[House Report 115-975]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


115th Congress    }                                          {   Report
                          HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session       }                                          {   115-975

======================================================================



 
      INNOVATIONS IN MENTORING, TRAINING, AND APPRENTICESHIPS ACT

                                _______
                                

 September 25, 2018.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on 
            the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

     Mr. Smith of Texas, from the Committee on Science, Space, and 
                  Technology, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 5509]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, to whom 
was referred the bill (H.R. 5509) to direct the National 
Science Foundation to provide grants for research about STEM 
education approaches and the STEM-related workforce, and for 
other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably 
thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill as 
amended do pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
Committee Statement and Views....................................     4
Section-by-Section...............................................     7
Explanation of Amendments........................................     9
Committee Consideration..........................................     9
Application of Law to the Legislative Branch.....................     9
Statement of Oversight Findings and Recommendations of the 
  Committee......................................................     9
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............     9
Duplication of Federal Programs..................................     9
Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings..............................     9
Federal Advisory Committee Act...................................    10
Unfunded Mandate Statement.......................................    10
Earmark Identification...........................................    10
Committee Estimate...............................................    10
Budget Authority and Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate...    10

    The amendment is as follows:
  Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``Innovations in Mentoring, Training, 
and Apprenticeships Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

  Congress finds the following:
          (1) To remain competitive in the global economy, foster 
        greater innovation, and provide a foundation for shared 
        prosperity, the United States needs a workforce with the right 
        mix of skills to meet the diverse needs of the economy.
          (2) Evidence indicates that the returns on investments in 
        technical skills in the labor market are strong when students 
        successfully complete their training and gain credentials 
        sought by employers.
          (3) The responsibility for developing and sustaining a 
        skilled technical workforce is fragmented across many groups, 
        including educators; students; workers; employers; Federal, 
        State, and local governments; labor organizations; and civic 
        associations. Such groups need to be able to coordinate and 
        cooperate successfully with each other.
          (4) Coordination among students, community colleges, 
        secondary and post-secondary institutions, and employers would 
        improve educational outcomes.
          (5) Promising experiments currently underway may guide 
        innovation and reform, but scalability of some of those 
        experiments has not yet been tested.
          (6) Evidence suggests that integration of academic education, 
        technical training, and hands-on work experience improves 
        outcomes and return on investment for students in secondary and 
        post-secondary education and for skilled technical workers in 
        different career stages.
          (7) Outcomes show that mentoring can increase STEM student 
        engagement and the rate of completion of STEM post-secondary 
        degrees.

SEC. 3. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION STEM INNOVATION AND APPRENTICESHIP 
                    GRANTS.

