[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 92 (Wednesday, May 26, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3534-S3536]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2078. 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 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'' has the meaning given 
     the term in section 356(2) of the Higher Education Act of 
     1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067k(2)).
       (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 National Security Council shall 
     conduct a study to identify areas for research and 
     development that are covered fields.
       (b) Update.--Not less than once every 5 years, the National 
     Security Council shall reassess the covered fields.

[[Page S3535]]

  


     SEC. __12. 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 Historically Black Colleges and Universities 
     Undergraduate Program.
       (2) The Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation 
     program.
       (3) The Research Experiences for Undergraduates program.
       (4) The Tribal Colleges and Universities Program.
       (5) The Improving Undergraduates STEM Education: Hispanic-
     Serving Institutions Program.
       (6) Other programs to broaden participation, as determined 
     by the Director.
       (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 
     Federal Coordination in STEM Education Subcommittee (FC-STEM) 
     of the Committee on Science, Technology, Engineering, and 
     Mathematics Education (CoSTEM) of the National Science and 
     Technology Council shall submit to Congress a report 
     containing its current strategic plan for Federal science 
     agencies to increase the capacity of STEM programs carried 
     out by Federal science agencies 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 Federal science agencies. The report shall 
     include--
       (1) a description of how the grants and programs that are 
     carried out by the Federal science agencies, 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 Federal science agencies 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 
     Federal science agencies' 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 Federal science agencies 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 Federal science agencies;
       (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 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 
     Federal science agencies;
       (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 Federal science agencies can 
     work together 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 Federal Coordination in STEM Education Subcommittee (FC-
     STEM) of the Committee on Science, Technology, Engineering, 
     and Mathematics Education (CoSTEM) of the National Science 
     and Technology Council 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 Subcommittee (FC-STEM) of the Committee on 
     Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education 
     (CoSTEM)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 science agencies that are 
     available to individuals as undergraduate and graduate 
     students.
       (b) Best Practices Clearinghouse.--The Director shall fund 
     the establishment and maintenance of a clearinghouse that 
     will collect, analyze, identify, disseminate, and make 
     publicly available information about best practices for 
     institutions of higher education to strengthen the pipeline 
     of individuals pursuing careers in covered fields.
       (c) Technical Assistance.--The Director shall fund the 
     establishment and maintenance of a robust technical 
     assistance center 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 subsections (a) and (b), $2,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 2022 and for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal 
     years; and
       (2) to carry out subsection (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. STRENGTHENING TRANSPARENCY.

       (a) Assessments.--The Director shall conduct regular 
     assessments of 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 types of institutions of higher education that are 
     awarded grants to develop a diverse STEM workforce, 
     disaggregated by undergraduate population, public or private 
     institution, and type of minority-serving institutions.
       (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. 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 
     select an organization to 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) 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).
       (2) 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.
       (c) Activities.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the organization 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 organization 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 
     organization shall--

[[Page S3536]]

       (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) 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;
       (3) a summary and analysis of the types and frequency of 
     activities and policies developed and carried out under the 
     pilot program; and
       (4) a recommendation about continuing the program on a 
     pilot or permanent basis.
       (e) 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.
                                 ______