[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 88 (Thursday, May 20, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3303-S3307]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 1909. Mr. BROWN 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, insert the following:

                     TITLE __--STEM RESEARCH GAINS

     SEC. __01. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Strengthening the STEM 
     Research Workforce to Generate American Infrastructure for 
     National

[[Page S3304]]

     Security Act of 2021'' or the ``STEM Research GAINS Act of 
     2021''.

     SEC. __02. DEFINITIONS.

       In this title:
       (1) Covered field.--The term ``covered field'' means a 
     field in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics 
     research or development that is determined to be--
       (A) a subject area relating to the national security of the 
     United States;
       (B) a subject area relating to the United States' ability 
     to compete in an open, fair, and competitive international 
     market and achieve economic growth; or
       (C) a subject area that is in need of expanded and 
     strengthened academic pipelines to ensure a diverse 
     workforce.
       (2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
     the National Science Foundation.
       (3) Federal science agency.--The term ``Federal science 
     agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 103(f) of 
     the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 
     6623(f)).
       (4) Institution of higher education.--The term 
     ``institution of higher education'' means an institution of 
     higher education described in section 101 of the Higher 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
       (5) Minority.--The term ``minority'' means American Indian, 
     Alaska Native, Black (not of Hispanic origin), Hispanic 
     (including persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and 
     Central or South American origin), Asian (including 
     underrepresented subgroups), Native Hawaiian, Pacific 
     Islander origin subgroup, or other ethnic group 
     underrepresented in science and engineering.
       (6) Minority-serving institution.--The term ``minority-
     serving institution'' means--
       (A) a part B institution (as defined in section 322 of the 
     Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061));
       (B) a Hispanic-serving institution (as defined in section 
     502 of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1101a));
       (C) a Tribal College or University (as defined in section 
     316 of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1059c));
       (D) an Alaska Native-serving institution (as defined in 
     section 317(b) of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1059d(b)));
       (E) a Native Hawaiian-serving institution (as defined in 
     section 317(b) of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1059d(b)));
       (F) a Predominantly Black Institution (as defined in 
     section 318 of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1059e));
       (G) an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-
     serving institution (as defined in section 320(b) of that Act 
     (20 U.S.C. 1059g(b))); or
       (H) a Native American-serving, nontribal institution (as 
     defined in section 319 of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1059f)).
       (7) STEM.--The term ``STEM'' means science, technology, 
     engineering, and mathematics, including computer science.
       (8) Underrepresented field.--The term ``underrepresented 
     field'' means a field in STEM in which the national rate of 
     representation of women among tenured, tenure-track faculty, 
     or nonfaculty researchers at doctorate-granting institutions 
     of higher education is less than 25 percent, according to the 
     most recent data available from the National Center for 
     Science and Engineering Statistics.
       (9) Underrepresented in science and engineering.--The term 
     ``underrepresented in science and engineering'' means a 
     minority group whose number of scientists and engineers, per 
     10,000 population of that group, is substantially below the 
     comparable figure for scientists and engineers who are white 
     and not of Hispanic origin, as determined by the Secretary of 
     Education under section 637.4(b) of title 34, Code of Federal 
     Regulations, or similar successor regulations.

   Subtitle A--Expanding Pipeline Programs to Research Opportunities

     SEC. __11. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AREAS CRITICAL TO 
                   NATIONAL SECURITY.

       (a) Covered Fields.--The Industries of the Future 
     Coordination Council established under subsection (c) of 
     section 9412 of division A of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry 
     National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 
     (Public Law 116-283) shall conduct a study to identify areas 
     for research and development that are covered fields.
       (b) Report.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
     Technology Policy shall include covered fields in the report 
     on Federal research and development focused on industries of 
     the future required under subsection (b) of such section 
     9412.
       (c) Update.--Not less than once every 5 years after the 
     initial report is filed under subsection (b) of such section 
     9412, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
     Policy shall, with advice from the Industries of the Future 
     Coordination Council, prepare and submit to Congress a 
     reassessment of the report under subsection (b), including 
     the covered fields identified under subsection (a).
       (d) Conforming Amendment.--Section 9412(b) of division A of 
     the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283) 
     is amended by striking paragraph (6).

