[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 88 (Thursday, May 20, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3258-S3259]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 1824. Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mr. Lujan) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1502 proposed by Mr.
Schumer to the bill S. 1260, to establish a new Directorate for
Technology and Innovation in the National Science Foundation, to
establish a regional technology hub program, to require a strategy and
report on economic security, science, research, innovation,
manufacturing, and job creation, to establish a critical supply chain
resiliency program, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on
the table; as follows:
At the end of division F, add the following:
TITLE IV--DEVELOPMENT OF PROGRAM TO SUPPORT PARTNERSHIPS FOR HBCU/MSI/
TCU-DESIGNATED INSTITUTIONS
SEC. 6401. FINDINGS.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Strengthening the United States research enterprise is
critical to our Nation's leadership in science and
technology.
(2) Promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the
federally funded research pipeline is essential to ensuring
the development of scientific breakthroughs that benefit
every person of the United States.
(3) Partnerships between institutions of higher education
with the highest levels of research activity and institutions
of higher education designated as historically Black colleges
and universities, Tribal Colleges or Universities, or other
minority-serving institutions that are committed to the
recruitment, retention, and advancement of historically
underrepresented populations benefit the United States at
large.
(4) The STEM workforce drives forward the United States
economy and our global competitiveness.
(5) Federal funding for initiatives that support the
development of a diverse research workforce pipeline across
institutions of higher education are in the best interest of
the United States research enterprise.
(6) Congress believes that Federal science agencies should
provide funding to foster collaboration between institutions
of higher education to promote a more diverse, equitable, and
inclusive research workforce and enterprise.
SEC. 6402. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this title is to provide funding to Federal
science agencies for distribution to eligible partnerships
that commit resources to collaboration and cooperation with
institutions of higher education designated as historically
Black colleges or universities, Tribal Colleges or
Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, or other
minority-serving institutions, including--
(1) programs that help enroll alumni from institutions of
higher education designated as historically Black colleges or
universities, Tribal Colleges or Universities, or other
minority-serving institutions in postgraduate programs
leading to mater or doctoral degrees in STEM disciplines at
partner institutions of higher education with the highest
levels of research activity;
(2) summer research internship support grants at partner
institutions of higher education with the highest levels of
research activity;
(3) research projects that include students at institutions
of higher education designated as historically Black colleges
and universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, or other
minority-serving institutions, and at institutions of higher
education with the highest levels of research activity;
(4) research projects that advance inclusion of students at
institutions of higher education designated as historically
Black colleges or universities, Tribal Colleges or
Universities, or other minority-serving institutions, within
institutions with the highest levels of research activity;
and
(5) competitive grant awards to enhance and expand pathways
to the professoriate for underrepresented students.
SEC. 6403. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) Asian american and native american pacific islander-
serving institution.--The term ``Asian American and Native
American Pacific Islander-serving institution'' has the
meaning given the term in section 320(b) or 371(c)(2) of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059g(b) and
1067q(c)(2)).
(2) Eligible partnership.--The term ``eligible
partnership'' means a partnership that includes--
(A)(i) an institution with the highest levels of research
activity; or
(ii) a Federal laboratory; and
(B) not less than 1 institution of higher education
designated as a historically Black college or university,
Tribal College or University, or other minority-serving
institution.
(3) Federal science agency.--The term ``Federal science
agency'' means any Federal agency with at least $100,000,000
in basic and applied research obligations in fiscal year
2021.
[[Page S3259]]
(4) Grantee.--The term ``grantee'' means the legal entity
to which a grant is awarded and that is accountable to the
Federal Government for the use of the funds provided.
(5) Institution with the highest levels of research
activity.--The term ``institution with the highest levels of
research activity'', means an institution of higher education
that is classified as an R1 University, or successor
designation, by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions
of Higher Education.
(6) Hispanic-serving institution.--The term ``Hispanic-
serving institution'' means an institution of higher
education as defined in section 502 of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a).
