[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 122 (Thursday, July 24, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7287-S7289]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. LIEBERMAN (for himself and Mr. Coleman):
  S. 3324. A bill to provide leadership regarding science, technology, 
engineering, and mathematics education programs, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, the United States has been the most 
innovative, technologically capable economy in the world. Yet our 
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, STEM, education 
system is failing to ensure that children in our great Nation are 
entering the workforce with the skills and knowledge required for 
success in the global economy of the 21st century. Meanwhile, the rest 
of the world is catching up. I rise today on behalf of myself and 
Senator Coleman to introduce the Science, Technology, Engineering, and 
Mathematics Education for the 21st Century Act. This legislation seeks 
to promote and coordinate existing science and technology education 
efforts and to improve the communication among various stakeholders so 
that tomorrow's workforce will be prepared to continue the American 
tradition of innovation and enterprise. There are three pieces to this 
legislation, which is based largely on the recommendations found in the 
National Science Board's action plan on STEM education.
  First, this legislation charters a new, independent, and non-Federal 
National Council for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics 
Education, which will coordinate and facilitate STEM education 
initiatives across the Nation and inform policymakers and the public on 
the state of STEM education across the United States. This council will 
be housed in the National Academy of Sciences and will have a Board of 
Directors comprised of representatives from the various State and local 
governments, organizations, businesses, and industries that have a 
stake in the success of STEM education. This includes current and 
former governors, chief State school officers, representatives from 
local school boards, classroom teachers, school administrators, 
representatives from institutions of higher education, private 
foundations, and representatives of businesses and industries.
  Much of the innovation and success in improving STEM education 
throughout the country is being done locally, in the State's counties, 
and school systems, often partnering with businesses and industry in 
need of a STEM-educated workforce. The Council will bring together 
these various stakeholders to facilitate and coordinate the flow of 
information on STEM education systems to various stakeholders; to 
independently evaluate the success of Federal and non-Federal STEM 
initiatives; to fairly determine and promote best STEM classroom 
practices; to encourage the acquisition and retention of highly 
effective STEM teachers; and to inform policymakers and the general 
public on the state of STEM education across the United States. More 
specifically, the Council will also be responsible for issuing an 
annual report on the state of STEM education in America to the States, 
Congress, the Federal Government, and the general public; disseminating 
results from research on teaching and learning in STEM fields to State 
educational agencies; helping the States establish their own Science, 
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education boards or councils; 
proposing models for the effective professional development of teachers 
in STEM fields; and launching and updating a publicly available website 
that hosts a database consisting of information on scholarships, 
fellowships, grants, internships, and summer programs for both students 
and teachers.
  Second, this bill authorizes a full standing Committee on Science, 
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education within the National 
Science and Technology Council, NSTC, which is part of the Executive 
Office of the President. This committee would be responsible for 
coordinating STEM education across all the Federal agencies involved in 
such efforts, including the National Laboratories, the Department of 
Commerce, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Science 
Foundation, and NASA. Currently, the NSTC Committee on Science has a 
Subcommittee on Education and Workforce Development with jurisdiction 
over issues relating to STEM education. However, this subcommittee has 
been largely inactive: it rarely meets and has not been effective in 
coordinating the efforts of these different agencies. Senator Coleman 
and I believe that the state of STEM education in the Nation today 
warrants a full committee at the NSTC that will meet regularly to 
assess the effectiveness of such Federal efforts.
  Finally in this legislation we direct the Secretary of Education to 
undergo a comprehensive review of all programs within the Department of 
Education relating to education in science, technology, engineering, 
and mathematics fields, and to evaluate them for their effectiveness. 
We want to make sure that the current panoply of such programs are 
effective, target the students they are intended to target, are not 
unnecessarily redundant, complement State and local educational 
agencies, and are promoted effectively so that students, teachers, and 
parents know about these efforts. We also direct the Department to 
submit to Congress a plan for addressing the challenges they identify 
in this review.
  I believe this legislation will help science, technology, 
engineering, and mathematics education in this country, and will help 
students, parents, teachers, and other educators as we strive to 
prepare tomorrow's workforce for the global economy of the 21st 
century.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 3324

       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 ``Science, Technology, 
     Engineering, and Mathematics Education for the 21st Century 
     Act of 2008''.