     SEC. __12. RONALD E. MCNAIR POSTBACCALAUREATE ACHIEVEMENT 
                   PROGRAM.

       Section 402E(g) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
     U.S.C. 1070a-15(g)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(g) Funding.--In addition to amounts made available to 
     carry out this section under section 402A(g), there are 
     authorized to be appropriated $100,000,000 for each of fiscal 
     years 2022 through 2027 to carry out this section.''.

     SEC. __13. INCREASING INVESTMENT IN UNDERGRADUATE SCIENCE 
                   PIPELINES.

       (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
     the National Science Foundation $750,000,000 for fiscal year 
     2022 and for each of the following 4 years, which shall be 
     used, in amounts determined by the Director, for the 
     following programs:
       (1) The Advanced Technological Education Program.
       (2) The CyberCorps Scholarship for Service Program.
       (3) The Historically Black Colleges and Universities 
     Undergraduate Program.
       (4) Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE).
       (5) The Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation 
     program.
       (6) The Research Experiences for Undergraduates program.
       (7) The Tribal Colleges and Universities Program.
       (8) The Improving Undergraduates STEM Education: Hispanic-
     Serving Institutions Program.
       (b) Supplement Not Supplant.--The amounts authorized under 
     subsection (a) shall supplement, and not supplant, any other 
     amounts authorized for the National Science Foundation for 
     the programs described in such subsection.

     SEC. __14. BOLSTERING STEM PIPELINES STRATEGIC PLAN.

       (a) Broadening Participation Strategic Plan.--Not later 
     than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
     Director shall submit to Congress a report containing its 
     current strategic plan for the National Science Foundation to 
     increase the capacity of STEM programs carried out by the 
     National Science Foundation that are in effect as of the date 
     of the report to increase the participation of individuals 
     who are underrepresented in science and engineering, women 
     who are underrepresented in STEM fields, and low-income and 
     first-generation college students, in order to broaden 
     participation in grants and programs carried out by the 
     National Science Foundation. The report shall include--
       (1) a description of how the grants and programs that are 
     carried out by the National Science Foundation, as of the 
     time of the report, are carried out in a manner that advances 
     diverse pipelines in STEM fields, and a description of how 
     the National Science Foundation can better advance such 
     diverse pipelines;
       (2) an analysis of the data collection that would allow for 
     meaningful goal setting and transparency relating to the 
     National Science Foundation's progress in broadening 
     participation of individuals from groups that are 
     underrepresented in science and engineering with respect to 
     those grants and programs;
       (3) an analysis of how the National Science Foundation can 
     meet goals related to broadening the participation of 
     individuals from groups that are underrepresented in science 
     and engineering by--
       (A) creating or expanding funding opportunities;
       (B) modifying existing research and development programs; 
     and
       (C) establishing coordination between existing programs 
     carried out by the National Science Foundation;
       (4) a description of the ways that the National Science 
     Foundation works with minority-serving institutions to--
       (A) enable those eligible institutions to compete 
     effectively for grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements 
     carried out by the National Science Foundation;
       (B) encourage those eligible institutions to participate in 
     programs carried out by the National Science Foundation and 
     other Federal science agencies; and
       (C) encourage students and faculty at the eligible 
     institution to apply for and successfully earn graduate and 
     professional opportunities from programs supported by the 
     National Science Foundation;
       (5) an analysis of the best ways to share best practices 
     for institutions of higher education and Federal science 
     agencies interested in supporting individuals from groups 
     that are underrepresented in science and engineering; and
       (6) an analysis of how the National Science Foundation can 
     work with other Federal science agencies to advance goals 
     related to broadening the participation of individuals from 
     groups that are underrepresented in science and engineering.
       (b) Report to Congress.--Not later than 2 years after the 
     date of enactment of this Act, and every 5 years thereafter, 
     the Director shall report to Congress on the implementation 
     by Federal science agencies of the policy guidelines 
     developed under this section.

