    [House Report 105-562]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

    105th Congress                                                   Report
                            HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

     2d Session                                             105-562, Part I
    _______________________________________________________________________

      COMMISSION ON THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN IN SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND
                           TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ACT

    _______________________________________________________________________

                      June 3, 1998.--Ordered to be printed

                                    _______

        Mr. Sensenbrenner, from the Committee on Science, submitted the
                                   following

                                  R E P O R T

                            [To accompany H.R. 3007]

          [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

        The Committee on Science, to whom was referred the bill
    (H.R. 3007) to establish the Commission on the Advancement of
    Women in Science, Engineering, and Technology Development,
    having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an
    amendment and recommends that the bill as amended do pass.

                                C O N T E N T S

                                                                       Page
       I. Amendment.......................................................2
      II. Purpose of the Bill.............................................6
     III. Background and Need for the Legislation.........................6
      IV. Summary of Hearings.............................................7
       V. Committee Actions...............................................8
      VI. Summary of Major Provisions of the Bill........................10
     VII. Section-By-Section Analysis (By Title and Section) and Committee
          Views..........................................................10
    VIII. Committee Cost Estimate........................................17
      IX. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate......................18
       X. Compliance With Public Law 104-4...............................19
      XI. Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations...............19
     XII. Oversight Findings and Recommendations by the Committee on
          Government Reform and Oversight................................19
    XIII. Constitutional Authority Statement.............................19
     XIV. Federal Advisory Committee Statement...........................19
      XV. Congressional Accountability Act...............................19
     XVI. Committee Recommendations......................................19
    XVII. Proceedings of the Subcommittee Markup.........................21
    XVIII.Proceedings of the Full Committee Markup.......................67

                                  I. Amendment

        The amendment is as follows:
        Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu
    thereof the following:

    SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

        This Act may be cited as the ``Commission on the Advancement of
    Women in Science, Engineering, and Technology Development Act''.

    SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

        The Congress finds the following:
                (1) According to the National Science Foundation's 1996
            report, Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in
            Science and Engineering--
                        (A) women have historically been underrepresented
                    in scientific and engineering occupations, and although
                    progress has been made over the last several decades,
                    there is still room for improvement;
                        (B) female students take fewer high-level
                    mathematics and science courses in high school;
                        (C) female students earn fewer bachelors, masters,
                    and doctoral degrees in science and engineering;
                        (D) among recent bachelors of science and bachelors
                    of engineering graduates, women are less likely to be
                    in the labor force, to be employed full-time, and to be
                    employed in their field than are men;
                        (E) among doctoral scientists and engineers, women
                    are far more likely to be employed at 2-year
                    institutions, are far less likely to be employed in
                    research universities, and are much more likely to
                    teach part-time;
                        (F) among university full-time faculty, women are
                    less likely to chair departments or hold high-ranked
                    positions; and
                        (G) a substantial salary gap exists between men and
                    women with doctorates in science and engineering.
                (2) According to the National Research Council's 1995
            report, Women Scientists and Engineers Employed in Industry:
            Why So Few?--
                        (A) limited access is the first hurdle faced by
                    women seeking industrial jobs in science and
                    engineering, and while progress has been made in recent
                    years, common recruitment and hiring practices that
                    make extensive use of traditional networks often
                    overlook the available pool of women;
                        (B) once on the job, many women find paternalism,
                    sexual harassment, allegations of reverse
                    discrimination, different standards for judging the
                    work of men and women, lower salary relative to their
                    male peers, inequitable job assignments, and other
                    aspects of a male-oriented culture that are hostile to
                    women; and
                        (C) women to a greater extent than men find limited
                    opportunities for advancement, particularly for moving
                    into management positions, and the number of women who
                    have achieved the top levels in corporations is much
                    lower than would be expected, based on the pipeline
                    model.
                (3) The establishment of a commission to examine issues
            raised by the findings of these 2 reports would help--
                        (A) to focus attention on the importance of
                    eliminating artificial barriers to the recruitment,
                    retention, and advancement of women in the fields of
                    science, engineering, and technology, and in all
                    employment sectors of the United States;
                        (B) to promote work force diversity;
                        (C) to sensitize employers to the need to recruit
                    and retain women scientists, engineers, and computer
                    specialists; and
                        (D) to encourage the replication of successful
                    recruitment and retention programs by universities,
                    corporations, and Federal agencies having difficulties
                    in employing women in the fields of science,
                    engineering, and technology.

    SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.

        There is established a commission to be known as the ``Commission
    on the Advancement of Women in Science, Engineering, and Technology
    Development'' (in this Act referred to as the ``Commission'').

    SEC. 4. DUTY OF THE COMMISSION.

        The Commission shall review available research, and, if determined
    necessary by the Commission, conduct additional research to--
                (1) identify the number of women (including minority women
            and women with disabilities) in the United States in specific
            types of occupations in science, engineering, and technology
            development;
                (2) examine the preparedness of women (including minority
            women and women with disabilities) to--
                        (A) pursue careers in science, engineering, and
                    technology development; and
                        (B) advance to positions of greater responsibility
                    within academia, industry, and government;
                (3) describe the practices and policies of employers and
            labor unions relating to the recruitment, retention, and
            advancement of women (including minority women and women with
            disabilities) in the fields of science, engineering, and
            technology development;
                (4) identify the opportunities for, and artificial barriers
            to, the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women
            (including minority women and women with disabilities) in the
            fields of science, engineering, and technology development in
            academia, industry, and government;
                (5) compile a synthesis of available research on lawful
            practices, policies, and programs that have successfully led to
            the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women (including
            minority women and women with disabilities) in science,
            engineering, and technology development;
                (6) issue recommendations with respect to lawful policies
            that government (including Congress and appropriate Federal
            agencies), academia, and private industry can follow regarding
            the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women (including
            minority women and women with disabilities) in science,
            engineering, and technology development;
                (7) identify the disincentives for women (including
            minority women and women with disabilities) to continue
            graduate education in the fields of engineering, physics, and
            computer science;
                (8) identify university undergraduate programs that are
            successful in retaining women (including minority women and
            women with disabilities) in the fields of science, engineering,
            and technology development;
                (9) identify the disincentives that lead to a
            disproportionate number of women (including minority women and
            women with disabilities) leaving the fields of science,
            engineering, and technology development before completing their
            undergraduate education;
                (10) assess the extent to which the recommendations of the
            Task Force on Women, Minorities, and the Handicapped in Science
            and Technology established under section 8 of the National
            Science Foundation Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1987
            (Public Law 99-383; 42 U.S.C. 1885a note) have been
            implemented;
                (11) compile a list of all Federally funded reports on the
            subjects of encouraging women (including minority women and
            women with disabilities) to enter the fields of science and
            engineering and retaining women (including minority women and
            women with disabilities) in the science and engineering
            workforce that have been issued since the date that the Task
            Force described in paragraph (10) submitted its report to
            Congress; and
                (12) assess the extent to which the recommendations
            contained in the reports described in paragraph (11) have been
            implemented.

    SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP.

        (a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of 11
    members as follows:
                (1) 3 members appointed by the President from among for-
            profit entities that hire individuals in the fields of
            engineering, science, or technology development.
                (2) 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of
            Representatives from among such entities.
                (3) 2 members appointed by the majority leader of the
            Senate from among such entities.
                (4) 2 members appointed by the Chairman of the National
            Governors Association from among individuals in education or
            academia in the fields of life science, physical science, or
            engineering.
                (5) 2 members appointed by the Vice Chairman of the
            National Governors Association from among such individuals.
        (b) Initial Appointments.--Initial appointments shall be made under
    subsection (a) not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment
    of this Act.
        (c) Terms.--
                (1) In general.--Each member shall be appointed for the
            life of the Commission.
                (2) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled
            in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
        (d) Pay of Members.--Members shall not be paid by reason of their
    service on the Commission.
        (e) Travel Expenses.--Each member shall receive travel expenses,
    including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with sections
    5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
        (f) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission shall
    constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
        (g) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the Commission shall be
    elected by the members.
        (h) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet not fewer than 5 times in
    connection with and pending the completion of the report described in
    section 8. The Commission shall hold additional meetings for such
    purpose if the Chairperson or a majority of the members of the
    Commission requests the additional meetings in writing.
        (i) Employment Status.--Members of the Commission shall not be
    deemed to be employees of the Federal Government by reason of their
    work on the Commission except for the purposes of--
                (1) the tort claims provisions of chapter 171 of title 28,
            United States Code; and
                (2) subchapter I of chapter 81 of title 5, United States
            Code, relating to compensation for work injuries.

    SEC. 6. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF COMMISSION; EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.

        (a) Director.--The Commission shall appoint a Director who shall be
    paid at a rate not to exceed the maximum annual rate of basic pay
    payable under section 5376 of title 5, United States Code.
        (b) Staff.--The Commission may appoint and fix the pay of
    additional personnel as the Commission considers appropriate.
        (c) Applicability of Certain Civil Service Laws.--The Director and
    staff of the Commission may be appointed without regard to the
    provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in
    the competitive service, and may be paid without regard to the
    provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title
    relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that
    an individual so appointed may not receive pay in excess of the maximum
    annual rate of basic pay payable under section 5376 of title 5, United
    States Code.
        (d) Experts and Consultants.--The Commission may procure temporary
    and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United
    States Code, at rates for individuals not to exceed the maximum annual
    rate of basic pay payable under section 5376 of title 5, United States
    Code.
        (e) Staff of Federal Agencies.--Upon request of the Commission, the
    Director of the National Science Foundation or the head of any other
    Federal department or agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any
    of the personnel of that department or agency to the Commission to
    assist it in carrying out its duties under this Act.

    SEC. 7. POWERS OF COMMISSION.

        (a) Hearings and Sessions.--The Commission may, for the purpose of
    carrying out this Act, hold hearings, sit and act at times and places,
    take testimony, and receive evidence as the Commission considers
    appropriate. The Commission may administer oaths or affirmations to
    witnesses appearing before it.
        (b) Powers of Members and Agents.--Any member or agent of the
    Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take any action which
    the Commission is authorized to take by this section.
        (c) Obtaining Official Data.--The Commission may secure directly
    from any department or agency of the United States information
    necessary to enable it to carry out this Act. Upon request of the
    Chairperson of the Commission, the head of that department or agency
    shall furnish that information to the Commission.
        (d) Gifts, Bequests, and Devises.--The Commission may accept, use,
    and dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of services or property,
    both real and personal, for the purpose of aiding or facilitating the
    work of the Commission. Gifts, bequests, or devises of money and
    proceeds from sales of other property received as gifts, bequests, or
    devises shall be deposited in the Treasury and shall be available for
    disbursement upon order of the Commission.
        (e) Mails.--The Commission may use the United States mails in the
    same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and
    agencies of the United States.
        (f) Administrative Support Services.--Upon the request of the
    Commission, the Administrator of General Services shall provide to the
    Commission, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative support
    services necessary for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities
    under this Act.
        (g) Contract Authority.--To the extent provided in advance in
    appropriations Acts, the Commission may contract with and compensate
    government and private agencies or persons for the purpose of
    conducting research or surveys necessary to enable the Commission to
    carry out its duties under this Act.