     SEC. 2. NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, 
                   ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established a federally 
     chartered corporation to be known as the National Council for 
     Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education 
     (referred to in this section as the ``STEM Council'') which 
     shall be incorporated under the laws of the District of 
     Columbia and which shall have the powers granted in this 
     section. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the STEM 
     Council is a private entity and is not an agency, 
     instrumentality, authority, entity, or establishment of the 
     United States Government.
       (b) Mission.--The mission of the STEM Council is to--
       (1) provide guidance and coordinate and facilitate the flow 
     of information about science, technology, engineering, and 
     mathematics (referred to in this section as ``STEM'') 
     education among State, local, and private entities, as well 
     as the general public;
       (2) provide leadership by identifying critical deficiencies 
     in the Nation's STEM education systems and proposing 
     strategies for members of the STEM Council to collaborate to 
     address such deficiencies;
       (3) serve as a primary focal point for Federal agencies to 
     improve their coordination with, and service to, State and 
     local school systems; and
       (4) promote STEM fields and educate the general public 
     about the value of a STEM education.
       (c) Board of Directors.--
       (1) In general.--The management of the STEM Council shall 
     be vested in a Board of Directors composed of 23 voting 
     members and 10 nonvoting members, who shall meet not less 
     frequently than quarterly.
       (2) Initial appointments.--The Director of the National 
     Science Foundation, in consultation with the Chairmen and 
     Ranking Members of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
     and Pensions of the Senate, the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on 
     Education and Labor of the House of Representatives, and the 
     Committee on Science and Technology of the House of 
     Representatives, shall appoint, in accordance with this 
     subsection, the initial voting members of the Board of 
     Directors of the STEM Council.

[[Page S7288]]

       (3) Appointments.--The Director of the National Science 
     Foundation, in consultation with the STEM Council, shall 
     appoint, in accordance with this subsection, a new voting 
     member of the Board of Directors of the STEM Council after a 
     voting member has completed service on the STEM Council.
       (4) Representatives on the stem council.--
       (A) Voting seats.--The Board of Directors of the STEM 
     Council shall consist of the following voting members:
       (i) Two State Governors or former Governors.
       (ii) Two chief State school officers.
       (iii) One local school board representative.
       (iv) One representative from the National Science Board.
       (v) One active classroom teacher in science or mathematics.
       (vi) One active classroom teacher in engineering.
       (vii) One school administrator.
       (viii) One representative from organizations representing 
     community colleges.
       (ix) One representative from organizations representing 
     research universities.
       (x) One representative from technological institutes or 
     organizations representing technological institutes.
       (xi) One representative from informal STEM education 
     organizations.
       (xii) Three representatives from local school boards, State 
     legislatures, and other State and local officials.
       (xiii) Two representatives from various teacher, parent-
     teacher, and STEM education organizations.
       (xiv) Three representatives from various organizations 
     representing industry and business associations with an 
     interest in hiring a STEM-educated workforce.
       (xv) Two representatives from various organizations that 
     support educational initiatives, the Nation's global 
     competitiveness, or STEM education specifically.
       (B) Nonvoting seats.--The Board of Directors of the STEM 
     Council shall consist of nonvoting members for the following 
     seats:
       (i) The two co-chairs of the STEM Committee established 
     under section 3.
       (ii) One representative from the majority party and 1 
     representative from the minority party from each of the 
     following committees:

       (I) The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 
     of the Senate.
       (II) The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
     of the Senate.
       (III) The Committee on Education and Labor of the House of 
     Representatives.
       (IV) The Committee on Science and Technology of the House 
     of Representatives.

       (C) Co-chairs.--The Board of Directors of the STEM Council 
     shall have 2 co-chairs who shall be a Governor, or former 
     Governor, and a chief State school officer appointed by the 
     Director of the National Science Foundation in consultation 
     with the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Committee on 
     Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
     Senate, the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of 
     Representatives, and the Committee on Science and Technology 
     of the House of Representatives.
       (5) National academy of sciences support.--The Director of 
     the National Science Foundation shall enter into an agreement 
     with the National Academy of Sciences--
       (A) to provide staff support to the Board of Directors of 
     the STEM Council; and
       (B) to carry out any projects proposed by the Board of 
     Directors or required under this Act.
       (d) Activities.--
       (1) Mandatory activities.--
       (A) In general.--The STEM Council shall carry out the 
     following activities:
       (i) Provide leadership by identifying critical deficiencies 
     in the Nation's STEM education systems and proposing 
     strategies for members of the STEM Council to collaborate to 
     address such deficiencies.
       (ii) Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
     of this Act, and annually thereafter, the STEM Council shall 
     submit a report that highlights the status of STEM education 
     in the Nation and the States to the Committee on Health, 
     Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, the Committee 
     on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the 
     Committee on Education and Labor of the House of 
     Representatives, the Committee on Science and Technology of 
     the House of Representatives, the Governor of each of the 50 
     States, and the STEM Committee established in section 3. Each 
     report submitted under this clause shall be widely available 
     to the public and posted on the website of the STEM Council.
       (iii) Evaluate progress toward the goals described in the 
     National Action Plan of the National Science Board on a 
     regular and sustained basis, including the effectiveness of 
     the STEM Committee, established under section 3, in 
     coordinating kindergarten through graduate-level Federal STEM 
     education programs.
       (iv) Serve as a national resource by disseminating through 
     the Department of Education to State and local educational 
     agencies information on research on teaching and learning, 
     including best educational practices, and encouraging the 
     adoption of such practices.
       (v) Help States establish or strengthen existing P-16 or P-
     20 STEM councils and serve as a technical resource center for 
     P-16 or P-20 STEM councils.
       (vi) Utilize scientifically valid studies to determine 
     programs that raise student achievement or interest in STEM 
     fields.
       (vii) Direct the Department of Education to promote the 
     programs described in clause (vi) to State educational 
     agencies and local educational agencies.
       (viii) Work with all stakeholders to address--