  (a) Establishment.--The Director of the National Science Foundation 
shall award competitive grants to eligible applicants in accordance 
with this section.
  (b) Coordination.--In carrying out this section, the Director shall 
consult and cooperate with the programs and policies of other relevant 
Federal agencies to avoid duplication with, and enhance the 
effectiveness of, the provision of grants under this section.
  (c) Grants for Associate Degree Programs in STEM Fields.--
          (1) In general.--The Director of the National Science 
        Foundation shall award competitive grants to community colleges 
        to develop or improve associate degree and certificate programs 
        in STEM fields in which there is significant workforce demand 
        in the region of the community college receiving the award and 
        a need to strengthen the global competitiveness of affected 
        companies.
          (2) Application.--In considering applications for grants 
        under paragraph (1), the Director shall prioritize--
                  (A) applicants that consist of a partnership between 
                the applying community college and individual employers 
                or an employer consortia, or industry or sector 
                partnerships, and may include a university or other 
                organization with demonstrated expertise in academic 
                program development;
                  (B) applications that demonstrate current and future 
                workforce demand in occupations directly related to the 
                proposed associate degree or certificate program.
                  (C) applications that include commitments by the 
                partnering employers or employer consortia, or industry 
                or sector partnerships to offer apprenticeships, 
                internships or other applied learning opportunities to 
                students enrolled in the proposed associate degree 
                program; and
                  (D) applications that include outreach plans and 
                goals for recruiting and enrolling women and other 
                historically underrepresented individuals in STEM 
                studies and careers in the proposed associate degree 
                program.
          (3) Funding.--The National Science Foundation shall devote 
        not less than $20,000,000 to awards described in this 
        subsection, which shall include not less than $5,000,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2018 through 2021, subject to the 
        availability of appropriations, to come from amounts made 
        available for the Education and Human Resources Directorate. 
        This subsection shall be carried out using funds otherwise 
        appropriated by law after the date of enactment of this Act.
  (d) Grants for STEM Degree Applied Learning Opportunities.--
          (1) In general.--The Director of the National Science 
        Foundation shall award competitive grants to universities 
        partnering with employers or employer consortia, or industry or 
        sector partnerships that commit to offering apprenticeships, 
        internships, research opportunities, or applied learning 
        experiences to enrolled university students in identified four-
        year STEM degree programs.
          (2) Application.--In considering applications for grants 
        under paragraph (1), the Director shall prioritize--
                  (A) applicants that consist of a partnership 
                between--
                          (i) the applying university; and
                          (ii) individual employers or an employer 
                        consortia, or industry or sector partnerships;
                  (B) applications that demonstrate current and future 
                workforce demand in occupations directly related to 
                selected STEM fields; and
                  (C) applications that include outreach plans and 
                goals for recruiting and enrolling women and other 
                populations historically underrepresented in STEM.
          (3) Funding.--The National Science Foundation shall devote 
        not less than $10,000,000 to awards described in this 
        subsection, which shall include not less than $2,500,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2018 through 2021, subject to the 
        availability of appropriations, to come from amounts made 
        available for the Education and Human Resources Directorate. 
        This subsection shall be carried out using funds otherwise 
        appropriated by law after the date of enactment of this Act.
  (e) Grants for Computer-Based and Online STEM Education Courses.--
          (1) In general.--The Director of the National Science 
        Foundation shall award competitive grants to institutions of 
        higher education or nonprofit organizations to conduct research 
        on student outcomes and determine best practices and 
        scalability of computer-based and online courses for technical 
        skills training.
          (2) Research areas.--The research areas eligible for funding 
        under this subsection may include--
                  (A) post-secondary courses for technical training for 
                STEM occupations;
                  (B) improving high-school level vocational training 
                in STEM subjects;
                  (C) encouraging and sustaining interest and 
                achievement levels in STEM subjects among women and 
                other populations historically underrepresented in STEM 
                studies and careers; and
                  (D) combining computer-based and online STEM 
                education and training with traditional mentoring and 
                other mentoring arrangements, apprenticeships, 
                internships, and other applied learning opportunities.
          (3) Funding.--The National Science Foundation shall devote 
        not less than $10,000,000 to awards described in this 
        subsection, which shall include not less than $2,500,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2018 through 2021, subject to the 
        availability of appropriations, to come from amounts made 
        available for the Education and Human Resources Directorate. 
        This subsection shall be carried out using funds otherwise 
        appropriated by law after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 4. RESEARCH ON EFFICIENCY OF SKILLED TECHNICAL LABOR MARKETS.

  (a) Efficiency of Skilled Technical Labor Markets.--The Directorate 
of Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences of the National Science 
Foundation, in coordination with the Secretary of Labor, shall support 
research that improves the efficiency of skilled technical labor 
markets in the United States, including research on labor market 
analysis innovations, data and information sciences, electronic 
information tools and methodologies, and metrics.
  (b) Comparison of United States Workforce.--
          (1) Research.--The National Science Foundation shall 
        commission research that compares and contrasts skilled 
        technical workforce development between the United States and 
        other developed countries, including the diversity of skilled 
        technical and professional workforces, to the extent feasible.
          (2) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Science 
        Foundation shall submit to Congress a report on the results of 
        the study under paragraph (1).
  (c) Skilled Technical Workforce.--
          (1) Review.--The National Center for Science and Engineering 
        Statistics of the National Science Foundation shall consult and 
        coordinate with other relevant Federal statistical agencies to 
        explore the feasibility of expanding its surveys to include the 
        collection of objective data on the skilled technical 
        workforce.
          (2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Science 
        Foundation shall submit to Congress a report containing the 
        progress made in expanding the National Center for Science and 
        Engineering Statistics surveys to include the skilled technical 
        workforce. Such report shall include a plan for multi-agency 
        collaboration in order to effect data collection and reporting 
        of data on the skilled technical workforce.