     SEC. __15. RESEARCH PROGRAM CLEARINGHOUSE AND TECHNICAL 
                   ASSISTANCE CENTER.

       (a) Opportunities Clearinghouse.--The Federal Coordination 
     in STEM Education Task Force of the Committee on Science, 
     Technology, Engineering, and Math Education of the National 
     Science and Technology Council shall establish and maintain a 
     public clearinghouse (including by maintaining a publicly 
     available website) of all research programs sponsored by 
     Federal

[[Page S3305]]

     science agencies that are available to individuals as 
     undergraduate and graduate students.
       (b) Best Practices Clearinghouse.--The Director shall 
     establish and maintain a clearinghouse that will collect, 
     analyze, identify, disseminate, and make publicly available 
     information about best practices for institutions of higher 
     education to strengthen, at the undergraduate level, the 
     pipeline of individuals pursuing careers in covered fields.
       (c) Technical Assistance.--The Director shall establish and 
     maintain a robust technical assistance center through the 
     National Science Foundation that shall work with institutions 
     of higher education seeking to implement strategies to--
       (1) bolster and diversify the student body at the 
     institution that pursue STEM fields; and
       (2) support students underrepresented in science and 
     engineering who are pursuing research-based STEM studies to 
     help those students continue and complete those studies.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated--
       (1) to carry out subsection (a) $1,000,000 for fiscal year 
     2022 and for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years; and
       (2) to carry out subsections (b) and (c), $1,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 2022 and for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal 
     years.

         Subtitle B--Increasing Funding for Graduate Education

     SEC. __21. FELLOWSHIPS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS IN COVERED 
                   FIELDS.