    SEC. 8. REPORT.

        Not later than 1 year after the date on which the initial
    appointments under section 5(a) are completed, the Commission shall
    submit to the President, the Congress, and the highest executive
    official of each State, a written report containing the findings,
    conclusions, and recommendations of the Commission resulting from the
    study conducted under section 4.

    SEC. 9. CONSTRUCTION; USE OF INFORMATION OBTAINED.

        (a) In General.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require
    any non-Federal entity (such as a business, college or university,
    foundation, or research organization) to provide information to the
    Commission concerning such entity's personnel policies, including
    salaries and benefits, promotion criteria, and affirmative action
    plans.
        (b) Use of Information Obtained.--No information obtained from any
    entity by the Commission may be used in connection with any employment
    related litigation.

    SEC. 10. TERMINATION; ACCESS TO INFORMATION.

        (a) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate 30 days after
    submitting the report required by section 8.
        (b) Access to Information.--On or before the date of the
    termination of the Commission under subsection (a), the Commission
    shall provide to the National Science Foundation the information
    gathered by the Commission in the process of carrying out its duties
    under this Act. The National Science Foundation shall act as a central
    repository for such information and shall make such information
    available to the public, including making such information available
    through the Internet.

    SEC. 11. REVIEW OF INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE NATIONAL SCIENCE
                        FOUNDATION AND OTHER AGENCIES.

        (a) Provision of Information.--At the request of the Commission,
    the National Science Foundation and any other Federal department or
    agency shall provide to the Commission any information determined
    necessary by the Commission to carry out its duties under this Act,
    including--
                (1) data on academic degrees awarded to women (including
            minority women and women with disabilities) in science,
            engineering, and technology development, and workforce
            representation and the retention of women (including minority
            women and women with disabilities) in the fields of science,
            engineering, and technology development; and
                (2) information gathered by the National Science Foundation
            in the process of compiling its biennial report on Women,
            Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and
            Engineering.
        (b) Review of Information.--The Commission shall review any
    information provided under subsection (a) and shall include in the
    report required under section 8--
                (1) recommendations on how to correct any deficiencies in
            the collection of the types of information described in that
            subsection, and in the analysis of such data, which might
            impede the characterization of the factors which affect the
            attraction and retention of women (including minority women and
            women with disabilities) in the fields of science, engineering,
            and technology development; and
                (2) an assessment of the biennial report of the National
            Science Foundation on Women, Minorities, and Persons with
            Disabilities in Science and Engineering, and recommendations on
            how that report could be improved.

    SEC. 12. DEFINITION OF STATE.

        In this Act, the term ``State'' includes the several States, the
    District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth
    of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin
    Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States.

                            II. Purpose of the Bill

        The purpose of the bill is to establish the Commission on
    the Advancement of Women in Science, Engineering, and
    Technology Development to: (1) identify the number of women in
    the United States in the fields of science, engineering, and
    technology development; (2) determine the barriers that exist
    to women pursuing an education or career within each of these
    disciplines; and (3) issue recommendations that government,
    academia, and private industry can follow to encourage the
    recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in science,
    engineering, and technology development.

                  III. Background and Need for the Legislation

        Over the last decade, the use of technology has transformed
    almost every sector of our Nation's economy ranging from
    transportation and health care to manufacturing and education.
    In manufacturing alone, high-tech industries are currently the
    largest manufacturing employer in the United States. In
    addition, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has predicted the
    demand for highly skilled workers in computer and data
    processing services will more than double over the next 10
    years. The shift from an industrial age to an information age
    has resulted in the need for an increased pool of high-tech
    workers trained in all areas of science, engineering, and
    technology development.
        There has been significant progress over the last decade
    integrating women into the fields of science, engineering, and
    technology development. For example, according to the
    Engineering Workforce Commission of the American Association of
    Engineering Societies, the percentage of women Ph.D.'s in
    engineering has increased from .4 percent in 1970 to 12.2
    percent in 1997. In addition, the number of medical degrees
    earned by women rose from 8 percent to 38 percent between 1970
    and 1993.
        Women, however, continue to be underrepresented in most
    scientific and engineering fields, thus significantly
    decreasing the pool of potential high-tech workers. According
    to the 1996 National Science Foundation report, Women,
    Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and
    Engineering, women represent nearly 46 percent of the U.S.
    labor force, but comprise only 22 percent of all scientists and
    engineers. With respect to engineering, which includes
    electrical and computer engineering, the percentage of women in
    the workforce is still under 10 percent.
        In order to ensure that the U.S. high-tech economy
    continues to flourish well into the 21st Century, the need
    exists to examine what underlying factors contribute to the
    relative lack of women in science, engineering, and technology
    development. H.R. 3007 will establish a Commission on the
    Advancement of Women in Science, Engineering, and Technology
    Development to address this issue.
        H.R. 3476, similar legislation introduced by Mrs. Morella,
    was considered under suspension of the rules and passed the
    House by a voice vote on September 29, 1992. The measure was
    not acted upon by the Senate.

                            IV. Summary of Hearings

        On March 10, 1998, the Subcommittees on Technology and
    Basic Research held a joint hearing on ``A Review of H.R. 3007,
    The Advancement of Women in Science, Engineering, and
    Technology Development Act.'' Witnesses included: Ms. Belkis
    Leong-Hong, President-elect, Women in Technology (WIT); Ms.
    Catherine Didion, Executive Director, Association for Women in
    Science; Ms. Monica Moman-Saunders, Louisville Gas and Electric
    Company, representing the American Society of Mechanical
    Engineers; and Professor Ann M. Quade, Department of Computer
    Science, Mankato State University.
        Ms. Belkis Leong-Hong, testifying as President-elect, Women
    in Technology, Fairfax, Virginia, emphasized the need to
    provide young women the support necessary to pursue an
    education and career in science, engineering, and technology
    development. As an example of the lack of encouragement for
    young women to excel in these areas, she stated that nearly
    one-third of all girls in our high schools report that they
    were advised against taking advanced mathematics courses. To
    overcome the lack of support for young women in all areas of
    science, the need exists for a systematic mentoring process.
    Women in Technology (WIT) has addressed this problem by
    establishing a formal mentoring program in the Washington, DC.
    metropolitan area. Ms. Leong-Hong expresses her support for
    H.R. 3007 and endorsed the bill on behalf of WIT.
        Ms. Catherine Didion, testifying as Executive Director,
    Association for Women in Science, stated that there needs to be
    a major change in the way society portrays women in science,
    engineering, and technology development. In particular, she
    stated that many young women have a difficult time reconciling
    the demands of being a woman with being a scientist. She stated
    that in a recent study by the National Science Teachers
    Association, 99 percent of the boys and nearly 90 percent of
    the girls who were asked to draw a picture of a scientists drew
    a white male scientist. To reinforce this point, she recalled
    the account of one female scientist who was advised not to wear
    fingernail polish or makeup if she hoped to be taken seriously.
    After informally polling the 76 AWIS chapters and asking what
    was the compelling issue facing women in science, Ms. Didion
    said she received numerous answers but that almost all of them
    contained two important recommendations. First, that there is a
    need to promote an effective mentoring system with adequate
    reward structures for women in science. Second, flexibility in
    the workforce is a key contributor to whether women succeed in
    careers in science. She said many women fear it is unrealistic
    to both pursue a career in science and also maintain a solid
    family structure. Ms. Didion endorsed H.R. 3007 on behalf of
    AWIS.
        Professor Ann Quade, testifying as Associate Professor,
    Department of Computer Science, Mankato State University,
    expressed her concern about the decline in the number of women
    pursuing degrees in computer sciences. She cited data
    indicating a 50% decrease in the number of women pursuing a
    computer science degree between the years 1986 and 1994.
    Professor Quade referenced other previously male dominated
    fields where women have made progress including medicine, law,
    and business, and said that the skills necessary to succeed in
    these areas are essentially the same skills necessary to
    succeed in computer sciences. She stated that in her experience
    as an educator, many young women did not have an adequate
    understanding of what was involved in the computer science
    field. She indicated that those involved in the profession had
    not done a very good job of explaining what they do for a
    living and potential job opportunities for computer science
    graduates. She supported the idea of a strong mentoring system
    to achieve this goal. Professor Quade also endorsed H.R. 3007.
        Ms. Monica Moman-Saunders, testifying on behalf of the
    American Society of Mechanical Engineers, cited a number of
    statistics which indicate that women are making progress in the
    areas of science, engineering, and technology development.
    However, she also stated that not enough is being done to
    recruit, retain, and advance women in these areas. Ms. Moman-
    Saunders emphasized the need for the Commission established by
    H.R. 3007 to draw upon the resources of other groups and
    coordinate its efforts with those that are ongoing in order to
    keep duplicative research from occurring. ASME, for example,
    recently completed a similar study aimed at determining whether
    real or perceived barriers exist that inhibit the participation
    of women and minorities in their society. This information
    should be shared and incorporated within the Commission's
    study. Ms. Moman-Saunders agreed with the other witnesses that
    mentoring programs are critically important in not only
    recruitment of women in science, engineering, and technology,
    but also their retention of women. In conclusion, Ms. Moman-
    Saunders stated that women constitute nearly half of the
    Nation's labor force; thus, it is crucial to the Nation's
    economy that the under-representation of women in science,
    engineering and technology be rectified. Ms. Moman-Saunders
    also endorsed H.R. 3007 on behalf of ASME.