SEC. 5. SPENDING LIMITATION.

  No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this Act and the amendments made by this Act, and this Act and such 
amendments shall be carried out using amounts otherwise available for 
such purpose.

SEC. 6. EVALUATION AND REPORT.

  (a) Evaluation.--
          (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Director of the Foundation shall 
        evaluate the grants and programs provided under this Act.
          (2) Requirements.--In conducting the evaluation under 
        paragraph (1), the Director shall use a common set of 
        benchmarks and assessment tools to identify best practices and 
        materials developed or demonstrated by the research conducted 
        pursuant to such grants and programs.
  (b) Report on Evaluations.--Not later than 180 days after the 
completion of the evaluation under subsection (a), the Director of the 
Foundation shall submit to Congress and make widely available to the 
public a report that includes--
          (1) the results of the evaluation; and
          (2) any recommendations for administrative and legislative 
        action that could optimize the effectiveness of the grants and 
        programs under this Act.
  (c) Consultation.--In carrying out this section, the Director of the 
Foundation shall consult the programs and policies of other relevant 
Federal agencies to avoid duplication with, and enhance the 
effectiveness of, the grants and programs under this Act.

SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.

  In this Act:
          (1) STEM.--The term ``STEM'' means science, technology, 
        engineering, and mathematics, including computer science.
          (2) Community college.--The term ``community college'' has 
        the meaning given the term ``junior and community college'' in 
        section 312 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1058).
          (3) Institution of higher education.--The term ``institution 
        of higher education'' has the meaning given such term in 
        section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1001(a)).
          (4) Region.--The term ``region'' means a labor market area, 
        as such term is defined in section 3 of the Workforce 
        Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
          (5) Skilled technical workforce.--The term ``skilled 
        technical workforce'' means workers with high school diplomas 
        and two-year technical training or certifications who employ 
        significant levels of STEM knowledge in their jobs.
          (6) University.--The term ``university'' means a 4-year 
        institution of higher education, as defined in section 101(a) 
        of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).

                     Committee Statement and Views


                          PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

    H.R. 5509, the ``Innovations in Mentoring, Training and 
Apprenticeships Act,'' was introduced by Majority Leader Kevin 
McCarthy and co-sponsored by Chairman Lamar Smith. The purpose 
of H.R. 5509 is to direct the National Science Foundation (NSF) 
to offer competitively awarded grants to community colleges and 
four-year institutions to develop and improve science, 
technology, engineering, mathematics and computer science 
(STEM) courses and degrees. These programs will combine formal 
education with applied learning experiences, such as 
apprenticeships and internships, by partnering with regional 
employers needing to fill skilled and technical STEM jobs. The 
bill also calls for NSF to measure student outcomes and 
determine best practices of distance learning and simulated 
work environment courses for technical skills training.
    H.R. 5509 directs NSF to conduct research examining how 
different regions of the United States and other developed 
nations are cultivating and sustaining their skilled technical 
workforces and to report back to Congress with the results. It 
also requires NSF to conduct research on labor market analysis 
innovations, and to examine the capability of NSF to survey the 
skilled technical workforce.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    In June 2017, the President issued Executive Order 13801, 
Expanding Apprenticeships in America. The order called for 
America's education systems and workforce development programs 
to be reformed to meet today's rapidly changing economy. The 
order stated that it is more important than ever to prepare 
workers to fill both existing and newly created jobs and to 
prepare workers for the jobs of the future.
    According to the National Science Board's report, Science 
and Engineering Indicators 2018, the number of U.S. jobs that 
require STEM skills has grown nearly 34 percent over the past 
decade. The report also concludes that the demand for a STEM-
proficient workforce is expected to continue to increase and 
our ability to meet that demand will be essential to the 
Nation's future economic competitiveness and national security.
    To remain competitive, the Nation needs flexible STEM-
capable workers at every education level. The STEM workforce is 
broad and diverse, ranging from certificate-level computer 
programmers to Ph.D.-level physicists.
    Among the occupations that are essential to future 
competitiveness are those that require technical skills but do 
not require a four-year degree. The National Science Board 
identifies the ``technical STEM workforce'' as consisting of 
workers with high school diplomas and two-year technical 
training or certifications, who use significant levels of STEM 
knowledge in their jobs. In 2014, 16.1 million U.S. workers 
(11.9 percent of the total workforce) were employed in skilled 
technical occupations.
    A significant proportion of STEM-degree students are not 
completing their degree or choose to pursue non-STEM 
employment. According to a recent report by ACT (formerly 
American College Testing), 38 percent of students who start 
with a STEM major do not graduate with one. For every two 
students graduating with a STEM degree, only one is employed in 
STEM. Advisor to the President, Ivanka Trump, has called this 
situation a ``vocational crisis.''
    Apprenticeship and mentoring initiatives have been shown to 
improve the rate of degree completion in STEM fields for 
undergraduates at both four-year universities and community 
colleges.
    Growing the Nation's STEM workforce and reducing barriers 
to participation will increase individual economic opportunity 
and support our nation's leadership in science and technology.