       (a) Global Competitiveness and National Security STEM 
     Fellowship Program Established.--The Director shall establish 
     a graduate fellowship program through which the Director 
     shall award funds to certain eligible students who have an 
     approved application in accordance with subsection (b) 
     (referred to in this section as ``fellowship participants'').
       (b) Application; Eligible Students.--
       (1) Application.--The Director shall establish and make 
     publicly available an application for eligible students who 
     desire to receive funds under this section.
       (2) Eligible students.--A student may submit an application 
     to the National Science Foundation to receive funds under 
     this section if the student--
       (A) is a United States citizen, an alien lawfully admitted 
     for permanent residence (as the terms are defined in section 
     101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
     1101(a)), or an alien who has been granted deferred action 
     pursuant to the memorandum of the Department of Homeland 
     Security entitled ``Exercising Prosecutorial Discretion with 
     Respect to Individuals Who Came to the United States as 
     Children'' issued on June 15, 2012; and
       (B)(i) is in the final year of undergraduate education at 
     an institution of higher education and is pursuing a 
     research-based master's or doctorate degree at an institution 
     of higher education that offers graduate degrees in a covered 
     field; or
       (ii) is enrolled in a research-based master's or doctorate 
     degree program at an institution of higher education in a 
     covered field and has completed less than 12 months of that 
     program.
       (3) Application review.--
       (A) In general.--The Director shall establish a process for 
     reviewing applications received under this section and 
     determining which applications will be approved. As part of 
     such process the Director shall establish an 
     interdisciplinary panel of scientists, engineers, or other 
     relevant professional graduate education experts, who shall 
     review the merit of the applications submitted and consider 
     the broadening participation criteria described in 
     subparagraph (B).
       (B) Broadening participation.--In determining which 
     applications are approved under this section, the Director 
     shall ensure that consideration is given to applicants who 
     would broaden participation in the program, including first-
     generation college students, low-income individuals, minority 
     students, individuals underrepresented in science or 
     engineering, individuals eligible for or receiving a Pell 
     Grant, women pursuing studies in underrepresented fields, or 
     individuals who attend or attended a minority-serving 
     institution for the individual's undergraduate degree.
       (c) Funding for Fellowship Participants.--
       (1) In general.--The Director shall pay an annual stipend 
     and additional expenses for each eligible student whose 
     application is approved under subsection (b) in accordance 
     with paragraph (2).
       (2) Amount.--The Director shall pay for each eligible 
     student with an approved application under this section, for 
     a total of 3 years--
       (A) $50,000 each year for living expenses, which shall be 
     paid to the institution and disbursed annually as an aid 
     stipend to the student;
       (B) a tuition and fees allowance, which shall be $15,000 
     per year and which shall be paid directly to the institution 
     that student is attending for the student's tuition and fees; 
     and
       (C) a $2,000 professional development allowance, which 
     shall be distributed to an eligible student by the Director, 
     upon application, to reimburse the student for professional 
     development expenses.
       (3) Adjustments for inflation.--The amounts described in 
     paragraph (2) shall be the amounts for fiscal year 2021 and 
     shall be adjusted annually for inflation.
       (4) Exemption from tuition and fees; tax disclosure.--An 
     institution of higher education that enrolls a student who 
     will participate in the fellowship under this section and 
     that will receive funds described in subparagraph (A) and (B) 
     of paragraph (2) on behalf of such student--
       (A) shall agree to exempt such student from paying tuition 
     and fees that are greater than the tuition and fees allowance 
     under paragraph (2)(B) that are normally charged to students 
     of similar academic standing, unless such charges are 
     optional or are refundable; and
       (B) shall provide that student with information about how 
     funds received through the fellowship will be treated for 
     Federal tax purposes.
       (d) Annual Meeting .--
       (1) In general.--The Director shall arrange an annual 
     meeting for fellowship participants and representatives from 
     relevant Federal agencies in order--
       (A) to facilitate professional development and networking 
     relating to covered fields; and
       (B) to facilitate access to experiential training 
     opportunities, which may include such training at national 
     security facilities and federally funded research centers.
       (2) Attendance required.--Each fellowship participant shall 
     be required to attend at least one annual meeting during the 
     period covered by that recipient's award, and the 
     professional development allowance under subsection (c)(2)(C) 
     may be used to cover expense for attendance at that meeting.
       (e) Additional Requirements.--
       (1) Termination.--An individual's participation in the 
     fellowship under this section and receipt of funds under this 
     section shall be terminated at the earlier of--
       (A) the last day of the third year for which the individual 
     has received funding under this section; or
       (B) the date of degree completion, unless that individual 
     is continuing from a master's to a doctoral degree in a 
     covered field and less than 3 years of funding had been 
     distributed since the individual became a fellowship 
     participant under this section.
       (2) Request to change schools or programs or suspend or 
     defer participation.--A fellowship participant who wishes to 
     change institutions or programs, or suspend or defer 
     fellowship participation, shall submit a request to the 
     Director and must receive approval from the Director.
       (3) No concurrent awards.--An individual shall not be 
     eligible to accept another Federal graduate fellowship 
     concurrently with fellowship participation under this 
     section.
       (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section, $500,000,000 
     for fiscal year 2022 and for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal 
     years.

     SEC. __22. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION GRADUATE RESEARCH 
                   FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.

       There is authorized to be appropriated to the Director of 
     the National Science Foundation, in addition to any other 
     amounts appropriated, $250,000,000 for the Graduate Research 
     Fellowship Program in each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.

     SEC. __23. NATIONAL EMERGING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TRAINING 
                   PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--The Director, in partnership with the 
     Secretary of Defense and in consultation with the Under 
     Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, shall 
     establish a National Emerging Science and Technology Training 
     Program to award grants to institutions of higher education 
     to enable those institutions to establish training programs 
     to educate cohorts of students in covered fields.
       (b) Application.--An institution of higher education 
     desiring to receive a grant under this section shall submit 
     an application at such time, in such manner, and containing 
     such information as the Director may reasonably require.
       (c) Awards.--
       (1) Award totals.--Each grant award under this section 
     shall be in an amount not to exceed $5,000,000.
       (2) Number of awards and distribution.--
       (A) Number of awards.--A minimum of 45 institutional awards 
     shall be granted.
       (B) Distribution.--The Director shall--
       (i) encourage institutions of higher education that are 
     minority-serving institutions to apply for grants under this 
     section; and
       (ii) consider broader impacts when awarding grants under 
     this section.
       (3) Duration.--The duration of awards made through the 
     grant program shall not exceed 4 years.
       (4) Use of funds.--
       (A) In general.--An eligible institution shall use award 
     funds, in accordance with subparagraph (B), for the purposes 
     of--
       (i) providing training programs in covered fields led by 
     faculty;
       (ii) paying funds for the cost of attendance (as described 
     in section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     1087ll)) for eligible students participating in training 
     programs established by this section;
       (iii) establishing scientific or technical internship 
     programs for students participating in training programs 
     established by this section; and
       (iv) other costs associated with the administration of the 
     training program.
       (B) Minimum amount for tuition and other costs.--An 
     eligible institution shall use not less than 70 percent of 
     grant funds

