Bill Summary
This legislation, known as the "Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act," aims to promote the involvement of veterans in STEM education, computer science, and scientific research. This includes encouraging veterans to study and pursue careers in these fields, as well as providing support and resources for veterans to do so. The Act also establishes an interagency working group to coordinate federal programs and policies for transitioning and training veterans and military spouses for STEM careers. This legislation recognizes the valuable skills and experiences that veterans bring to these fields, and aims to provide them with opportunities to further their education and careers.
Possible Impacts
1. Increased opportunities for veterans to pursue STEM education and careers: This legislation could provide more support and resources for veterans to study and pursue careers in STEM fields such as computer science, which could lead to new job opportunities and increased earning potential for veterans.
2. Improved tracking and reporting of veteran participation in STEM programs: The legislation calls for the National Science Foundation to track and report on veteran participation in STEM education and research programs. This could help identify any barriers or challenges veterans may face in pursuing these opportunities and inform future efforts to support them.
3. Enhanced coordination and collaboration among federal agencies: The creation of an interagency working group to coordinate and develop a strategic plan for supporting veterans in STEM careers could lead to improved collaboration and more effective use of resources across different government agencies, ultimately benefiting veterans and their families.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 425 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 425
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 26, 2019
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
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.
(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.--
(1) In general.--The Director of the Office of Science and
Technology Policy shall establish an interagency working group
to coordinate Federal programs and policies for transitioning
and training veterans and military spouses for STEM careers.
(2) Duties of interagency working group.--The interagency
working group established under paragraph (1) shall--
(A) coordinate any Federal agency STEM outreach
activities and programs for veterans and military
spouses; and
(B) develop and facilitate the implementation by
participating agencies of a strategic plan, which
shall--
(i) specify and prioritize short- and long-
term objectives;
(ii) specify the common metrics that will
be used by Federal agencies to assess progress
toward achieving such objectives;
(iii) 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;
(iv) identify barriers military spouses
face in establishing careers in STEM fields;
(v) describe the approaches that each
participating agency will take to address
administratively the barriers described in
clauses (iii) and (iv); and
(vi) identify any barriers that require
Federal or State legislative or regulatory
changes in order to be addressed.
(3) Duties of ostp.--The Director of the Office of Science
and Technology Policy shall encourage and monitor the efforts
of the Federal agencies participating in the interagency
working group to ensure that the strategic plan required under
paragraph (2)(B) is developed and executed effectively and that
the objectives of such strategic plan are met.
(4) 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)(B); and
(B) include in the annual report required by
section 101(d) of the America COMPETES Reauthorization
Act a description of any progress made in carrying out
the activities described in paragraph (2)(B) of this
subsection.
(5) Sunset.--The interagency working group established
under paragraph (1) shall terminate on the date that is 5 years
after the date that it is established.
Passed the House of Representatives February 25, 2019.
Attest:
CHERYL L. JOHNSON,
Clerk.