                          LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

    On February 14, 2017, the Research and Technology 
Subcommittee of the House Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology held a hearing entitled, ``Strengthening U.S. 
Cybersecurity Capabilities.'' Witnesses were: Dr. Charles H. 
Romine, Director, Information Technology Lab, National 
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); Mr. Iain 
Mulholland, Industry Member, Center for Strategic and 
International Studies (CSIS) Cyber Policy Task Force; Chief 
Technology Officer, Security, VMware, Inc.; Dr. Diana Burley, 
Executive Director and Chair, Institute for Information 
Infrastructure Protection (I3P), Professor, Human and 
Organizational Learning, The George Washington University; and 
Mr. Gregory Wilshusen, Director, Information Security Issues, 
U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).
    On March 9, 2017, the Research and Technology Subcommittee 
of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a 
hearing entitled, ``National Science Foundation Part I: 
Overview and Oversight.'' Witnesses were: Dr. France Cordova, 
Director, NSF; and Ms. Allison Lerner, Inspector General, NSF.
    On March 21, 2017, the Research and Technology Subcommittee 
of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a 
hearing entitled, ``National Science Foundation Part II: Future 
Opportunities and Challenges for Science.'' Witnesses were: Dr. 
Joan Ferrini-Mundy, Acting Chief Operating Officer, NSF; Dr. 
Maria Zuber, Chair, National Science Board; Dr. Jeffrey Spies, 
Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Center for Open 
Science and Assistant Professor, University of Virginia; and 
Dr. Keith Yamamoto, Vice Chancellor for Science Policy and 
Strategy, University of California, San Francisco.
    On July 26, 2017, the Research and Technology Subcommittee 
of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a 
hearing entitled, ``STEM and Computer Science Education: 
Preparing the 21st Century Workforce.'' Witnesses were: Mr. 
James Brown, Executive Director, STEM Education Coalition; Mr. 
Pat Yongpradit, Chief Academic Officer, Code.org; Dr. A. Paul 
Alivisatos, Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost, Vice 
Chancellor for Research, and Professor of Chemistry and 
Materials Science & Engineering, University of California, 
Berkeley; and Mrs. Dee Mooney, Executive Director, Micron 
Technology Foundation.
    On February 15, 2018, the Research and Technology 
Subcommittee of the House Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology held a hearing entitled, `Mentoring, Training, and 
Apprenticeships for STEM Education and Careers.'' The witnesses 
were: Dr. Victor R. McCrary, Vice President, Research and 
Economic Development and Professor of Chemistry, Morgan State 
University, Member, National Science Board and Chair, Task 
Force on the Skilled Technical Workforce; Dr. John Sands, 
Department Chair, Computer Integrated Technologies, Moraine 
Valley Community College, Director and Principal Investigator, 
Center for Systems Security and Information Assurance; Mr. 
Montez King, Executive Director, National Institute of 
Metalworking Skills; and Dr. John Bardo, President, Wichita 
State University.
    On March 15, 2018, the House Committee on Science, Space, 
and Technology held a hearing entitled, ``An Overview of the 
National Science Foundation Budget Proposal for Fiscal Year 
2019.'' Witnesses were: Dr. France Cordova, Director, NSF; and 
Dr. Maria T. Zuber, Chair, National Science Board.
    On April 17, 2018, the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology approved by voice vote H.R. 5509, Innovations in 
Mentoring, Training, and Apprenticeships Act, as amended.

