[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 205 (Wednesday, December 18, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7164-S7165]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUPPORTING VETERANS IN STEM CAREERS ACT
Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 314, S. 153.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 153) to promote veteran involvement in STEM
education, computer science, and scientific research, and for
other purposes.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill,
which had been reported from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation, with an amendment to strike all after the enacting
clause and insert in lieu thereof the following:
(Purpose: In the nature of a substitute.)
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 180 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) include options for how the Foundation could 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 Working Group.--
(1) In general.--The Director of the Office of Science and
Technology Policy shall establish, or designate, an
interagency working group to improve veteran and military
spouse equity and representation in STEM fields.
(2) Duties of interagency working group.--An interagency
working group established under paragraph (1) shall develop
and facilitate the implementation by participating agencies
of a strategic plan, which shall--
(A) specify and prioritize short- and long-term objectives;
(B) specify the common metrics that will be used by Federal
agencies to assess progress toward achieving such objectives;
(C) 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;
(D) identify barriers military spouses face in establishing
careers in STEM fields;
(E) describe the approaches that each participating agency
will take to address administratively the barriers described
in subparagraphs (C) and (D); and
(F) identify any barriers that require Federal or State
legislative or regulatory changes in order to be addressed.
(3) 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); and
(B) include in the annual report required by section 101(d)
of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42
U.S.C. 6621(d)) a description of any progress made in
carrying out the activities described in paragraph (2) of
this subsection.
(4) Sunset.--An interagency working group established under
paragraph (1) shall terminate on the date that is 3 years
after the date that it is established.
SEC. 4. COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES STUDY AND
REPORT ON BARRIERS FACED BY STUDENT VETERANS
PURSUING DEGREES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
ENGINEERING, OR MATH.
(a) Study.--Not later than August 1, 2022, the Comptroller
General of the United States shall complete a study on
academic success rates of student veterans pursuing covered
degrees and barriers faced by such students in pursuing such
degrees.
(b) Elements.--The study required by subsection (a) shall
include the following:
(1) Assessment of available information on the percentage
or number of student veterans pursuing a covered degree with
educational assistance furnished under chapter 33 of title
38, United States Code.
(2) Assessment of available information on the percentage
or number of such students who pursue a covered degree and do
not obtain such degree in four or fewer academic years.
(3) Identification of the reasons that such students do not
obtain such degree in four or fewer academic years and
whether such reasons are barriers to obtaining such degrees.
(4) Development of recommendations for legislative or
administrative action to better align the educational
assistance furnished under chapter 33 of title 38, United
States Code, with the needs of such students and address the
reasons identified under paragraph (3).
(c) Report.--Not later than August 1, 2022, the Comptroller
General shall submit to Congress a report on the findings of
the Comptroller General with respect to the study completed
under subsection (a), along with recommendations for such
legislative or administrative action as the Comptroller
General considers appropriate.
[[Page S7165]]
(d) Definition of Covered Degree.--In this section, the
term ``covered degree'' means a standard, undergraduate
college degree in a field listed under section
3320(b)(4)(A)(i) of title 38, United States Code.
Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the
committee-reported amendment be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be
considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to
reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The committee-reported amendment, in the nature of a substitute, was
agreed to.
The bill (S. 153), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading, was read the third time, and passed.
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