                              V. Committee Actions

        On March 26, 1998, the Committee on Science, Subcommittee
    on Technology convened to markup H.R. 3007, the Commission on
    the Advancement of Women in Science, Engineering, and
    Technology Development Act. A substitute amendment was offered
    and adopted by voice vote. Five amendments to the substitute
    were considered en bloc and adopted by voice vote.
        1. Mrs. Morella offered a substitute amendment to
    streamline the Commission process and for other purposes. The
    amendment requires the Commission to be appointed in 90, not
    180 days; gives the Commission 1 year, not 18 months to report;
    terminates the Commission in 30 days, not 1 year, after it
    reports; and replaces a requirement that NSF conduct a study
    with language requiring NSF to transmit the data it currently
    collects to the Commission. In addition the substitute ensures
    that the States are active participants in the Commission by
    allowing the National Governors Association Chairman and Vice
    Chairman to appoint 4 of the 11 Commissioners, and by requiring
    the Commission's report to be transmitted to all 50 States, the
    District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories. The substitute
    was adopted by a voice vote.
        2. Mrs. Morella requested unanimous consent to consider
    five amendments to the substitute offered by Ms. Stabenow, Mrs.
    Tauscher, Mr. Doyle, and Ms. Rivers en bloc. The amendments
    would: (1) require the Commission to identify the disincentives
    for women to continue graduate educations in the fields of
    engineering, physics, and computer science; (2) require the
    National Science Foundation to act as a central repository for
    all information gathered by the Commission in carrying out its
    duties and to make the information available to the public,
    including making it available via the Internet; (3) require the
    Commission to identify university undergraduate programs that
    are successful in retaining women in the fields of science,
    engineering, and technology development and to identify
    disincentives that lead to a disproportionate number of women
    leaving these fields before completing their undergraduate
    degrees; (4) require the Commission to compile a list of all
    federally funded reports on women in science and to assess the
    extent to which any recommendations included in these reports,
    including the National Science Foundation's Task Force on
    Women, Minorities, and the Handicapped in Science and
    Technology, have been implemented; and (5) require all federal
    agencies, including the National Science Foundation, to provide
    at the request of the Commission any data collected by these
    agencies relevant to the work of the Commission and require the
    Commission to analyze the data and offer recommendations
    regarding deficiencies in the collection process. The
    amendments to the substitute were considered en bloc and
    adopted by voice vote.
        With a quorum present, Mr. Barcia moved that H.R. 3007, as
    amended, be reported. The motion was adopted by a voice vote.
        On May 13, 1998, the Committee on Science convened to
    markup H.R. 3007. A substitute and an en bloc amendment to the
    substitute were adopted by voice vote. An amendment to the en
    bloc amendment was rejected by voice vote.
        1. Mrs. Morella offered an Amendment in the Nature of a
    Substitute which consisted of the text of H.R. 3007 as reported
    by the Technology Subcommittee. The amendment was agreed to by
    a voice vote.
        2. Chairman Sensenbrenner offered an en bloc amendment to
    the substitute reflecting four amendments offered by Ms.
    Johnson, Ms. Stabenow, Ms. Lee, and Ms. Jackson Lee. The en
    bloc amendment: inserts a new section of findings based on the
    findings of the National Science Foundation's 1996 report,
    Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and
    Engineering, and the National Research Council's 1995 report,
    Women Scientists and Engineers Employed in Industry, Why so
    Few?; strikes the word ``nondiscriminatory'' as it appears in
    the legislation and replaces it with the word ``lawful'';
    prohibits members of the Commission from being compensated for
    days in which they partake in Commission business; and strikes
    the term ``women'' as it appears in the legislation and
    replaces it with the term ``women (including minority women and
    women with disabilities).'' The en bloc amendment was adopted
    by a voice vote.
        3. Mr. Bartlett offered an amendment to the en bloc
    amendment to strike language contained in the Findings (Section
    2 (3) (B & C)) related to workforce diversity and sensitizing
    employers to the need to recruit and retain women scientists,
    engineers, and computer specialists. The amendment was defeated
    by a voice vote.
        With a quorum present, Mr. Brown moved that H.R. 3007, as
    amended, be reported. The motion was adopted by a voice vote.

                  VI. Summary of Major Provisions of the Bill

        H.R. 3007 establishes the Commission on the Advancement of
    Women in Science, Engineering, and Technology Development to
    examine the barriers that exist to women scientists and
    engineers. Specifically, H.R. 3007 requires the Commission to:

        1. Identify the number of women in the United States in the
    fields of science, engineering, and technology development.
        2. Examine the preparedness of women to pursue careers in
    science, engineering, and technology development and to advance
    to positions of greater responsibility in academia, industry,
    and government.
        3. Describe university undergraduate programs that are
    successful in retaining women in the areas of science,
    engineering, and technology development.
        4. Identify any disincentives that have led to a
    disproportionate number of women either leaving the fields of
    science, engineering, and technology development before
    receiving a degree or declining to pursue a graduate education
    in any of these disciplines.
        5. Examine the current practices and policies of employers
    relating to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of
    women in science, engineering, and technology development, and
    to compile a synthesis of available research in areas where
    such practices, policies, and programs have proven successful.
        5. Issue recommendations, in the form of a report, that
    government, academia, and private industry can follow to
    encourage and assist women pursuing an education and career in
    the fields of science, engineering, and technology development.

     VII. Section-by-Section Analysis (By Title and Section) and Committee
                                     Views

    Section 1. Short Title

        The Act's title is the ``Commission on the Advancement of
    Women in Science, Engineering, and Technology Development
    Act.''

    Section 2. Findings

        The Committee finds that according to the 1996 National
    Science Foundation's report, Women, Minorities, and Person with
    Disabilities in Science and Engineering:
        1. Women have historically been underrepresented in
    scientific and engineering occupations, and although progress
    has been made over the last several decades, there is still
    room for improvement.
        2. Female students take fewer high-level mathematics and
    science courses in high school.
        3. Female students earn fewer bachelors, masters, and
    doctoral degrees in science and engineering.
        4. Among recent bachelors of science and bachelors of
    engineering graduates, women are less likely to be in the labor
    force, to be employed full-time, and to be employed in their
    field than are men.
        5. Among doctoral scientists and engineers, women are far
    more likely to be employed at 2 year institutions, are far less
    likely to be employed in research universities, and are much
    more likely to teach part-time.
        6. Among university full-time faculty, women are less
    likely to chair departments or hold high ranking positions.
        7. A substantial salary gap exists between men and women
    with doctorates in science and engineering.
        The Committee also finds that according to the National
    Science Foundation's 1995 report, Women Scientists and
    Engineers Employed in Industry: Why so Few?:
        1. Limited access is the first hurdle faced by women
    seeking industrial jobs in science and engineering, and while
    progress has been made in recent years, common recruitment and
    hiring practices that make extensive use of traditional
    networks often overlook the available pool of women.
        2. Once on the job, many women find paternalism, sexual
    harassment, allegations of reverse discrimination, different
    standards for judging the work of women and men, lower salary
    relative to their male peers, inequitable job assignments, and
    other aspects of a male-oriented culture that are hostile to
    women.
        3. Women to a greater extent than men find limited
    opportunities for advancement, particularly for moving into
    management positions, and the number of women who have achieved
    the top levels in corporations is much lower than would be
    expected, based on the pipeline model.
        The establishment of a commission to examine issues raised
    by the findings in these two reports would help:
        1. Focus attention on the importance of eliminating
    artificial barriers to the recruitment, retention, and
    advancement of women in the fields of science, engineering, and
    technology, and in all employment sectors of the United States;
        2. Promote work force diversity;
        3. Sensitize employers to the need to recruit and retain
    women scientists, engineers, and computer specialists; and
        4. Encourage the replication of successful recruitment and
    retention programs by universities, corporations, and federal
    agencies having difficulties in employing women in the fields
    of science, engineering, and technology.

    Section 3. Establishment

        Establishes the ``Commission on the Advancement of Women in
    Science, Engineering, and Technology Development.''

    Section 4. Duty of the Commission

        The Commission shall review available research, and, if
    determined necessary by the Commission, conduct additional
    research to:
        1. identify the number of women in the United States in the
    fields of science, engineering, and technology development;
        2. examine the preparedness of all women to:

          (A) pursue careers in science, engineering, and
    technology development; and
          (B) advance to positions of greater responsibility within
    academia, industry, and government;

        3. describe the practices and policies of employers and
    labor unions relating to the recruitment, retention, and
    advancement of all women in the fields of science, engineering,
    and technology development;
        4. identify the opportunities for, and artificial barriers
    to, the recruitment, retention, and advancement of all women in
    the fields of science, engineering, and technology development
    in academia, industry, and government;
        5. compile a synthesis of available research on lawful
    practices, policies, and programs that have successfully led to
    the recruitment, retention, and advancement of all women in
    science, engineering, and technology development;
        6. issue recommendations with respect to lawful policies
    that government (including Congress and appropriate federal
    agencies), academia, and private industry can follow to assist
    in the recruitment, retention, and advancement of all women in
    science, engineering, and technology development;
        7. identify the disincentives for all women to continue
    graduate education in the fields of engineering, physics, and
    computer science;
        8. identify university undergraduate programs that are
    successful in retaining all women in the fields of science,
    engineering, and technology development;
        9. identify the disincentives that lead to a
    disproportionate number of all women leaving the fields of
    science, engineering, and technology development before
    completing their undergraduate education;
        10. assess the extent to which the recommendations of the
    Task Force on Women, Minorities, and the Handicapped in Science
    and Technology established under Section 8 of the National
    Science Foundation Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1987 have
    been implemented;
        11. compile a list of all federally funded reports on the
    subjects of encouraging all women to enter the fields of
    science and engineering and retaining all women in the science
    and engineering workforce that have been issued since the date
    that the Task Force on Women, Minorities, and the Handicapped
    in Science and Technology submitted its report to Congress; and
        12. assess the extent to which the recommendations
    contained in the reports described in paragraph (11) have been
    implemented.

    Committee Views

        The Committee expects the Commission to conduct a thorough
    analysis of the current status of all women (including
    minorities and women with disabilities) in the fields of
    science, engineering, and technology development and to provide
    insight as to the barriers that face women pursuing an
    education or career in these disciplines.
        There have been varying attempts in the past by other
    federal entities and private organizations to address the issue
    of women in science and engineering. However, little has been
    done to coordinate these efforts or to develop a uniform
    analysis of the problem. The Committee believes it is important
    to coordinate these efforts, rather than allow public policy to
    be driven by a plethora of different reports, statistics, and
    recommendations. It is not the intent of the Committee to have
    the Commission duplicate any previous research or work done in
    this area. Rather, the Committee believes the Commission should
    utilize the existing disparate body of information on this
    issue, to the extent possible, in carrying out its duties.
        In its report, the Commission is expected to provide a list
    of recommendations with respect to lawful policies that
    government, academia, and private industry can follow to
    encourage and assist in the recruitment, retention, and
    advancement of women in science, engineering, and technology
    development.
        The use of the term ``lawful'' in the bill is intended to
    reinforce the Committee's opposition to the use of quotas in
    advancing women in the fields of science, engineering, and
    technology development. The Committee supports programs which
    promote efforts to recruit and retain women into the fields of
    science, engineering, and technology development on the basis
    of merit.
        The Committee does not intend that the Commission review
    all existing federal programs to assess their compliance with
    the law. Rather, the Committee believes the Commission should
    not include in its report recommendations for any programs that
    have been judged by a federal court to be in violation of the
    U.S. Constitution or a federal civil rights statute.

    Section 5. Membership

        (a) The Commission will be made up of 11 members to be
    appointed by the President (3), the Speaker of the House (2),
    the Majority Leader of the Senate (2), and the Chairman and
    Vice Chairman of the National Governors Association (2 each).
    The membership of the Commission shall consist of individuals
    from for profit entities who hire individuals in the fields of
    engineering, science, and technology development, and
    individuals in education or academia in the fields of life
    science, physical science, or engineering.
        (b) The Commission must be appointed within 90 days of
    enactment of the act.
        (c) Members are appointed for the life of the Commission
    and any vacancies will be filled in the same manner in which
    the original appointment was made.
        (d) Members will not be paid, but will be reimbursed for
    travel and receive per diem.
        (e) A Commission quorum consists of the majority of the
    Commission.
        (f) The Chairperson of the Commission shall be elected by
    its members.
        (g) The Commission must meet at least five times before
    issuing its report.
        (h) A member of the Commission is not deemed to be a
    federal employee except with regard to tort claims and workers
    compensation for injuries.