                            COMMITTEE VIEWS

STEM workforce demand

    The Committee understands that the demand for a STEM-
proficient workforce is expected to continue to increase and 
our ability to meet it will be essential to the Nation's future 
competitiveness and national security. The legislation directs 
NSF to examine and support innovative workforce training 
approaches aimed at boosting STEM education and careers in 
order to meet current and future STEM professional and skilled 
technical workforce needs. The Committee intends that the 
initiatives supported by this legislation will leverage the 
hard work and ingenuity of women and men of all ages, education 
levels, geographic locations, and backgrounds to grow and meet 
the demand for a STEM-capable workforce.

STEM student rentention

    The Committee recognizes that, whether in technical 
schools, community colleges, or four-year university programs, 
it has been shown that STEM students are more likely to 
complete STEM degree studies and pursue STEM careers if they 
are engaged in an applied learning opportunity, such as an 
apprenticeship or internship. This point was further 
illustrated by witness testimony during the Committee's 
February 15, 2018, hearing entitled, ``Mentoring, Training, and 
Apprenticeships for STEM Education and Careers.'' Through the 
competitive grant programs established in this act, the 
Committee intends for NSF to continue to encourage efforts to 
strengthen STEM education at all levels and foster interest in 
STEM careers through innovative partnerships between academic 
institutions and regional industry to offer these important 
opportunities.

Expanding apprenticeships in America

    The Committee believes that the STEM research and 
apprenticeship programs authorized and implemented by this 
legislation complements initiatives being driven by President 
Trump in Executive Order 13801, Expanding Apprenticeships in 
America. Advisor to the President, Ivanka Trump, has indicated 
the President has a goal of five million apprenticeships and a 
unified approach to expanding this mode of training. The 
Committee intends for NSF to share their findings with other 
appropriate federal agencies, such as the Department of Labor 
and the Department of Education. The Committee believes that 
NSF research can help to better inform future federal 
investments in STEM workforce training programs across the 
federal government by increasing the understanding of the 
impact of these workforce training tools, the context in which 
they are most effective, and identifying the barriers that 
exist to their expansion and application.

                           Section-by-Section


Section 1. Short title

    This section establishes the short title for the bill as 
the ``Innovations in Mentoring, Training, and Apprenticeships 
Act.''

Section 2. Findings

    This section contains findings regarding the importance of 
building and sustaining a STEM proficient workforce, notes that 
there is a high return on investments for technical skills 
sought by employers and that there is a shared responsibility 
for developing and sustaining a skilled technical workforce. 
The findings also note that although experiments and innovative 
programs are underway, scalability has not been tested, and 
that integrating academic education, technical training, 
mentorship, and hands-on work experience improves outcomes.

Section 3. National Science Foundation STEM innovation and 
        apprenticeship grants

    This section directs NSF to award competitive grants to 
community colleges to develop or improve associate degree or 
certificate programs in an in-demand STEM field by partnering 
with regional employers to offer apprenticeships, internships, 
or other applied learning opportunities to enrolled students. 
This section instructs NSF to devote no less than $20,000,000 
to these awards, including no less than $5,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2018 through 2021.
    This section also directs NSF to award competitive grants 
to universities to partner with regional employers or employer 
consortia that commit to offering apprenticeships, internships, 
research opportunities, or applied learning experiences to 
university students enrolled in STEM baccalaureate degree 
programs. This section instructs NSF to devote no less than 
$10,000,000 to these awards, including no less than $2,500,000 
for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2021.
    Additionally, this section directs NSF to award competitive 
grants to conduct research on student outcomes and determine 
best practices for STEM education and technical skills 
education through distance learning or in a simulated work 
environment. This section instructs NSF to devote no less than 
$10,000,000 to these awards, including no less than $2,500,000 
for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2021. Criteria for 
prioritizing and awarding such grants are also provided in this 
section.