[[Page S3306]]

     for expenses described in subparagraph (A)(ii).
       (C) Eligible student.--In this section the term ``eligible 
     student'' means a student who is--
       (i) a United States citizens or an alien lawfully admitted 
     for permanent residence (as the terms are defined in section 
     101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
     1101(a)) or an alien who has been granted deferred action 
     pursuant to the memorandum of the Department of Homeland 
     Security entitled ``Exercising Prosecutorial Discretion with 
     Respect to Individuals Who Came to the United States as 
     Children'' issued on June 15, 2012; and
       (ii) pursuing a masters or doctorate degree in a covered 
     field identified under section __11(c).
       (d) Selection Criteria.--In making awards under this 
     section, the Director and the Secretary shall consider--
       (1) the relevance of the institution's proposed program to 
     existing and anticipated strategic national needs as 
     determined by the study under section __11(a);
       (2) the ability of the institution to effectively carry out 
     the proposed program;
       (3) the geographic location of an institution related to 
     the Department of Defense's needs for developing specific 
     workforce capacity and skills within a particular region of 
     the country;
       (4) the extent to which the institution's proposal would 
     include students who are underrepresented in science and 
     engineering, low-income students, women, minority students, 
     and first-generation college students; and
       (5) the integration of internship opportunities into the 
     participant's program, including internships or cooperative 
     education agreements with government laboratories, nonprofit 
     research organizations, or for-profit commercial entities.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section, $250,000,000 
     for fiscal year 2022 and for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal 
     years.

     SEC. __24. STRENGTHENING TRANSPARENCY.

       (a) Assessments.--The Director shall conduct regular 
     assessments of the programs established under this subtitle 
     and other graduate research fellowship programs carried out 
     by the National Science Foundation and provide additional 
     publicly available information about those programs, 
     including for each program--
       (1) the number of applications received, disaggregated by 
     undergraduate and graduate institution, race, gender, age, 
     and eligibility for a Federal Pell Grant;
       (2) the number of applications approved, disaggregated by 
     undergraduate and graduate institution, race, gender, age, 
     and eligibility for a Federal Pell Grant; and
       (3) the internal partnerships between the National Science 
     Foundation and institutions of higher education in order to 
     develop a diverse science workforce.
       (b) Reports.--The Director shall prepare and submit to 
     Congress, and make publicly available, annual reports that 
     show trends in how research fellowships and scholarships 
     supported by the National Science Foundation are awarded to 
     individuals from underrepresented groups, institutions of 
     higher education, and entities from different geographic 
     areas, in order to better show trends in the participation of 
     underrepresented groups in such research fellowships and 
     scholarships.

   Subtitle C--Strengthening the National Security Research Workforce

     SEC. __31. NATIONAL SECURITY RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.