    Committee Views

        The Committee supports actively involving the States in the
    Commission process by allowing the National Governors
    Association's Chair and Vice Chair to appoint 4 members to the
    Commission. In addition, it is the intent of the Committee to
    define the types of people expected to serve on the Commission.
    The Committee believes the Commission members should be
    selected from among those candidates who are involved on a day-
    to-day basis both in hiring and retaining women scientists and
    engineers, and people who are actively involved in educating
    women in these areas.

    Section 6. Director and Staff of Commission; Experts and Consultants

        (a) The Commission will have a director appointed by its
    members.
        (b) The Commission may hire staff as the members deem
    appropriate.
        (c) Commission staff can be hired without going through
    standard federal employment practices.
        (d) The Commission may hire consultants and experts.
        (e) The Director of the National Science Foundation and
    other federal agencies may detail staff to the commission on a
    reimbursable basis.

    Committee Views

        This section is intended to give the Commission members the
    authority to establish the support team necessary to carry out
    the duties of the Commission. This includes giving the
    Commission discretion over such issues as the selection of a
    director, the hiring of additional staff, if deemed necessary,
    and the procurement of the services of other experts and or
    consultants. The Committee does not intend that the Commission
    create a large staff which would duplicate work already being
    conducted at various government agencies.

    Section 7. Powers of Commission

        (a) The Commission may hold hearings, sit, take testimony,
    and receive evidence as the Commission considers appropriate.
        (b) The Commission may authorize its individual members to
    take actions which the Commission is authorized to take.
        (c) The Commission may request from any federal agency
    information necessary to enable it to carryout its work. Upon
    request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of that
    department or agency shall furnish that information to the
    Commission.
        (d) The Commission may accept, use, and dispose of gifts
    for the purpose of aiding or facilitating its work. Gifts shall
    be deposited in the Treasury and shall be available to the
    Commission.
        (e) The Commission may use the United States mail in the
    same manner and under the same conditions as other departments
    and agencies of the United States.
        (f) The Administrator of General Services shall provide to
    the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, the administrative
    support it requires.
        (g) To the extent provided in advance in appropriations
    bills, the Commission may contract with and compensate
    government and private agencies or persons for the purpose of
    conducting research or surveys.

    Committee Views

        It is the intent of the Committee that the Commission
    operate in an independent and autonomous manner. The Committee
    authorizes the Commission to hold hearings, receive testimony,
    and collect other relevant information. The Committee has given
    the Commission significant authority to collect information.
    The Committee believes the Commission should use care in its
    use of this authority, especially in its request for
    information collected by federal agencies from private sources.
    The Commission should use great discretion in requesting
    information considered sensitive by agencies which have
    collected information from the private sector. It is not the
    Committee's intention to harm private companies which have
    cooperated with federal agencies by supplying proprietary
    information about the companies hiring practices.

    Section 8. Report

        Not later than 1 year after the Commission is established,
    the Commission shall submit to the President, the Congress, and
    the highest executive official of each State, a written report
    containing the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of
    the Commission.

    Committee Views

        The Committee has described in length in Section 4 the
    types of information which it expects to be included in the
    Commission's final report.

    Section 9. Construction; Use of Information Obtained

        (a) Non-federal entities such as a business, college or
    university, foundation, or research organization are not
    required to provide information to the Commission concerning
    their personnel policies, including salaries and benefits,
    promotion criteria, and affirmative action plans.
        (b) No information obtained from any entity by the
    Commission may be used in connection with any employment
    related litigation.

    Committee Views

        The Committee believes that in order for the Commission to
    issue a report which reflects the true nature of those barriers
    that exist for women in science, engineering, and technology
    development, it is important for the Commission to receive a
    comprehensive overview of the current policies and practices of
    employers relating to the recruitment and retainment of women
    scientists and engineers. However, it is not the intent of the
    Committee to force non-federal entities to supply the
    Commission with information directly related to their personnel
    policies. To promote voluntary cooperation from the private
    sector, the Committee believes it is important to emphasize
    that no information gathered by the Commission may be used in
    connection with any employment related litigation.

    Section 10. Termination

        (a) The Commission is terminated 30 days after submitting
    its report.
        (b) After the termination of the Commission, the National
    Science Foundation will act as a central depository for all
    information gathered by the Commission in carrying out its
    duties and will make such information available to the public,
    including making the information available via the Internet.

    Committee Views

        The Commission is expected to provide a list of
    recommendations that government, academia, and private
    organizations can follow to encourage and assists women in the
    fields of science, engineering, and technology development. The
    Committee believes that utilizing the Internet to make the
    findings and recommendations of the Commission available to the
    general public is an effective way to reach a large portion of
    those individuals and entities who can most benefit from the
    work of the Commission, namely those in academia and industry
    who might not otherwise have access to the final report. It is
    the intent of the Committee to ensure wide distribution of the
    Commission's findings and recommendations. However, it is not
    the intent of the Committee that private information, such as
    personnel policies of specific private organizations or
    businesses, gathered by the Commission in compiling its report,
    be distributed via the Internet to the general public unless
    such distribution is specifically authorized by the business.

    Section 11. Review of Information Provided by the National Science
            Foundation and other Agencies

        (a) At the request of the Commission, the National Science
    Foundation and other federal agencies shall provide information
    to the Commission to carry out is duties, including:

          (1) data on academic degrees awarded to women in science,
    engineering, and technology development, and workforce
    representation and retention of women in the fields of science,
    engineering, and technology development; and
          (2) information gathered by the National Science
    Foundation in the process of compiling its biennial report on
    Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and
    Engineering.

        (b) The Commission shall review any information provided in
    subsection (a) and shall include in its final report:

          (1) recommendations on how to correct any deficiencies in
    the collection and analysis of the types of information
    gathered by the National Science Foundation or other federal
    agencies which might impede the characterization of the factors
    which affect the attraction and retention of women in the
    fields of science, engineering, and technology development; and
          (2) an assessment of the biennial report of the National
    Science Foundation on Women, Minorities, and Persons with
    Disabilities in Science and Engineering, and recommendations on
    how the report can be improved.

    Committee Views

        Several federal entities, including the National Science
    Foundation, collect a wide variety of raw data and statistics
    on the issue of women in science, engineering, and technology
    development. Examples of this data include the number of women
    employed in science and engineering, the types of jobs they
    hold, and their educational background. The Committee reaffirms
    its intent that the Commission not duplicate the previous work
    of federal agencies on this topic. The Committee believes that,
    through its review process, the Commission has a unique
    opportunity to identify any deficiencies in existing data.

    Section 12. Definition of State

        Defines the term ``State'' to include the 50 States, the
    District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the
    Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa,
    Guam, the Virgin Islands, and any other territory or possession
    of the United Sates.

                         VIII. Committee Cost Estimate

        Clause 7(a) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
    Representatives requires each Committee report accompanying
    each bill or joint resolution of a public character to contain:
    (1) an estimate, made by such Committee, of the costs which
    would be incurred in carrying out such bill or joint resolution
    in the fiscal year in which it is reported, and in each of the
    5 fiscal years following such fiscal year (or for the
    authorized duration of any program authorized by such bill or
    joint resolution, if less than 5 years); (2) a comparison of
    the estimate of costs described in subparagraph (1) of this
    paragraph made by such Committee with an estimate of such costs
    made by any government agency and submitted to such Committee;
    and (3) when practicable, a comparison of the total estimated
    funding level for the relevant program (or programs) with the
    appropriate levels under current law. However, clause 7(d) of
    that Rule provides that this requirement does not apply when a
    cost estimate and comparison prepared by the Director of the
    Congressional Budget Office under Section 403 of the
    Congressional Budget Act of 1974 has been timely submitted
    prior to the filing of the report and included in the report
    pursuant to clause 2(l)(3)(C) of Rule XI. A cost estimate and
    comparison prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
    Office under Section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of
    1974 has been timely submitted prior to the filing of this
    report and included in Section IX of this report pursuant to
    clause 2(l)(3)(C) of Rule XI.
        Clause 2(l)(3)(B) of Rule XI of the Rules of the House of
    Representatives requires each Committee report that accompanies
    a measure providing new budget authority (other than continuing
    appropriations), new spending authority, or new credit
    authority, or changes in revenues or tax expenditures to
    contain a cost estimate, as required by Section 308(a)(1) of
    the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and, when practicable with
    respect to estimates of new budget authority, a comparison of
    the total estimated funding level for the relevant program (or
    programs) to the appropriate levels under current law. H.R.
    3007 does not contain any new budget authority, credit
    authority, or changes in revenues or tax expenditures. Assuming
    that the sums authorized under the bill are appropriated, H.R.
    3007 does authorize additional discretionary spending, as
    described in the Congressional Budget Office report on the
    bill, which is contained in Section IX of this report.

                 IX. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

                                   Congressional Budget Office
                                                  U.S. Congress
                                          Washington, DC. 20515
                                      June E. O'Neill, Director

                                                           May 21, 1998
    Honorable F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr.,
    Chairman, Committee on Science,
    U.S. House of Representatives,
    Washington, DC. 20515

        Dear Mr. Chairman:
        The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost
    estimate for H.R. 3007, the Commission on the Advancement of Women in
    Science, Engineering, and Technology Development Act.
        If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased to
    provide them. The CBO staff contacts are Joanna Wilson and Kathleen
    Gramp, both of whom can be reached at 226-2860.
    Sincerely,
                                                        June E. O'Neill

    Enclosure

    cc: Honorable George E. Brown, Jr., Ranking Minority Member
                                     ______

                   CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE
                                  May 21, 1998
                                    H.R 3007
      Commission on the Advancement of Women in Science, Engineering, and
                           Technology Development Act
    As ordered reported by the House Committee on Science on May 13, 1998

        H.R. 3007 would establish an 11-member commission to study the
    barriers that face women in the fields of science, engineering, and
    technology. The bill would direct the commission to evaluate the
    current status of women in these fields and examine both successful and
    unsuccessful programs that encourage women to pursue such careers. The
    commission would have the authority to conduct hearings and to contract
    with various private or government agencies or individuals to collect
    information. The bill would direct the commission to hire a director
    and appoint additional personnel and would require it to submit a
    report within one year after its members are appointed.
        Assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates that
    implementing H.R. 3007 would cost approximately $1 million over the
    1999-2000 period. Based on information provided by the National Science
    Foundation and other commissions, CBO assumes that the commission would
    hire a small staff and seek assistance from outside consultants to
    compile and analyze the information. Because the report would have to
    be completed within one year, we also expect that the commission would
    rely heavily upon available information.
        H.R. 3007 would authorize the commission to accept and use gifts
    and donations. Donations of money are recorded in the budget as
    governmental receipts (revenues) and the use of any such amounts under
    this bill would be direct spending. Because H.R. 3007 could affect
    receipts and direct spending, pay-as-you-go procedures would apply. CBO
    expects that any such effects would be negligible.
        The bill contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates
    as defined in Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 and would not affect
    the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments.
        The CBO staff contacts for this estimate are Joanna Wilson and
    Kathleen Gramp, both of whom can be reached at 226-2860. This estimate
    was approved by Robert A. Sunshine, Deputy Assistant Director for
    Budget Analysis.

