[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.
                                 ______