       (a) Program Established.--The Director, in partnership with 
     the Secretary of Defense and in consultation with the Under 
     Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, shall 
     carry out a program, to be known as the ``National Security 
     Research Fellowship Program'' that will bolster Federal 
     Government research by finding placements in the Federal 
     Government for selected eligible graduates.
       (b) Eligible Graduates.--The term ``eligible graduate'' 
     means an individual who--
       (1) is a United States citizen, an alien lawfully admitted 
     for permanent residence (as the terms are defined in section 
     101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
     1101(a)), or an alien who has been granted deferred action 
     pursuant to the memorandum of the Department of Homeland 
     Security entitled ``Exercising Prosecutorial Discretion with 
     Respect to Individuals Who Came to the United States as 
     Children'' issued on June 15, 2012; and
       (2) graduated not more than 3 years prior to the date of 
     the individual's application, with a master's or doctoral 
     degree in a covered field.
       (c) Application; Selection of Eligible Graduates.--
       (1) Application.--Eligible graduates who desire to 
     participate in the National Security Research Fellowship 
     Program shall submit an application at such time, in such 
     manner, and containing such information as the Director may 
     require, including information about the applicant's 
     educational background, previous research experience, 
     publications or presentations, letters of recommendation, or 
     written research proposals.
       (2) Selection.--The Director shall establish a process for 
     the selection of eligible graduates who apply, which may 
     include a review and scoring of applications by a panel of 
     experts in broad discipline areas after an evaluation of the 
     demonstrated ability of the individual as a student and 
     potential for contributions as an independent scientist.
       (d) National Security Research Fellowship Program.--Through 
     the National Security Research Fellowship Program, the 
     Director shall--
       (1) select eligible graduates who apply for the program in 
     accordance with subsection (c);
       (2) facilitate placement in a 3-year post-doctoral research 
     position in a covered field with a Federal agency for 
     selected eligible graduates;
       (3) provide those eligible graduates with an orientation 
     process and a mentor;
       (4) facilitate opportunities for participants who have 
     completed the program to transfer to a permanent civil 
     service position with the Federal Government in a covered 
     field after completion of program; and
       (5) ensure that eligible participants in the program 
     receive the educational award described in section __32.
       (e) Educational Awards.--
       (1) In general.--Each individual who completes not less 
     than 2 years of the 3-year National Security Research 
     Fellowship Program described in this section shall be 
     eligible to receive an educational award in accordance with 
     this subsection.
       (2) Educational award.--Each individual described in 
     paragraph (1) shall receive an educational award in an amount 
     equal to the product of--
       (A) the maximum amount of a Federal Pell Grant for the most 
     recent year; multiplied by
       (B) the number of years of participation in the fellowship 
     program (whether 2 or 3 years, as the case may be).
       (3) Use of educational award.--The educational award under 
     this section--
       (A) may be used for attendance at an institution of higher 
     education (as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education 
     Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002)); or
       (B) may be used to repay a Federal or private student loan 
     of the individual.
       (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section, $750,000,000 
     for fiscal year 2022 and for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal 
     years.

     SEC. __32. EARLY CAREER FACULTY SUPPORTS.

       (a) Rising Faculty Professional Advancement Program.--
       (1) Establishment of pilot program.--Not later than 1 year 
     after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall 
     establish a 5-year pilot mentorship program to be known as 
     ``Rising Faculty Professional Advancement Program'' (referred 
     to in this section as the ``program'') in order to increase 
     the diversity of faculty in STEM fields.
       (2) Purpose.--The purpose of the Rising Faculty 
     Professional Advancement Program shall be--
       (A) to increase the number of doctoral-level professionals 
     from underrepresented groups in STEM fields who transition 
     into faculty positions at institutions of higher education; 
     and
       (B) to improve mentorship and training for researchers who 
     are navigating the transition in the research pipeline to 
     becoming faculty, which is a time when a significant decrease 
     in diversity often occurs.
       (b) Program Participants.--
       (1) In general.--Eligible individuals who desire to 
     participate in the program shall submit an application to the 
     National Science Foundation at such time, in such manner, and 
     containing such information as the Director may require, 
     including--
       (A) information about the eligible individual's selected 
     mentor and the mentor's agreement to participate in the 
     program;
       (B) an assertion that the selected mentor is--
       (i) a tenured faculty member at a research institution of 
     higher education; or
       (ii) a faculty equivalent at a National laboratory or 
     Federal agency; and
       (C) a description of the applicant's reasoning for 
     selecting that mentor.
       (2) Eligibility.--An individual shall be eligible to 
     participate in the program if the individual is a doctoral 
     degree holding researcher in a post-doctoral research 
     position or early-career faculty (defined as a faculty 
     researcher with a title of assistant professor or other non-
     tenured equivalent).
       (3) Priority.--In selecting applicants to participate in 
     the program--
       (A) priority shall be given to--
       (i) applicants from groups who are underrepresented in 
     science and engineering; or
       (ii) applicants holding degrees from or faculty positions 
     at minority-serving institutions; and
       (B) additional consideration may be given to--
       (i) applicants holding doctoral degrees from institutions 
     of higher education in the bottom 90 percent of research and 
     development expenditures, as ranked by the National Center 
     for Science and Engineering Statistics; and
       (ii) applicants who are women and who hold positions from 
     underrepresented fields.
       (4) Number of participants.--The Foundation shall select a 
     cohort of not less than 100 eligible individuals to be 
     program participants (referred to in this section as ``Rising 
     Faculty'') for each year of the pilot program.