                      X. Compliance With Public Law 104-4

        H.R. 3007 contains no unfunded mandates.

              XI. Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations

        Clause 2(l)(3)(A) of Rule XI of the Rules of the House of
    Representatives requires each Committee report to include
    oversight findings and recommendations required pursuant to
    clause 2(b)(1) of rule X. The Committee has no oversight
    findings.

        XII. Oversight Findings and Recommendations by the Committee on
                        Government Reform and Oversight

        Clause 2(l)(3)(D) of Rule XI of the Rules of the House of
    Representatives requires each Committee report to contain a
    summary of the oversight findings and recommendations made by
    the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee pursuant to
    clause 4(c)(2) of Rule X, whenever such findings and
    recommendations have been submitted to the Committee in a
    timely fashion. The Committee on Science has received no such
    findings or recommendations from the Committee on Government
    Reform and Oversight.

                    XIII. Constitutional Authority Statement

        Clause 2(l)(4) of Rule XI of the Rules of the House of
    Representatives requires each report of a Committee on a bill
    or joint resolution of a public character to include a
    statement citing the specific powers granted to the Congress in
    the Constitution to enact the law proposed by the bill or joint
    resolution. Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the
    United States grants Congress the authority to enact H.R. 3007.

                   XIV. Federal Advisory Committee Statement

        The functions of the advisory committee authorized in H.R.
    3007 are not currently being nor could they be performed by one
    or more agencies or by enlarging the mandate of another
    existing advisory committee.

                      XV. Congressional Accountability Act

        The Committee finds that H.R. 3007 does not relate to the
    terms and conditions of employment or access to public services
    or accommodations within the meaning of Section 102(b)(3) of
    the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 104-1).

                         XVI. Committee Recommendations

        On May 13, 1998, a quorum being present, the Committee
    favorably reported H.R. 3007, the Commission on the Advancement
    of Women in Science, Engineering, and Technology Development
    Act, by a voice vote, and recommends its enactment.
                  XVII. Proceedings of the Subcommittee Markup

    SUBCOMMITTEE MARKUP OF H.R. 3007, THE COMMISSION ON THE ADVANCEMENT OF
         WOMEN IN SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ACT

                                  ----------

                            THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 1998

                 U.S. House of Representatives,
                                  Committee on Science,
                                    Subcommittee on Technology,
                                                        Washington, DC.
        The Subcommittee met at 10:12 a.m., in room 2318 of the
    Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Constance A. Morella,
    Chairwoman of the Subcommittee, presiding.
        Mrs. Morella. We will now consider H.R. 3007, the
    Commission on the Advancement of Women in Science, Engineering,
    and Technology Act.
        I would like to ask that for the first reading of the bill,
    ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered as read and
    open to amendment at any point.
        [The text of H.R. 3007 and a section-by-section analysis
    follow:]

        Mrs. Morella. There are six amendments on the roster, and I
    have an amendment at the desk.
        Before I offer the first amendment, I'd like to recognize
    the Ranking Member for his opening statement.
        Mr. Barcia. Thank you very much, Madam Chairwoman.
        I want to commend you for introducing House Resolution 3007
    and for bringing this bill to markup. Yet while the Science
    Committee has a long history of improving the participation
    rates of women in the fields of science and engineering, as was
    evident during the recent Subcommittee hearing on the bill, we
    still have a problem with encouraging and retaining women in
    the fields of science and engineering during their
    undergraduate and graduate education.
        The retention rates are even worse, once women graduate and
    they enter the workforce. In today's competitive environment,
    we must ensure that all Americans are encouraged to enter
    careers in science and engineering.
        We cannot afford to neglect half of our human resource
    base. Our job is to seek ways to ensure there is a level
    playing field for women in access to and retention in these
    fields.
        A number of my colleagues will be offering amendments to
    strengthen House Resolution 3007, and these proposed changes
    are intended to make certain that the Commission will build
    upon the existing pool of data and experience on this subject.
        I fully support these amendments. With these amendments,
    House Resolution 3007 is a step in the right direction to
    identifying ways to encourage the greater participation of
    women in the fields of science and engineering.
        I want to thank, once again, Chairwoman Morella for working
    with us to address our concerns in the bill, and for her strong
    support for these amendments.
        Madam Chairwoman, I thank you and yield back my time.
        Mrs. Morella. Thank you, Mr. Barcia.
        I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered as read
    and open to amendment at any point.
        There are six amendments on the roster, and I have an
    amendment at the desk. I ask unanimous consent that the
    Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute be considered as
    original text for the purpose of amendment, and be considered
    as read.
        [No response.]
        Mrs. Morella. Hearing no objection, so ordered.
        Actually, so that everyone is informed of the procedure
    that we're going to follow, this is what I suggest: That I
    offer the substitute, and then I'm going to ask unanimous
    consent to have the remaining five amendments, numbered 2
    through 6 on the roster, considered en bloc.
        I will then recognize each member, in the order of the
    roster, to explain his or her amendment, which at that point
    will be part of the en bloc amendment.
        Doing that, we'll then have one vote on the en bloc
    amendments. I'm now going to--so I ask that amendments 2
    through 6 on the roster be considered on bloc.
        [No response.]
        Mrs. Morella. Hearing no objection, so ordered.
        [The amendment roster and the text of the amendments
    follow:]

