[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 206 (Monday, December 18, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H10162-H10164]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUPPORTING VETERANS IN STEM CAREERS ACT
Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 4323) to promote veteran involvement in STEM education, computer
[[Page H10163]]
science, and scientific research, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4323
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 ``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 90 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) identify a method for the Foundation to 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 Subcommittee.--
(1) In general.--The Director of the Office of Science and
Technology Policy shall establish a subcommittee under the
Committee on STEM Education of the National Science and
Technology Council (established under section 101 of the
America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010) to coordinate
Federal programs and policies for transitioning and training
veterans and military spouses for STEM careers.
(2) Duties of subcommittee.--The subcommittee established
under paragraph (1) shall--
(A) coordinate Federal agency STEM outreach activities and
programs for veterans and military spouses; and
(B) develop and facilitate the implementation by
participating agencies of a strategic plan, which shall--
(i) specify and prioritize short- and long-term objectives;
(ii) specify the common metrics that will be used by
Federal agencies to assess progress toward achieving such
objectives;
(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;
(iv) identify barriers military spouses face in
establishing careers in STEM fields;
(v) describe the approaches that each participating agency
will take to address administratively the barriers described
in clauses (iii) and (iv); and
(vi) identify any barriers that require Federal or State
legislative or regulatory changes in order to be addressed.
(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 subcommittee 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.
(4) 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)(B); and
(B) include in the annual report required by section 101(d)
of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act a description of
any progress made in carrying out the activities described in
paragraph (2)(B) of this subsection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Dunn) and the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice
Johnson) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
General Leave
Mr. DUNN. 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. 4323, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4323, the Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act,
is about helping expand veterans' job and education opportunities in
the sciences.
The bill requires the National Science Foundation to develop a
veterans outreach plan and to publish data on veterans' participation
in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields in its
annual Indicators report.
The bill also updates the Noyce Teacher Scholarship program, its
fellowship programs, and cyber grant programs to include outreach to
veterans.
Additionally, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
is tasked with overseeing an interagency working group to examine how
to increase veteran participation in STEM career fields, including
addressing any barriers for servicemembers and their spouses.
In the next 5 years, between 1 and 1.5 million members of the United
States Armed Forces will be leaving the military, according to the
Department of Defense. Many of these veterans will be seeking new
careers. By a great margin, veterans cite finding employment as their
number one need when returning home.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupations in the
STEM fields are projected to grow to more than 9 million between 2012
and 2022, an increase of 1 million jobs.
Research shows that many military veterans already have skills and
training that align with STEM careers, particularly in information
technology. However, research has also shown that veterans face many
barriers as they reenter the workforce, including a lack of formal STEM
education, career guidance, and the difficult task of transferring
military credits to civilian credits.
Our Nation's veterans deserve every opportunity to transition to a
healthy
[[Page H10164]]
and successful civilian life. This bill will help our servicemembers to
continue to serve our Nation in many new ways by filling 21st century
jobs and keeping America on the cutting edge of innovation.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Mr. Takano, the ranking vice chair of
the Veterans' Affairs Committee and a fellow member on the Science,
Space, and Technology Committee, for cosponsoring this bipartisan
legislation. I also salute all of my fellow veterans on the Science,
Space, and Technology Committee who joined me in introducing this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such
time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4323, the Supporting Veterans
in STEM Careers Act, and I thank Mr. Dunn and Mr. Takano for
introducing this good legislation.
The demand for a workforce equipped with STEM skills is growing. At
the same time, many veterans developed valuable technical skills during
their service. We must do more to take advantage of those skills and
increase veteran participation in STEM careers if we are to meet the
workforce demands.
This summer, I was pleased to see the passage of the Forever GI Bill,
which extended GI benefits for veterans enrolled in STEM degree
programs. Now that STEM degrees are more accessible for veterans, we
must do more to support veterans during their transition into STEM
degree programs and careers.
H.R. 4323 directs the National Science Foundation to report data on
veterans in STEM studies and careers and develop a plan to increase
outreach to veterans.
This bill also creates an interagency committee that will examine how
Federal programs and policies can best be leveraged to equip veterans
with the skills they need to transition into STEM careers.
H.R. 4323 is a good step toward strengthening our STEM workforce and
creating opportunities for an eminently deserving sector of our
citizenry.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as
he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano).
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman, the ranking member,
for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4323, the
Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act.
I led this bill with the gentleman from Florida because finding ways
to improve higher education for veterans is essential to our economy
and critical to keeping our promise to those who serve.
This legislation advances the great work being done by the National
Science Foundation by requiring NSF to develop a plan to help more
veterans enter science, technology, engineering, and math fields.
In addition, it requires NSF to report available data on veterans
participating in STEM fields.
NSF will also be required to recruit veterans for existing NSF
programs, including the Noyse Teacher Scholarship program, and for
cybersecurity-specific education and training programs.
Finally, this bill creates an interagency committee to help veterans
and their spouses transition to STEM careers, including reporting on
their progress.
All of us understand the challenges veterans face when trying to
further their education, but we have also seen what happens when former
servicemembers are empowered to success as civilians. After World War
II, soldiers returned home to a GI Bill that sparked an era of
innovation and economic growth.
By helping veterans enter STEM education and research programs, this
bill will help build a workforce that is prepared to succeed in the
modern economy. At the same time, it will drive some of our best and
brightest into fields where they can make new discoveries and create
new technologies that will redefine the world for future generations.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to work with my Republican
colleague, Mr. Dunn, and I encourage all Members to support this
legislation.
{time} 1815
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further
requests for time. I urge support of this legislation, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Dunn) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 4323, as amended.
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. DUNN. 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, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
____________________