       (I) the removal of barriers that exist throughout the 
     Nation in recruiting and retaining effective STEM educators; 
     and
       (II) the removal of barriers imposed by local educational 
     agencies on the movement of STEM educators between local 
     educational agencies both within and across States.

       (ix) Propose models for effective teacher professional 
     development.
       (x) Launch a public education initiative to--

       (I) promote STEM fields to the general public, especially 
     to stakeholders that represent individuals identified in 
     section 33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal 
     Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a, 1885b); and
       (II) raise awareness that STEM education is essential for 
     the Nation's success.

       (B) Database on federal and non-federal science, 
     technology, engineering, and mathematics educational 
     initiatives.--
       (i) Establishment and maintenance of database.--

       (I) Database.--The STEM Council shall establish and 
     maintain, on a public website of the STEM Council, a database 
     consisting of information on Federal scholarships, 
     fellowships, and other Federal STEM and relevant non-STEM 
     education programs recommended by the STEM Committee 
     established under section 3, as well as non-Federal STEM and 
     relevant non-STEM programs that have been recommended by the 
     Board of Directors of the STEM Council. The database may 
     include information on grants, fellowships, internships, and 
     summer programs at the primary through graduate levels.
       (II) Specific information.--The database established under 
     subclause (I) shall include specific information on any 
     programs of financial assistance that are targeted to 
     individuals of a particular gender, ethnicity, or other 
     demographic group, especially individuals identified in 
     section 33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal 
     Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b)

       (ii) Dissemination of information on database.--The STEM 
     Council shall take such actions as may be necessary on an 
     ongoing basis, including sending notices to educational 
     institutions, to disseminate information on the database 
     established and maintained under this subparagraph.
       (iii) Listing direct contact information.--The database 
     established under clause (i) shall provide contact 
     information for awards, including the sponsor's website.
       (iv) Approval.--The STEM Council shall review submissions 
     for inclusion on the database established under clause (i) 
     from prospective sponsors to exclude fraudulent scholarship 
     offers and scholarship programs that require the payment of 
     an application fee or other charge. The STEM Council may--

       (I) remove information from the database if the STEM 
     Council determines the information is not in accordance with 
     the purpose of the database; or
       (II) promote those programs most effective at improving 
     student achievement or interest in STEM fields.

       (v) Accuracy.--Information on scholarships included in the 
     database established under clause (i) shall be updated not 
     less often than quarterly in order to provide current and 
     accurate information regarding available scholarships.
       (vi) Links.--The database established under clause (i) may 
     have links to other privately operated online tools designed 
     to help students find scholarships and educational 
     opportunities that are approved by the STEM Council.
       (2) Permissive activities.--The STEM Council may carry out 
     any of the following activities:
       (A) Coordinate the development and maintenance of 
     integrated data management systems to consolidate and share 
     information among States on STEM educational practices, 
     research, and outcomes, including student assessment results, 
     teacher quality measures, and high school graduation 
     requirements.
       (B) Assemble a database of opportunities for teachers 
     interested in summer research in a STEM field in a Government 
     research laboratory, institution of higher education, or 
     STEM-related business or industry.
       (C) Assemble a database of grants and other funding 
     opportunities for STEM classroom resources to be used by 
     teachers and local educational agencies.
       (e) Corporate Powers.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
     of enactment of this Act, the STEM Council shall become a 
     body corporate and as such shall have the authority to do the 
     following:
       (1) To adopt and use a corporate seal.
       (2) To have succession until dissolved by an Act of 
     Congress.
       (3) To appoint, through the actions of its Board of 
     Directors, officers and employees of the STEM Council, to 
     define their duties and responsibilities, fix their 
     compensations, and to dismiss at will such officers or 
     employees.
       (4) To prescribe, through the actions of its Board of 
     Directors, bylaws not inconsistent with Federal law and the 
     laws of the District of Columbia, regulating the manner in 
     which its general business may be conducted and