        Mrs. Morella. I will now recognize members, in order of the
    amendment roster, to explain their amendments as included in
    the en bloc amendment. So I will start off then with Ms.
    Stabenow.
        Ms. Stabenow is recognized for 5 minutes to explain her
    amendment.
        Ms. Stabenow. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. My amendment
    would add the words, on page 3, beginning on line 1, ``identify
    the disincentives for women to continue graduate education in
    the fields of engineering, physics, and computer science.''
        During our hearings on H.R. 3007, we heard from witnesses
    that mentioned the fact that many women do not pursue graduate
    careers. This leads to a lack of women faculty members and
    researchers who can serve as role models.
        This has also been identified as a problem in the NSF
    report, Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in
    Science and Engineering.
        Unfortunately, neither the witnesses nor NSF has systematic
    data on why this happens. We have identified a problem, but
    until we understand the causes, at this point it's difficult to
    develop a solution.
        The purpose of this amendment is to require the Commission
    to identify why women tend not to pursue graduate education in
    the fields of engineering, computer science, and physics, all
    of which field were identified as having particularly poor
    representation of women.
        I would appreciate the support of the Subcommittee.
        Mrs. Morella. Thank you, Ms. Stabenow. I know that that's
    the intent of the bill, and you've offered an amendment to make
    sure that the identification of the disincentives is part of
    the objective.
        I would now like to recognize Mr. Doyle for 5 minutes to
    explain his amendments.
        Mr. Doyle. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. I have two
    amendments. The first amendment is a very simple amendment
    offered very much in the spirit of good government.
        It requires the Commission to establish a repository for
    all of the information it gathers in order to ensure that its
    findings and recommendations are widely available. This
    requirement can easily be met by setting up a website on the
    Internet.
        One of the Commission's most useful activities will be to
    gather together the existing disparate body of information on
    this topic, generate new, relevant information, evaluate this
    information, and identify strategies and best practices for
    their replication.
        This is not the first time the Federal Government has tried
    to address this issue. Too often, though, these efforts are
    forgotten, with final reports left to collect dust in a storage
    facility.
        Hopefully the creation of an Internet website containing
    the workproduct generated through the activities of the
    Commission will result in greater access to this information,
    and thus widespread implementation of the Commission's findings
    and recommendations.
        My second amendment, Madam Chairwoman--during our
    Subcommittee hearing on this issue, the witnesses identified as
    a major problem, the evidence that many women opt out of
    science and engineering majors during their undergraduate
    educations.
        This tendency has been borne out by NSF findings as well.
    Since this is a known problem contributing to the
    underrepresentation of women in science, I am offering this
    amendment that would require the Commission to identify
    programs which are successful in retaining women in
    undergraduate science and engineering programs, and also
    identify best practices in this area.
        This amendment also requires the Commission to identify the
    reasons why women leave the undergraduate science and
    engineering disciplines in inordinate numbers. By going beyond
    a simple recognition that there is a problem, and taking the
    extra step of identifying why this is occurring, we wind up
    with tangible recommendations in the final report.
        Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
        Mrs. Morella. Thank you, Mr. Doyle. The concept of a
    clearinghouse makes a great deal of sense, and obviously we
    should be accessing the Internet, and the identification of the
    good programs and the disincentives should be part of the task
    of the Commission.
        Now I'd like to recognize Ms. Tauscher for 5 minutes to
    explain her amendment.
        Ms. Tauscher. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. I appreciate
    your leadership in encouraging women to enter the fields of
    science, engineering, and technology.
        I have long been concerned about the shortage of women in
    these occupations, and I hope the Commission you propose in
    this legislation will develop ideas and recommendations to
    recruit women into the growing areas of science and technology.
        I have a simple amendment to this bill that directs the
    Commission to review past federal efforts in the area of women
    in science and technology.
        As you know, there have been many efforts by different
    federal agencies to examine the shortage of women in these
    fields.
        In particular, the Task Force on Women, Minorities, and the
    Handicapped in Science and Technology, issued a report on this
    matter in 1989. Many of the recommendations made by the Task
    Force were consistent with the recommendations we heard at our
    Subcommittee hearing.
        We should try to ensure that this new Commission builds
    upon the existing body of work, rather than start at the
    beginning.
        Reviewing the body of information generated by these past
    studies will help focus the Commission's deliberations, and
    avoid needlessly duplicating the work of previous federal
    efforts.
        In addition, this provision gives the Commission the
    important task of examining why potentially valuable
    recommendations of prior studies were never implemented,
    thereby helping the Commission to avoid pitfalls in crafting
    its own recommendations.
        I appreciate your support for this amendment and thank you
    for your valuable leadership.
        Mrs. Morella. Thank you, Ms. Tauscher. I agree with you
    that certainly the reports that have been assembled in the past
    should be looked at to avoid duplication.
        I would now like to recognize Ms. Rivers for her amendment.
        Ms. Rivers. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. My amendment
    speaks to the issue of reviewing data collected by federal
    agencies on academic degrees and a variety of other things that
    are awarded to women in science and engineering.
        One of the activities that's required by this bill is for
    the Commission to do that research and collect the data on the
    number of women entering the fields, as well as their retention
    within the workforce.
        A number of federal agencies currently gather, analyze, and
    publish this type of information, the most notable being the
    NSF.
        But this amendment would require that the Commission review
    existing data collection and make suggestions on what
    deficiencies may exist in the analysis and collection of that
    information.
        The purpose would be to determine if improvements can be
    made in data collection and analysis to illuminate more
    clearly, the factors that affect the attraction and persistence
    of women in these careers. Recommendations by the Committee to
    improve existing data collection will have a major, long-term
    impact on the problem by providing the means to help identify
    interventions of potential merit, and to track whether proposed
    remedies are actually effective. Thank you.
        Mrs. Morella. Ms. Rivers, again, I think it's very
    thoughtful. I want to commend the Subcommittee for the fact
    that they closely scrutinized the bill in terms of making sure
    that there is total clarification of the role of the
    Commission.
        So, do I have any discussion by the Subcommittee on any of
    these issues?
        Mr. Brady. Madam Chairwoman?
        Mrs. Morella. Yes?
        Mr. Brady. I would seek recognition for an affirmative
    question to Ms. Stabenow and Ms. Tauscher.
        Mrs. Morella. Yes.
        Mr. Brady. One, I support both amendments on identifying
    the disincentives, but I'm wondering if it would be of more
    value in the end report if we were to identify the
    disincentives unique to women in pursuing graduate degrees and/
    or undergraduate degrees in engineering, physics, computer
    science.
        Obviously, the cyclical nature of the economy and the
    reduction in private sector research dollars affect all
    genders, and are generally understood. I would think that
    identifying disincentives unique to women would give us at
    least a blueprint to try to start addressing those issues.
        I'm wondering, if you agree with that concept, you might be
    open to a simple amendment that would reflect that.
        I yield.
        Mrs. Morella. Mr. Brady is going to yield to Ms. Stabenow.
        Ms. Stabenow. I guess I would be concerned at this point,
    or confused about the necessity for that.
        I appreciate what you're saying, but in the testimony we
    heard very powerful testimony that, in fact, there are very few
    women in these areas. That's the reason for the Commission, and
    that while certainly there are economic issues, regardless of
    gender, we know that there have been barriers.
        I believe I heard testimony, I experienced that as I talked
    with people in my District, that there are, in fact,
    disincentives for women.
        I guess, in looking at this, I feel that the language, by
    saying disincentives for women, implies what you're saying
    already, that it is--we certainly aren't going to look at the
    economic disincentives, overall, of these fields that people
    are going into.
        The Commission, I think, overall, makes it clear that we're
    talking about the need to encourage more women in these fields,
    and the disincentives.
        Mr. Brady. Thank you. And I would yield to Ms. Tauscher as
    well.
        Mrs. Morella. Ms. Tauscher, did you want to--he's yielding
    to you if you want to make any comments on it.
        Ms. Tauscher. I'm happy to just comment briefly on the fact
    that in my District, we are the only District in the country
    with two national labs in it, both the Livermore National
    Laboratory and the Sandia Laboratory, and the Berkeley
    Laboratory is on our border.
        So, disproportionately, the constituents of my District are
    lab employees. I meet with the women at both the Sandia Lab and
    the Livermore Lab, specifically--at least every 5 or 6 months--
    because of their tremendous concern--and these are women in
    science; these are women in technology with jobs--about their
    ability to move forward and to crack the silicon ceiling, so to
    speak.
        They also talk with great concern about their outreach.
    They have very successful programs at Mills College in Oakland,
    and other places, to attract and retain women in science and
    technology and engineering, and their frustration at the
    ability to do that.
        I think that the bill, Mr. Brady, is focused on women, as
    it should be. I think that this is an important issue, not only
    in the sense that we want to find programs that bring women in
    and attract them, but also what we do for the women that are in
    science, and how we make sure that they have their ability to
    not only move into jobs that are good, high-paying jobs, but
    also jobs that would provide them with a future career track.
        Mr. Brady. If I may just reclaim the balance of my time, I
    agree with all that was said. My point is that is, since I have
    two research parks in my District and the home of Texas A&M
    University, which is one of the top ten research universities
    in the Nation, we deal with this issue a lot.
        It seems to me that we--and the reason I raise the point is
    that the value of this study and analysis is to recognize the
    unique challenges that women face in these issues, and that
    rather than using resources to identify the generic challenges,
    the cost of education, the cyclical nature of the economy, the
    research drain in certain areas of the country, and in certain
    disciplines that affect both genders--I almost said all
    genders, and I don't know what I was going to mean by that--but
    both genders, that we would, at the end, end up with more--they
    would have the ability to focus uniquely on the issues you just
    raised, rather than duplicating some generic issues.
        But let me do this. This isn't a big deal. My only point is
    that I agree that I think there are unique disincentives that
    women face. I wanted to focus more on those than the generic
    ones, but let me--it is no big deal, so let me withdraw my
    comment.
        Mrs. Morella. It is interesting that this is the assumption
    of the whole bill, quite frankly, to look at what are those
    disincentives unique to women. The fact that you mention it,
    if, in fact, you would like to, before the time it comes out in
    the Full Committee, if you would like us to do something in
    report language, then that's a possibility.
        I appreciate your bringing it up, but it is something that
    is implicit within the bill.
        Mr. Brady. And I support the bill.
        Mrs. Morella. Thank you.
        Are there any further amendments or discussion?
        Mr. Bartlett?
        Mr. Bartlett. Thank you very much. I would like to thank
    you and the staff for working with us to address some of the
    concerns we had about the original language in the bill.
        They have all been addressed in your amendment in the form
    of a substitute. Everybody wants employers who are sensitive.
    Everybody agrees that diversity is important.
        But we were concerned that the bill not contain language
    which could be misunderstood, and thank you very much for
    working with us to make sure that none of that language occurs
    in the bill.
        Also, we were concerned about the makeup of the Commission
    in the original bill, and we now are very supportive of the
    broader spectrum of the makeup of the Commission in the
    substitute.
        So, thank you and the staff very much for working with us.
        Mrs. Morella. Thank you, Mr. Bartlett. That demonstrates
    the fact that your input was valuable. It means the Commission
    is going to work faster. It's going to be far more streamlined,
    and it won't engage in any of those problems with regard to
    discrimination.
        Ms. Stabenow, would you like to make any comment?
        Ms. Stabenow. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. Regarding the
    issue of the new language in the substitute, I do have a
    question and a concern regarding terms that are on page 2
    regarding nondiscriminatory practices.
        I'm wondering, because quotas are already illegal, if legal
    counsel could explain why we need the term, nondiscrimination,
    and what that means in the substitute?
        Mrs. Morella. Actually, if I could just comment, because
    when I noted that, I had a discussion with the idea that, as I
    mentioned in my opening statement, I believe in affirmative
    action. I do not believe in quotas.
        So often that is mixed up, and so the concept--and this
    could be put into report language, an explanation of
    nondiscriminatory meant simply that, so nobody is to construe
    that we're talking about those specific quotas.
        Ms. Stabenow. If I might just follow up, my concern in
    raising that is only that there are specific NSF programs now
    at the Career Advancement Awards for Women, other specific
    programs for women and girls that are very important.
        And as the Commission looks at solutions, because we know
    that we want to go beyond just studying the problem, but
    recommending solutions for recruiting and retaining and
    promoting more women in these areas, I would certainly want us
    to give them the flexibility to look at specific programs that
    are, in NSF now and other possibilities for recruitment and
    supporting of women.
        I would hope that nondiscrimination practices or saying
    nondiscrimination policies would not exclude those very
    important and valuable endeavors.
        Mrs. Morella. I can assure you that it will not, and the
    report that is being compiled right now of our statements here
    will also tend to confirm it. Thank you.
        I am going to then subject the Subcommittee to the vote, if
    there are no further amendments.
        The question is on the substitute, as amended. All those in
    favor will say aye.
        [Chorus of ayes.]
        Mrs. Morella. All those opposed will say no.
        [No response.]
        Mrs. Morella. In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have
    it.
        I didn't approve the en bloc first, and so I should do that
    now.
        If we might vote on the on bloc amendments, all those in
    favor will say aye.
        [Chorus of ayes.]
        Mrs. Morella. Opposed, no.
        [No response.]
        Mrs. Morella. Not hearing any negative and everybody in the
    affirmative, then the en bloc is affirmed, and confirmed and
    approved, and we have already given our approval on the
    substitute, as amended.
        So now the question is on the bill, H.R. 3007, the
    Commission on the Advancement of Women in Science, Engineering,
    and Technology Development Act, as amended.
        All those in favor will say aye.
        [Chorus of ayes.]
        Mrs. Morella. All opposed, no.
        [No response.]
        Mrs. Morella. In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have
    it.
        I'd like to recognize the honorable Ranking Member, Mr.
    Barcia, for a motion.
        Mr. Barcia. Thank you very much, Madam Chairwoman.
        I ask unanimous consent that the staff be instructed to
    make technical and conforming corrections to H.R. 3007. Also I
    move that the Subcommittee report the bill, H.R. 3007, as
    amended, and that the Chairwoman take all necessary steps to
    bring the bill before the Full Committee for consideration.
        Mrs. Morella. The Subcommittee has heard the motion. Those
    in favor will say aye.
        [Chorus of ayes.]
        Mrs. Morella. Those opposed will say no.
        [No response.]
        Mrs. Morella. The ayes have it, and the motion is agreed to
    without objection.
        The motion to reconsider is laid upon the table.
        Mr. Ehlers. Madam Chairwoman?
        Mrs. Morella. Mr. Ehlers is recognized.
        Mr. Ehlers. Thank you. I would just like to have entered on
    the record that I was attending a meeting previously and could
    not be here for consideration of H.R. 2544. Had I been here, I
    would have voted in the affirmative.
        Mrs. Morella. Thank you, Mr. Ehlers. I recognize the fact
    that you have been to all our Subcommittee meetings when we
    discussed it.
        I want to thank the Subcommittee. I know it's been more
    lengthy than we thought it would be. The attendance has been
    excellent, the comments have been superb. Thank you all very
    much.
        You may join in cosponsorship of either of those pieces of
    legislation or both.
        The Subcommittee is adjourned.
        [Whereupon, at 11:00 a.m., the Subcommittee was adjourned.]
                 XIII. Proceedings of the Full Committee Markup

                       FULL COMMITTEE MARKUP OF H.R. 3007

                                  ----------

                            WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1998

                 U.S. House of Representatives,
                                  Committee on Science,
                                                        Washington, DC.
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. Finally, the last bill on this
    morning's agenda is H.R. 3007, the Commission on the
    Advancement of Women in Science, Engineering, and Technology
    Development Act.
        Without objection, the bill will be considered as read and
    open for amendment at any point.
        I have a rather lengthy opening statement, which I will not
    give but will ask unanimous consent that it be placed in the
    record at this point. And will also ask unanimous consent that
    all members opening statements be placed in the record at this
    point.
        I would point out however, before recognizing the
    gentlewoman from Maryland, that the Managers Amendment that I
    will be offering later on deals with technical issues and has
    been clear on both sides.
        The gentlewoman from Maryland is now recognized for 5
    minutes.
        [The prepared statements of Chairman Sensenbrenner, Mr.
    Coburn, Mr. Gutknecht, Mr. Salmon, Mr. Davis and Ms. Hooley
    follow:]

