, atmospheric, marine, and satellite research.
  There is a growing concern that too few American students pursue 
science, math, and engineering degrees. H.R. 1657 provides incentives 
to study in these areas and go on to work at NOAA. The bill is based 
upon the Robert Noyce Scholarship program at the National Science 
Foundation.
  I applaud the foresight of my colleague, Representative Rohrabacher, 
in introducing this important legislation, and I urge my colleagues to 
support this bill on the floor today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, is the 
Nation's lead agency charged with conserving and managing our coastal 
and oceanic resources. NOAA also plays a vital role in public safety 
through the programs of the National Weather Service to issue weather 
forecasts and warnings. We must ensure that NOAA has the resources it 
needs to meet its statutory responsibilities and to accomplish its 
resource management, marine and atmospheric research, and public safety 
missions.
  H.R. 1657 establishes a science and technology scholarship program to 
recruit and prepare students for careers at the National Weather 
Service and at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 
This scholarship program would provide assistance through a competitive 
process based on academic merit to those students who desire careers in 
weather forecasting, marine, or atmospheric research or satellite 
program.
  Similar to other Federal incentive programs, this scholarship program 
would require participants to enter into contractual agreements working 
at either the National Weather Service or NOAA for 2 years for each 
year of scholarship money they receive. This two-for-one condition is 
beneficial for both the government and the students in that it 
guarantees that highly educated individuals will be working and gaining 
experience at vital national organizations, particularly at a time when 
our most experienced scientists and researchers begin to retire. 
Institutional knowledge will be passed on from one generation to the 
next, and young scientists will gain the experience needed should they 
choose to leave government service for the private sector.
  Mr. Speaker, at a time when our Nation is about to be short on 
educated and qualified scientists, we cannot ignore the benefits that 
this bill will provide. I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 
1657.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hill) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 1657.

[[Page H10375]]

  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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