[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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