        Mrs. Morella. Thanks, Mr. Chairman. I want to thank you for
    convening this markup of H.R. 3007, which we call the WISETECH
    bill, Women in Science Engineering and Technology. I think, as
    my colleagues know, this was introduced on November 9th of last
    year. It's fitting that we mark it up today.
        Just on Monday, I had the pleasure of participating in the
    first regional town hall meeting on the National Technology
    Workforce. This is a national situation. It was convened in
    Montgomery County, Maryland. And the goal of the regional
    meetings is to bring to the attention of the public and
    industry and academia, the issue of preparing our workforce for
    the Year 2000. And we are about making sure that our Nation's
    workers are getting the education and training that they need
    to meet the demands of a job market increasingly dependent on
    technological expertise.
        Ensuring that our workforce is prepared to meet the
    technology challenges of the future it is not only important to
    us from regional standpoints, but also as technology continues
    to emerge as the driving force behind the strong economy and
    the 21st Century, all of us need to make sure that our
    workforce is properly trained and educated in all areas of
    science, engineering, and technology development.
        While women represent--jumping to the conclusion--while
    women represent nearly 50 percent of all U.S. workers, they
    comprise roughly 22 percent of the entire science and
    engineering workforce. In the field of engineering, which
    includes electrical and computer engineering, the percentage of
    women in the workforce is still under 10 percent. So, we need
    to take some action now to ensure that we have a sufficient
    pool of trained high-tech workers in the United States. And we
    need to take some action to determine why women are under
    represented in the areas of science, engineering and technology
    development. That was the genesis of this legislation.
        This legislation will establish a Commission to determine
    why women are underrepresented in the high-tech workforce.
    Examine what current practices and policies of employers have
    been success in recruiting, retaining, and advancing women in
    those professions. And finally, to provide us with a list a
    recommendations that we can follow to encourage women who are
    pursuing an education and career in these disciplines.
        I want to thank the members of the Committee who are co-
    sponsors of H.R. 3007, Congressman Gutknecht, Congressman
    Ehlers, Congressmen Boehlert, Barcia, Davis, Ewing, Calvert,
    Luther, Congresswomen Lofgren and Stabenow. Also I want to
    thank all the members of the Subcommittee on Technology for
    working together in a bipartisan manner to produce the
    legislation before us today.
        You will give me an opportunity, Mr. Chairman, to point out
    the amendment that I will be offering. And it is not a part of
    my 5 minutes, right?
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. You'll get another 5 minutes for
    offering an amendment.
        Mrs. Morella. Splendid. So I would now like to yield the
    remainder of my initial 5 minutes to Mr. Gutknecht.
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. The gentleman from Minnesota is
    recognized for how long?
        Mr. Gutknecht. For the balance of her time.
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. A minute and 30 seconds.
        Mr. Gutknecht. Well, thank you Mr. Chairman. I do have an
    opening statement which I will submit to the record.
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. Without objection.
        Mr. Gutknecht. I want to thank Chairwoman Morella for the
    hearing, and I particularly want to thank the staff because the
    hearing that we had on this particular bill was excellent. And
    I want to say a special thank you to Dr. Ann Quade, a professor
    at Mankato State University, who came out to testify before us.
        By establishing this Commission we really need to get to
    the facts as to why there is this disparity between men and
    women in science and engineering. If there are barriers, it
    seems to me, we have some responsibility to do what we can in
    Congress here to break them down.
        So, I support this legislation. I applaud the Chairwoman
    and the staff for the hearings and the information that we
    received about this problem. And hopefully, we can get to a
    solution. Yield back.
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. The gentlewoman's time has expired.
    Who would like to make the opening statement for the Minority?
        Mr. Brown of California. Mr. Chairman?
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. The gentleman from California is
    recognized for 5 minutes.
        Mr. Brown of California. I will be extremely brief.
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. That's appreciated because we are
    losing our reporting quorum. We don't want that to happen.
        Mr. Brown of California. I ask unanimous consent to insert
    an opening statement in the record at this point.
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. Without objection.
        Mr. Brown of California. And I would like to point out that
    43 percent of the Democrats on this Committee are women. We are
    doing our best to advance women in science, engineering, and
    technology.
        [Laughter.]
        [Applause.]
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. With that, the gentleman's time is
    expired.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Brown follows:]

        Are there any amendments to the bill? And the Chair
    recognizes the gentlewoman Morella from Maryland for purposes
    of offering an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to the
    bill as reported to the Subcommittee. The Clerk will report the
    Morella amendment.
        The Clerk. ``Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute
    showing H.R. 3007 as amended by''----
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. Without objection, the amendment is
    considered as read and open for amendment at any point. And the
    gentlewoman from Maryland is recognized for 5 quick minutes.
        [The amendment roster and the text of the amendments
    follow:]

        Mrs. Morella. I will make it very quick because this is a
    bill that we want to fleetingly sign into law. During the
    Subcommittee markup a number of changes were made to H.R. 3007
    which I think are going to help strengthen the bill. And I just
    want to present those quickly.
        First of all, the substitute amendment streamlines the
    Commission by requiring the Commission to be appointed in 90,
    not 180 days; giving the Commission 1 year, not 18 months to
    report; terminating the Commission in 30 days, not 1 year after
    its report; reducing the size of the Commission from 18 to 11
    members; and replacing a requirement that NSF, National Science
    Foundation, conduct a study with language requiring NSF to
    transmit the data it currently collects to the Commission.
        In addition, the substitute will ensure that States are
    active participants in the Commission by allowing the National
    Governors Association's Chairman and Vice Chairman to appoint 4
    of the 11 Commissioners, and by requiring the Commission's
    final report to be transmitted to all 50 States, the District
    of Columbia, and the U.S. territories.
        Finally, the substitute includes a number of Democratic
    amendments which were adopted to help better define the duties
    of the Commission. I am pleased to report to the members of the
    Committee that 3007 as passed by the Subcommittee has received
    the endorsement of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics
    Engineers, National Society of Professional Engineers, Women in
    Technology, Association of Women in Science, American
    Association of Engineering Societies, American Society of
    Mechanical Engineers.
        Thank you again, Mr. Chairman, and members of the
    Committee. I hope you all support this unanimously. I yield
    back.
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. The gentlewoman's time has expired.
        Is there anybody on the Democratic side that wishes to say
    anything about the Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute
    before I offer the en bloc amendments, which incorporate many
    of the suggestions that have come from the Minority party
    members?
        If not, the Chair has an en bloc amendment to the Amendment
    in the Nature of a Substitute at the desk which the Clerk will
    report.
        The Clerk. ``En bloc amendments offered by Mr.
    Sensenbrenner to the Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute.
    Page 1 after line 4''----
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. Without objection, the amendments
    en bloc to the Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute are
    considered as read and open for amendment at any point.
        And the Chair at this time recognizes himself for 5 brief
    minutes.
        The manager's amendment does four things. First, it inserts
    a new section of findings in the substitute which are based
    upon the findings of the National Science Foundation's 1996
    report entitled, Women, Minorities, and Persons with
    Disabilities in Science and Engineering, and also the National
    Research Council's 1995 report, Women Scientists and Engineers
    Employed in Industry. Why so few?
        Second, it strikes the word ``non-discriminatory'' in
    section 3, subsections 5 and 6, of the substitute and replaces
    it with the word ``lawful.''
        Third, it strikes section 4(b) of the substitute and
    replaces it with the language which prohibits members of the
    Commission from being compensated for days in which they
    partake in Commission business.
        And fourth, strike the term ``women'' as it appears in all
    sections of the substitute and replaces it with the term
    ``women (including minority women, and women with
    disabilities).''
        I'm going to yield back the balance of my time, but I would
    like to ask each of the members, in the order in which their
    amendment appears in the manager's amendment in the en bloc
    amendments, to explain their part beginning with the
    gentlewoman from Texas, Ms. Johnson.
        Ms. Johnson of Texas. Thank you.
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. The gentlewoman is recognized for 5
    minutes.
        Ms. Johnson. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I offered
    the findings amendment due to the importance of adding these
    findings to the bill. These findings are necessary because it
    is the findings which will motivate the Commission to study the
    disparity of women in the science, engineering and technology
    fields.
        Clearly, the workforce for the future will comprise people
    with these kinds of backgrounds. And with more than 60 percent
    of the workforce moving toward women, it is extraordinarily
    important. I've spent 25 years working in this area--trying to
    offer opportunities, thinking of various ways to attempt to get
    women interested, and to also open opportunities. They have
    been historically underrepresented in scientific and
    engineering occupations. And yet they comprise, really 12
    percent of the employed scientific and engineering labor force.
    We have got to improve that. And the only way we can address
    the issue is to determine what the findings are.
        Women earn a smaller proportion of total science and
    engineering degrees. Among the recent Bachelor of Science
    degrees in engineering, women are less likely to be in the
    labor force, and to be employed full-time, and to be employed
    in their field than are men. Among women who received their
    doctorates 13 years ago, 72 percent of men, but only 55 percent
    of women are full professors. In addition, 43 percent of women
    are tenured compared to 67 percent of them being men.
        A substantial salary gap exists between men and women with
    science and engineering doctorates, and it is believed that
    almost 90 percent of the observed $13,200 gap is related to
    many background variables.
        But, I encourage members to really support the findings
    amendment because it is this inclusion that will precipitate
    the Commission to push forward to study why there is a
    disparity of women in science, and engineering, and technology
    fields. When it is so critical that we attract more for the
    future workforce. I thank you.
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. I thank the gentlewoman from Texas.
        Let me say that there are some other markups, including one
    that is very contentious in the Government Reform and Oversight
    Committee, that is drawing our reporting quorum away. And we
    have one amendment that the gentleman from Maryland wishes to
    offer, which will bring some debate. So, I would like to ask
    the other members that I recognized to somewhat summarize their
    statements. Not with the idea of gagging them, but with the
    idea of getting this bill out, which is what most members
    desire. Gentlewoman from Michigan, Ms. Stabenow.
        Ms. Stabenow. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate very
    much working with the Chairman of the Subcommittee, as well as
    the Chairman of the Committee, in incorporating an amendment
    that would strike the term non-discriminatory and replace it
    with lawful. In the Subcommittee it was explained that
    originally there was a concern about quotas, and obviously
    illegal and so by replacing it with the word lawful we
    addressed that concern.
        I would just add one other thing, and that is it is
    critical that for the future of the economic growth of our
    country that over half of our country's population not be
    discouraged or discriminated against as it relates to entering
    the fields of science, technology and engineering. This is a
    very important bill with the amendments. We need all the
    educated and qualified men and women to fill jobs, as possible,
    in this country in these fields. And I would commend the
    Chairman. And I appreciate having the opportunity to serve as a
    co-sponsor. Thank you.
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. The gentlewoman from California,
    Ms. Lee.
        Ms. Lee. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I thank you for
    including in your en bloc amendment, my amendment, which
    basically was offered in the spirit of fiscal responsibility in
    an attempt to save taxpayers' money.
        When I reviewed the provisions of the bill, I noted that
    the Commission's members are not only compensated for travel
    and per diem expenses, but also authorized to receive salary
    compensation for the days served. According to the provisions
    of the bill, this amounts to upwards between $13- $17,000 per
    week for a salary for Commission members. This amounts to close
    to $1 million.
        So, I feel it's entirely appropriate that the Commission
    members are reimbursed for all travel costs associated with
    their work, but not for their salaries. So, this is a very
    prudent measure. And I thank the Chairman for your
    consideration.
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. I thank the gentlewoman from
    California for her contribution. The gentlewoman from Texas,
    Ms. Jackson Lee, also had a contribution to the manager's en
    bloc amendments. Without objection, she will be allowed to
    insert a statement if she so desires at this point in the
    record.
        [The prepared statement of Ms. Jackson Lee follows:]