[[Page S7289]]

     the manner in which the privileges granted to it by law may 
     be exercised.
       (5) To exercise, through the actions of its Board of 
     Directors, all powers specifically granted by the provisions 
     of this section, and such incidental powers as shall be 
     necessary.
       (6) To develop a source of revenue that is in addition to 
     Federal funds provided under this section and that extends 
     later than fiscal year 2013.
       (7) To pay for a small personnel staff, office space, 
     equipment, and travel, including employing not less than 1 
     executive staff member and 2 professional staff members.
       (f) Corporate Funds.--
       (1) Deposit of funds.--The Board of Directors shall deposit 
     all funds of the STEM Council in federally chartered and 
     insured depository institutions until such funds are 
     disbursed under paragraph (2).
       (2) Disbursement of funds.--Funds of the STEM Council may 
     be disbursed only for purposes that are--
       (A) approved by the chief executive of the STEM Council; 
     and
       (B) in accordance with the mission of the STEM Council as 
     specified in subsection (b).
       (g) Use of Mails.--The STEM Council may use the United 
     States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions 
     as the departments and agencies of the United States.
       (h) Federal Advisory Committee Act.--Section 14 of the 
     Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App) shall not apply 
     to the STEM Council.
       (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to the STEM Council to carry out this 
     section $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 through 
     2013.

     SEC. 3. COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND 
                   MATHEMATICS EDUCATION.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established within the 
     National Science and Technology Council a standing committee 
     on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
     education (referred to in this section as the ``STEM 
     Committee'').
       (b) Members.--
       (1) In general.--The STEM Committee shall be composed of 
     representatives from all Federal departments and agencies 
     involved in STEM education, including the National 
     Laboratories.
       (2) Co-chairs.--The STEM Committee shall have 2 co-chairs--
       (A) one of whom shall be a representative from the National 
     Science Foundation; and
       (B) one of whom shall be the Secretary of Education or a 
     designee of the Secretary.
       (c) Duties and Responsibilities.--The STEM Committee 
     shall--
       (1) coordinate all programs related to education in 
     science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (referred 
     to in this section as ``STEM'') fields funded or administered 
     by the Federal Government;
       (2) conduct an ongoing inventory and assessment of the 
     effectiveness of all Federal education initiatives related to 
     STEM fields, especially with regard to how the initiatives 
     are serving those individuals identified in section 33 or 34 
     of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 
     U.S.C. 1885a, 1885b);
       (3) disseminate the annual report received from the STEM 
     Council under section 2(d)(1)(A)(ii) to each Federal Agency 
     engaged in STEM education efforts;
       (4) coordinate among all Federal departments and agencies 
     involved in STEM education research and programs to inventory 
     and assess the effectiveness and coherence of Federally 
     funded STEM education programs; and
       (5) represent all Federal agencies on the National Council 
     for STEM Education and coordinate the STEM education efforts 
     of the Federal government with State and local governments 
     through the National Council for STEM Education.
       (d) Meetings.--The STEM Committee shall meet not less 
     frequently than quarterly.

     SEC. 4. EVALUATION OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND 
                   MATHEMATICS PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
                   EDUCATION.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Education shall conduct, 
     directly or though contract, a comprehensive evaluation of 
     all science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
     education (referred to in this section as ``STEM education'') 
     programs of the Department of Education.
       (b) Programs to Evaluate.--The STEM education programs that 
     shall be evaluated under subsection (a) shall include the 
     following:
       (1) The Mathematics and Science Partnerships program.
       (2) The Math Now for Elementary School and Middle School 
     Students program.
       (3) The Math Skills for Secondary School Students program.
       (4) The Minority Science and Engineering Improvement 
     program.
       (5) The Teachers for a Competitive Tomorrow program.
       (6) The National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain 
     Talent grant program (the National SMART grant program).
       (7) The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher 
     Education Grants program (the TEACH Grants program).
       (8) The Academic Competitiveness Grant program.
       (9) Grant programs authorized under the Carl D. Perkins 
     Career and Technical Education Act of 2006.
       (c) Content of Evaluation.--The evaluation conducted under 
     subsection (a) shall--
       (1) examine the coherence of the Department of Education in 
     administering STEM education programs, including identifying 
     unnecessary or harmful overlap;
       (2) identify the unmet State and local education needs that 
     could be filled with reorganization or expansion of STEM 
     education programs existing on the date of the evaluation;
       (3) evaluate the ease of access to information on STEM 
     education programs by students, educators, and others target 
     populations;
       (4) evaluate the ability of the Department of Education to 
     disseminate information from the STEM Council established 
     under section 2; and
       (5) propose how the Department of Education can address any 
     needs or problems identified in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4).
       (d) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education, or the 
     entity with whom the Secretary contracts to conduct the 
     evaluation under subsection (a), shall submit to Congress a 
     report of such evaluation.
                                 ______