    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 134, 116th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Public Law 116-115
    116th Congress

    An Act

    To promote veteran involvement in STEM education, computer science, and
    scientific research, and for other purposes. <>

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
    United States of America in Congress assembled, <>
    SECTION 1. <> SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers
    Act''.
    SEC. 2. <>  DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
    (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
    the National Science Foundation.
    (2) Foundation.--The term ``Foundation'' means the National
    Science Foundation.
    (3) STEM.--The term ``STEM'' has the meaning given the term
    in section 2 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010
    (42 U.S.C. 6621 note).
    (4) Veteran.--The term ``veteran'' has the meaning given the
    term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
    SEC. 3. SUPPORTING VETERANS IN STEM EDUCATION AND COMPUTER
    SCIENCE.

    (a) <>  Supporting Veteran Involvement in
    Scientific Research and STEM Education.--The Director shall, through the
    research and education activities of the Foundation, encourage veterans
    to study and pursue careers in STEM and computer science, in
    coordination with other Federal agencies that serve veterans.

    (b) <> Veteran Outreach Plan.--Not
    later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the
    Director shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
    of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science,
    and Transportation of the Senate a plan for how the Foundation can
    enhance its outreach efforts to veterans. Such plan shall--
    (1) report on the Foundation's existing outreach activities;
    (2) identify the best method for the Foundation to leverage
    existing authorities and programs to facilitate and support
    veterans in STEM careers and studies, including teaching
    programs; and
    (3) include options for how the Foundation could track
    veteran participation in research and education programs of the
    Foundation, and describe any barriers to collecting such
    information.

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    (c) <>  National Science Board Indicators
    Report.--The National Science Board shall provide in its annual report
    on indicators of the state of science and engineering in the United
    States any available and relevant data on veterans in science and
    engineering careers or education programs.

    (d) Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program Update.--Section 10 of
    the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C.
    1862n-1) is amended--
    (1) in subsection (a)(5)--
    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the
    end;
    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at
    the end and inserting ``; and''; and
    (C) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(C) higher education programs that serve or
    support veterans.'';
    (2) in subsection (b)(2)(F)--
    (A) by striking ``and students'' and inserting ``,
    students''; and
    (B) by inserting ``, and veterans'' before the
    period at the end;
    (3) in subsection (c)(2), by inserting ``and veterans''
    before the period at the end; and
    (4) in subsection (d)(2), by inserting ``and veterans''
    before the period at the end.

    (e) National Science Foundation Teaching Fellowships and Master
    Teaching Fellowships Update.--Section 10A(d) of the National Science
    Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-1a(d)) is
    amended--
    (1) in paragraph (3)(F)--
    (A) by striking ``and individuals'' and inserting
    ``, individuals''; and
    (B) by inserting ``, and veterans'' before the
    period at the end; and
    (2) in paragraph (4)(B), by inserting ``and veterans''
    before the period at the end.

    (f) National Science Foundation Computer and Network Security
    Capacity Building Grants Update.--Section 5(a) of the Cyber Security
    Research and Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7404(a)) is amended--
    (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``and students who are
    veterans'' after ``these fields''; and
    (2) in paragraph (3)--
    (A) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``and'' at the
    end;
    (B) by redesignating subparagraph (J) as
    subparagraph (K); and
    (C) by inserting after subparagraph (I) the
    following:
    ``(J) creating opportunities for veterans to
    transition to careers in computer and network security;
    and''.

    (g) Graduate Traineeships in Computer and Network Security Research
    Update.--Section 5(c)(6)(C) of the Cyber Security Research and
    Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7404(c)(6)(C)) is amended by inserting ``or
    veterans'' after ``disciplines''.
    (h) <>  Veterans and Military Families STEM
    Education Interagency Working Group.--

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    (1) <>  In general.--The Director of
    the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall establish, or
    designate, an interagency working group to improve veteran and
    military spouse equity and representation in STEM fields.
    (2) Duties <>  of interagency working
    group.--An interagency working group established under paragraph
    (1) shall develop and facilitate the implementation by
    participating agencies of a strategic plan, which shall--
    (A) specify and prioritize short- and long-term
    objectives;
    (B) specify the common metrics that will be used by
    Federal agencies to assess progress toward achieving
    such objectives;
    (C) identify barriers veterans face in reentering
    the workforce, including a lack of formal STEM
    education, career guidance, and the process of
    transferring military credits and skills to college
    credits;
    (D) identify barriers military spouses face in
    establishing careers in STEM fields;
    (E) describe the approaches that each participating
    agency will take to address administratively the
    barriers described in subparagraphs (C) and (D); and
    (F) identify any barriers that require Federal or
    State legislative or regulatory changes in order to be
    addressed.
    (3) Report.--The Director of the Office of Science and
    Technology Policy shall--
    (A) <>  not later than 1 year after
    the date of enactment of this Act, submit to Congress
    the strategic plan required under paragraph (2); and
    (B) include in the annual report required by section
    101(d) of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of
    2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621(d)) a description of any progress
    made in carrying out the activities described in
    paragraph (2) of this subsection.
    (4) Sunset.--An interagency working group established under
    paragraph (1) shall terminate on the date that is 3 years after
    the date that it is established.
    SEC. 4. COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES STUDY AND REPORT
    ON BARRIERS FACED BY STUDENT VETERANS PURSUING
    DEGREES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING,
    OR MATH.

    (a) <>  Study.--Not later than August 1, 2022, the
    Comptroller General of the United States shall complete a study on
    academic success rates of student veterans pursuing covered degrees and
    barriers faced by such students in pursuing such degrees.

    (b) <>  Elements.--The study required by
    subsection (a) shall include the following:
    (1) Assessment of available information on the percentage or
    number of student veterans pursuing a covered degree with
    educational assistance furnished under chapter 33 of title 38,
    United States Code.
    (2) Assessment of available information on the percentage or
    number of such students who pursue a covered degree and do not
    obtain such degree in four or fewer academic years.

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    (3) Identification of the reasons that such students do not
    obtain such degree in four or fewer academic years and whether
    such reasons are barriers to obtaining such degrees.
    (4) <>  Development of
    recommendations for legislative or administrative action to
    better align the educational assistance furnished under chapter
    33 of title 38, United States Code, with the needs of such
    students and address the reasons identified under paragraph (3).

    (c) Report.--Not later than August 1, 2022, the Comptroller General
    shall submit to Congress a report on the findings of the Comptroller
    General with respect to the study completed under subsection (a), along
    with recommendations for such legislative or administrative action as
    the Comptroller General considers appropriate.
    (d) Definition of Covered Degree.--In this section, the term
    ``covered degree'' means a standard, undergraduate college degree in a
    field listed under section 3320(b)(4)(A)(i) of title 38, United States
    Code.

    Approved February 11, 2020.

    LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 153 (H.R. 425):
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    SENATE REPORTS: No. 116-164 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and
    Transportation).
    CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
    Vol. 165 (2019): Dec. 18, considered and passed Senate.
    Vol. 166 (2020): Jan. 27, considered and passed House.
    DAILY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS (2020):
    Feb. 11, Presidential remarks.