[[Page S3307]]

       (5) Outreach.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Foundation shall--
       (A) conduct outreach to solicit potential applicants for 
     Rising Faculty and mentor participants; and
       (B) make publicly available information about the 
     expectations of mentor involvement and best practices in 
     finding a mentor.
       (c) Activities.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Director shall establish program 
     activities including--
       (A) training for Rising Faculty and mentors;
       (B) a program curriculum; and
       (C) benchmarks for mentor engagement.
       (2) Collaborative research.--The Foundation shall encourage 
     program mentors to network and enter into collaboration on 
     research projects with Rising Faculty and other mentors 
     within the program.
       (3) Survey.--Following the first year of program 
     enrollment, and on an annual basis during the program, the 
     Director shall--
       (A) conduct a survey of Rising Faculty and mentors to 
     determine best practices and outcomes achieved;
       (B) collect information about the demographics of Rising 
     Faculty and mentor participants; and
       (C) conduct additional surveys or other analyses of Rising 
     Faculty who completed the program to assess career 
     progression for not more than 5 years following the 
     completion of the program by Rising Faculty.
       (d) Meetings.--
       (1) Biannual meetings.--
       (A) In general.--The Foundation shall hold biannual 
     meetings for mentors, Rising Faculty, and individuals who 
     have previously completed the program. The Foundation may 
     award travel grants for Rising Faculty who lack discretionary 
     travel funds to attend the biannual meeting.
       (B) Introductory meeting.--The Foundation shall hold one 
     meeting at the start of each cohort's program year which may 
     include program introduction, mentor training, career 
     training for Rising Faculty, and networking, with the goal of 
     advancing early-career researchers along the academic faculty 
     track, and any other activities the Foundation determines are 
     appropriate for the career advancement of Rising Faculty.
       (C) Second meeting.--The Foundation shall hold a second 
     meeting in the last quarter of the program year, which may 
     include opportunities for networking, continued training, 
     promotion of continued mentorship after program completion, 
     solicited feedback from Rising Faculty, and any other 
     activities the Foundation determines are appropriate for the 
     career advancement of Rising Faculty.
       (e) Report to Congress.--Not later than 3 years after the 
     date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit a 
     report to Congress that includes a summary and analysis of 
     the types and frequency of activities and policies developed 
     and carried out under the pilot program.
       (f) Assessment of the Pilot Program and Recommendations.--
     Not later than 180 days after the conclusion of the pilot 
     program, the Director shall provide a report to the 
     appropriate committees of Congress with respect to the pilot 
     program, which shall include--
       (1) a description and evaluation of the status and 
     effectiveness of the program, including a summary of survey 
     data collected;
       (2) an assessment of the success and utility of the pilot 
     program in meeting the purposes of this section; and
       (3) a recommendation about continuing the program on a 
     pilot or permanent basis.
       (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section, $10,000,000 in 
     each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.

     SEC. __33. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION FACULTY EARLY CAREER 
                   DEVELOPMENT AWARDS.

       There is authorized to be appropriated to the Director of 
     the National Science Foundation, in addition to any other 
     amounts appropriated, $400,000,000 for National Science 
     Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Awards for fiscal 
     years 2022 through 2026.
                                 ______