Section 4. Research on efficiency of skilled technical labor markets

    This section directs NSF to work with the Secretary of 
Labor to support research on labor market analysis innovation, 
data and information sciences, electronic information tools and 
metrics. NSF is also directed to conduct a study that compares 
and contrasts STEM skilled technical workforce development 
across the U.S. and in other developed nations. A report to 
Congress on the results of the study is due three years after 
enactment. Lastly, this section requires NSF to examine the 
feasibility of conducting a statistical survey of the skilled 
technical workforce. A report is due to Congress one year after 
enactment and will include a plan for multi-agency 
collaboration in order to effect data collection.

Section 5. Spending limitation

    This section clarifies that no additional funds are 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act and the 
amendments made by this Act. This Act must be carried out using 
amounts otherwise available.

Section 6. Evaluation and report

    This section requires NSF's Director, two years after the 
date of enactment, to evaluate the grants and programs provided 
under this Act and report the findings to Congress no later 
than 180 days after completion.

Section 7. Definitions

    This section defines the terms ``STEM,'' ``community 
college,'' ``region,'' and ``skilled technical workforce.''

                       Explanation of Amendments

    An amendment offered by Representative Bonamici was adopted 
by the Committee. The amendment allows for ``industry and 
sector partnerships'' to be included as eligible entities for 
grants.

                        Committee Consideration

    On April 17, 2018, the Committee met in open session and 
ordered reported favorably the bill, H.R. 5509, as amended, by 
voice vote, a quorum being present.

              Application of Law to the Legislative Branch

    Section 102(b)(3) of Public Law 104-1 requires a 
description of the application of this bill to the legislative 
branch where the bill relates to the terms and conditions of 
employment or access to public services and accommodations. 
This bill directs the National Science Foundation to provide 
grants for research about STEM education approaches and the 
STEM-related workforce. As such this bill does not relate to 
employment or access to public services and accommodations.
    Legislative branch employees and their families, to the 
extent that they are otherwise eligible for the benefits 
provided by this legislation, have equal access to its 
benefits.

  Statement of Oversight Findings and Recommendations of the Committee

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause 
(2)(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives, the Committee's oversight findings and 
recommendations are reflected in the descriptive portions of 
this report.

         Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives

    H.R. 5509, the Innovations in Mentoring, Training, and 
Apprenticeships Act, directs the National Science Foundation to 
provide grants for research about STEM education approaches and 
the STEM-related workforce.

                    Duplication of Federal Programs

    No provision of H.R. 5509 establishes or reauthorizes a 
program of the Federal Government known to be duplicative of 
another Federal program, a program that was included in any 
report from the Government Accountability Office to Congress 
pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139, or a program 
related to a program identified in the most recent Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance.

                  Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings

    The Committee estimates that enacting H.R. 5509 does not 
direct the completion of any specific rule makings within the 
meaning of 5 U.S.C. 551.

                     Federal Advisory Committee Act

    The Committee finds that the legislation does not establish 
or authorize the establishment of an advisory committee within 
the definition of 5 U.S.C. App., Section 5(b).

                       Unfunded Mandate Statement

    Section 423 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment 
Control Act (as amended by Section 101(a)(2) of the Unfunded 
Mandates Reform Act, P.L. 104-4) requires a statement as to 
whether the provisions of the reported include unfunded 
mandates. In compliance with this requirement the Committee has 
received a letter from the Congressional Budget Office included 
herein.

                         Earmark Identification

    H.R. 5509 does not include any congressional earmarks, 
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in 
clause 9 of rule XXI.

                           Committee Estimate

    Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the 
Committee of the costs that would be incurred in carrying out 
H.R. 5509. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B) of that rule provides 
that this requirement does not apply when the Committee has 
included in its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the 
bill prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget 
Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act.

     Budget Authority and Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and with respect 
to requirements of clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives and section 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has received 
the following cost estimate for H.R. 5509 from the Director of 
the Congressional Budget Office:

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                      Washington, DC, May 10, 2018.
Hon. Lamar Smith,
Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 5509, the 
Innovations in Mentoring, Training, and Apprenticeships Act.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Janani 
Shankaran.
            Sincerely,
                                                Keith Hall,
                                                          Director.
    Enclosure.