(7) Historically black college or university.--The term
``historically Black college and university'' has the meaning
given the term ``part B institution'' in section 322 of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061).
(8) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the
term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
(9) Minority-serving institution.--The term ``minority-
serving institution'' means a historically Black college or
university, predominantly Black institution, Hispanic-serving
institution, Asian American and Native American Pacific
Islander-Serving Institution, or Tribal College or
University.
(10) Predominantly black institution.--The term
``predominantly Black institution'' means--
(A) a Predominantly Black Institution, as defined in
section 318(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1059e(b)); or
(B) a Predominantly Black institution, as defined in
section 371(c)(9) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1067q(c)(9)).
(11) STEM.--The term ``STEM'' means science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics, including computer science and
biological and agricultural sciences.
(12) Tribal college or university.--The term ``Tribal
College or University'' has the meaning given the term in
section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1059c(b)).
SEC. 6404. DEVELOPMENT OF PROGRAM TO SUPPORT PARTNERSHIPS FOR
HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES,
TRIBAL COLLEGES OR UNIVERSITIES, OR OTHER
MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS.
(a) Grant Program Authorized.--From amounts made available
under section 6406, the head of each Federal science agency
shall create a grant program to award grants to eligible
partnerships in order to support the recruitment, retention,
and advancement of underrepresented students in STEM fields
and carry out the purpose described in subsection (b).
(b) Purpose of Program.--Each eligible partnership
supported by a grant under subsection (a) shall--
(1) enhance and expand pathways for underrepresented
students at institutions of higher education designated as
historically Black colleges or universities, Tribal Colleges
or Universities, or other minority-serving institutions, to
enter graduate studies and academia in STEM fields;
(2) remove barriers to entry to the professoriate for such
students; and
(3) provide funding to faculty at institutions of higher
education designated as historically Black colleges or
universities, Tribal Colleges or Universities, or other
minority-serving institutions to work on the research
projects along with their students.
(c) Collaboration Requirements.--
(1) Joint proposal.--An eligible partnership desiring a
grant under a program described in subsection (a) shall
submit a joint proposal representing all members of the
eligible partnership to the applicable Federal science
agency. The joint proposal shall include a description of the
proposed activities to be carried out under the grant.
(2) Collaboration.--Each eligible partnership shall
collaborate across institutions of higher education,
including institutions of higher education designated as
historically Black colleges or universities, Tribal Colleges
or Universities, or other minority-serving institutions, in
order to develop and carry out the proposed grant activities.
(d) Use of Funds.--The head of each Federal science agency
shall require each grantee to direct not less than 50 percent
of the total grant award received by the eligible partnership
to the partner institutions of higher education designated as
historically Black colleges or universities, Tribal Colleges
or Universities, or other minority-serving institutions, in
order to carry out the activities supported under the grant.
(e) Nonduplication.--An eligible partnership desiring a
grant under a program described in subsection (a) shall not
submit the same proposal to multiple Federal science
agencies.
SEC. 6405. REPORTING.
By not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of
this Act, the head of each Federal science agency shall
require each eligible partnership receiving a grant under
this title to conduct a longitudinal study and report--
(1) the number of undergraduate students participating in
activities supported under this title who pursue STEM
graduate studies and professions as a result of these
partnerships; and
(2) information regarding the benefits provided to such
students as a result of the activities.
SEC. 6406. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this title $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2022 and
each succeeding fiscal year.
(b) Report.--Beginning in fiscal year 2022, the Director of
the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and after
consultation with the Secretary of Education on any relevant
issue of concern, including at a minimum on the total numbers
of qualifying eligible minority serving institutions within
each category discussed herein annually, shall prepare and
submit to Congress a suggested distribution of funding under
this title among all qualifying Federal science agencies that
in the first year of the program reflects equitable share as
a basis for distribution and that reflects the input of the
affected Federal science agencies regarding any allocation
methodology to be used in subsequent years.
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