        Chairman Sensenbrenner. The Chair has been notified of an
    amendment by the gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Bartlett. And
    this would be the proper time if he should choose to offer the
    amendment to do so.
        Mr. Bartlett. Mr. Chairman, I have an opening statement.
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. Without objection, the gentleman's
    opening statement will be placed in the record.
        The gentleman from Maryland.
        Mr. Bartlett. Thank you very much. I have an amendment at
    this desk, Mr. Chairman.
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. The Clerk will report the
    amendment.
        The Clerk. ``Amendment offered by Mr. Bartlett to the en
    bloc amendments offered by Mr. Sensenbrenner to the Amendment
    in the Nature of a Substitute''----
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. Without objection, the amendment
    will be considered as read and open for amendment at any point.
    And the Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland, Mr.
    Bartlett, for 5 minutes.
        Mr. Bartlett. Thank you very much. Mr. Chairman, this is a
    very simple, very short amendment. I would first like to say
    that I could not be more strongly supportive of what this bill
    is trying to achieve.
        We certainly do need to advance women in science,
    engineering, and technology. They represent an enormous
    unexploited resource and our country badly needs to do exactly
    what this bill purports to do.
        My problem is with specific language on page 3, and that is
    lines 20 to 23. The bill by the way is a bill to promote the
    advancement of women in science, engineering and technology,
    and with that said the language on page 3 is really duplicative
    and unnecessary and it simply invites controversy. It says ``to
    promote workforce diversity.'' What the private sector needs to
    do is what they do, and that is to hire the best people. It
    says ``to sensitize employers.'' We should not be in the
    business of socially re-engineering our society. What employers
    need to do is to recruit and retain the best.
        This is a very good bill, it promotes a very good cause. I
    think that the inclusion of this language in the bill simply
    invites controversy which will detract from the importance of
    this bill, and from the results that I hope that it will
    achieve.
        So, therefore, my bill is a very simple one. It simply
    moves to strike this language.
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. The gentleman's time has expired.
        The Chair yields himself 5 minutes in opposition of the
    amendment. I agree with everything that the gentleman from
    Maryland has said. Certainly I'm strongly opposed to quotas,
    and quotas are unlawful. However, if you look at the text on
    page 3 of the en bloc amendments, the charge that is given by
    this bill to the Commission it creates is to examine issues
    raised in the findings of the two reports. One by the NSF, and
    the second by the NRC. The deal with the two issues that the
    gentleman from Maryland proposes to strike from the bill, which
    is to promote workforce diversity and to sensitize employers to
    the need to recruit and retain women scientists, engineers, and
    computer specialists.
        Now, if we don't have the Commission review what these two
    outside agencies concluded then I guess there will be no
    critical review, and the outside agencies conclusions will
    stand. And I don't think that's why we want to have the
    Commission appointed. I think that if the outside agencies did
    not bring these issues up, it would have been proper to strike
    the language the gentleman from Maryland proposes to strike.
    But, since they did I think the Commission ought to review,
    ought to comment on it. If the comments are off the wall, they
    will be considered appropriately by the Congress and the
    public. So, I really think that it's best to leave the language
    in. And I oppose the amendment.
        I yield back the balance of my time.
        The gentlewoman from Texas Ms. Johnson, for 5 minutes.
        Ms. Johnson. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to
    express my opposition to this amendment. Unless there is some
    effort to promote workforce diversity and to sensitize
    employers to the need to recruit and retain women in this area,
    I'm not sure what the bill will actually go beyond that. It is
    not a quota system.
        When you say ``to sensitize employers'' it simply means
    maybe some flex hours. Often--if you will listen to the
    statistics of this report--younger women do not stay in these
    fields. Often it's because they have families with small
    children. Sometimes the company only needs to provide for flex
    hours, or provide for some day care in the near vicinity.
        It is not attempting to bring about quotas, it is an
    attempt to encourage right out of college to remain in the
    field, and to remain active. I don't know that this implies
    anything other than to call attention to the need for
    sensitization in these areas. I really think that this gets at
    the heart of any activity that this bill could call for. I
    admire and support the Chairwoman of this Subcommittee. And I
    don't believe that she stands for quotas, I don't. But I do
    think that it is important for us to address the issue, the
    finding from the Commission that shows that young women leave
    these fields. This is the workforce area for the future. And I
    think we need to encourage women to remain in the field. Thank
    you.
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. The gentlewoman's time has expired.
        Mr. Rohrabacher. Mr. Chairman. I'll try to be brief.
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. The gentleman from California is
    recognized for 5 minutes.
        Mr. Rohrabacher. I strongly support Mr. Bartlett's
    amendment. Frankly, what he is doing here is eliminating just
    feel good language. And one thing the Republicans have always
    been upset about with Democrats is that they put feel good
    language in things just to make people seem like they are doing
    things. Mr. Bartlett says let's clear out the feel good
    language.
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. Will the gentleman yield?
        Mr. Rohrabacher. Not until I finish. Not until I finish.
    Just one moment. This is--I mean, Mr. Bartlett just says let's
    get on with the substance. We don't have any complaint about--
    he just says we're trying to get women into the workforce into
    these high-tech jobs, but let's clear away this language that
    does nothing but appeal to different people on a stylistic
    basis. And I agree with him totally, and I hope that by
    cleaning this language away we can get to the substance of this
    issue rather than just trying the ``feel good'' language.
        Yes, I will yield to the Chairman.
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. I'm just saying that I'm the author
    of the amendment that contains the language and I haven't
    switched parties yet.
        [Laughter.]
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. The question is on the en bloc
    amendments offered by the Chair.
        All those in favor of the Bartlett amendment will signify
    by saying aye.
        Those opposed, by saying no.
        The noes appear to have it.
        Mr. Rohrabacher. Does everybody feel good?
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. I feel great.
        The noes have it. The amendment is not agreed to.
        [Laughter.]
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. The question is now on the en bloc
    amendments to the substitute amendment offered by the Chair.
        Those in favor will signify by saying aye.
        Opposed, no.
        The ayes have it. The en bloc amendments are agreed to.
        The question now is on the Amendment in the Nature of a
    Substitute offered by the gentlewoman from Maryland Mr.
    Morella.
        All those in favor will signify by saying aye.
        Opposed, no.
        The ayes appear to have it. The ayes have it.
        Are there further amendments to the bill?
        The gentlewoman from California, Ms. Capps.
        Mrs. Capps. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Today I was planning
    to offer an amendment that would improve the composition of the
    Commission by making the selection process more bipartisan, and
    ensuring that we get the best possible people to serve.
        While I will not be offering this amendment, I do want to
    note two concerns. First, my amendment would have allowed each
    of the Minority leaders of the House and Senate a nomination to
    the Commission on what is truly a bipartisan issue--ensuring
    that women have access to careers in science.
        I believe the Minority party in Congress, whoever it may be
    should have a voice in this process. Unfortunately the bill as
    currently drafted does not allow this. In addition, my
    amendment would have provided those nominating Commission
    members a wider pool of applicants to choose from by allowing
    experts in this issue from the private sector, non-profits, or
    government agencies to also be considered. It would also insure
    that Commissioners have some experience with issues relating to
    women in science. And I strongly believe that the criteria for
    selection to this Commission should be based on the expertise
    and background of the individual, and that would be--we would
    be best served by a Commission with a broad array of experience
    from the public and private sectors.
        And I do appreciate the efforts of Chairwoman Morella to
    work with me on this, and look forward to continuing our
    discussion as this legislation moves forward.
        Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I ask you now might consent to
    withdraw my amendment and yield back the balance of my time.
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. Without objection.
        The gentleman from Oklahoma. For what purpose do you rise?
        Mr. Coburn. To strike the requisite number of words.
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. The gentleman is recognized for 5
    minutes.
        Mr. Coburn. Mr. Chairman, I'll be very brief. One
    observation on this bill that concerns me. As we look at the
    appropriations process in Congress, we often see things
    appropriated that we as an authorizing committee are not happy
    about. And what I do note in this bill lacking, is there is no
    maximum amount under which, under our authority, we have the
    right to tell the appropriators not to exceed. And I think we
    neglect our duty as authorizers, and we defer tremendous power
    to appropriators by not setting the maximum amount of money
    that can be spent for this Commission. And it would be--my
    recommendation that the Chairman, if this bill comes to the
    Floor under rules where there will not be amendments, to
    hopefully change it, if not put an amendment in it that will
    give a maximum amount that can not be exceeded by the
    appropriators.
        And I yield back.
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. The gentleman's time has expired.
        Are there further amendments to the bill?
        [No response.]
        If there are no further amendments, the Chair recognizes
    the gentleman from California for the appropriate motion to
    report.
        Mr. Brown of California. Mr. Chairman, I move the Committee
    report the bill H.R. 3007 as amended, furthermore I move to
    instruct the staff to prepare the legislative report, make
    technical and conforming amendments, and that the Chairman take
    all necessary steps to bring the bill before the House for
    consideration.
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. The Chair notes the presence of the
    reporting quorum. The question is on the adoption of the motion
    to report favorably. Those in favor will signify by saying aye.
        Opposed, no.
        The ayes appear to have it. The ayes have it and the motion
    is agreed to.
        Without objection, the bill will be reported in the form of
    a single Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute reflecting
    amendments that were agreed to today. Without objection,
    members will have the appropriate number of days in which to
    file additional, dissenting, Minority or other views. And
    without objection, pursuant to House Rule 20, the Chair is
    authorized to make whatever motions necessary to go to
    conference.
        Mrs. Morella. Mr. Chairman?
        Mr. Boehlert. Mr. Chairman?
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. The gentleman from New York.
        Mr. Boehlert. Would it be appropriate to ask the staff to
    play James Brown's rendition of ``I feel good'' now?
        [Laughter.]
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. The Chair is constrained to object.
    We haven't paid our ASCAP fee for that yet.
        [Laughter.]
        The gentlewoman from Maryland.
        Mrs. Morella. Mr. Chairman, I just want to thank you for
    also so quickly, at the last minute, including the amendments
    that had been offered by the Minority in the en bloc
    amendments. And I want to thank all the members of the
    Subcommittee, all the members of the Full Committee. This is
    terrific. Let's get it under suspension.
        Chairman Sensenbrenner. Okay. I thank everybody for their
    cooperation.
        There being no further business to come before the
    Committee, the Committee is adjourned.
        [Whereupon, at 11:40 a.m., the Committee was adjourned.]