H.R. 5509--Innovations in Mentoring, Training, and Apprenticeships Act

    Summary: H.R. 5509 would authorize the National Science 
Foundation (NSF) to award grants to community colleges, 
universities, and nonprofit organizations to develop and 
improve education and work opportunities in science, 
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The bill also 
would require the NSF to conduct research on the STEM and 
technical workforce in the United States. CBO estimates that 
implementing H.R. 5509 would cost $29 million over the 2019-
2023 period, assuming appropriation of the authorized and 
estimated amounts.
    Enacting H.R. 5509 would not affect direct spending or 
revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
    CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 5509 would not increase 
net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four 
consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029.
    H.R. 5509 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA).
    Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated 
budgetary effect of H.R. 5509 is shown in the following table. 
The costs of the legislation fall within budget function 250 
(general science, space, and technology).

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
                                                              2018   2019   2020   2021   2022   2023  2019-2023
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 INCREASES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION
 
STEM Grants:
    Authorization Level....................................     10     10     10     10      0      0        30
    Estimated Outlays......................................      0      1      5      7      8      5        26
Other Provisions:
    Estimated Authorization Level..........................      0      1      1      1      0      0         3
    Estimated Outlays......................................      0      1      1      1      0      0         3
    Total:
        Estimated Authorization Level......................     10     11     11     11      0      0        33
        Estimated Outlays..................................      0      2      6      8      8      5        29
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H.R 5509 would effectively authorize the appropriation of $10 million in 2018 for STEM grants. CBO does not
  estimate any outlays for that authorization because appropriations for 2018 have already been provided.
STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

    Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that H.R 
5509 will be enacted near the end of 2018. Section 5 of the 
bill states that no additional funds are authorized to be 
appropriated by H.R. 5509. In CBO's view, however, the bill 
effectively authorizes the appropriation of funding because 
even if additional funding was not provided specifically for 
those purposes, the agency would have to spend appropriated 
resources on the new activity instead of using those funds to 
carry out other statutory responsibilities.
    STEM Grants. H.R. 5509 would establish a program through 
the NSF to award grants to community colleges with associate's 
degree programs in STEM, to universities that partner with 
employers to offer STEM work opportunities, and to nonprofits 
and postsecondary education institutions to expand online 
technical training. The NSF's Advanced Technological Education 
program is similar to the program proposed by the bill. In 
recent years, the NSF's spending for that program has been 
around $65 million annually. Under current law, no specific 
sums are authorized to be appropriated for that program after 
2018.
    H.R. 5509 would effectively authorize the appropriation of 
$10 million annually over the 2018-2021 period for the grants. 
CBO does not estimate any outlays for the authorization for 
2018 because appropriations for 2018 have already been 
provided. Based on historical spending patterns for similar 
programs, CBO estimates that implementing those provisions 
would cost $26 million over the 2019-2023 period, assuming 
appropriation of the authorized amounts.
    Other Provisions. Section 4 of the bill would require the 
NSF to conduct research and submit reports to the Congress on 
the STEM and technical workforce in the United States. Using 
information from the NSF, CBO estimates that the agency would 
need two additional employees, at an annual average cost of 
about $320,000. Section 6 of H.R. 5509 would require the NSF to 
evaluate the grants provided under the bill. Based on the costs 
of similar evaluations, CBO estimates that provision would cost 
about $2 million. In total, CBO estimates that the activities 
required by those sections would cost $3 million over the 2019-
2023 period; such spending would be subject to the availability 
of appropriated funds.
    Pay-As-You-Go considerations: None.
    Increase in long-term direct spending and deficits: CBO 
estimates that enacting H.R. 5509 would not increase net direct 
spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 
10-year periods beginning in 2029.
    Mandates: H.R. 5509 contains no intergovernmental or 
private-sector mandates as defined in UMRA.
    Estimate prepared by: Federal costs: Janani Shankaran; 
Mandates: Jon Sperl.
    Estimate reviewed by: Kim P. Cawley, Chief, Natural and 
Physical Resources Cost Estimates Unit; H. Samuel Papenfuss, 
Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.