Bill Summary
This bill, known as the "Supporting Minority STEM Student to Career Act", aims to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 in order to improve programs for minority students in STEM fields. The bill requires grant recipients to meet certain criteria, such as using non-Federal funds to support the activities funded by the grant. It also authorizes the use of funds for various purposes, such as providing financial assistance to underrepresented students in STEM and improving institutional capacity for guidance counseling and academic support. The bill also emphasizes cooperation and consultation among various programs and agencies within the Department of Education and other federal, state, and private agencies to improve the quality of STEM education for underrepresented students. Lastly, the bill provides definitions for key terms such as "institution of higher education," "minority institution," and "STEM."
Possible Impacts
1. The bill could increase opportunities for minority students in STEM fields, providing them with access to resources and support that may have previously been unavailable to them.
2. The bill could lead to more diverse representation in the STEM workforce, as it aims to support and promote underrepresented minorities in the field.
3. The bill could potentially reduce the achievement gap in STEM education for minority students, as it requires institutions to provide individualized support and tutoring for students who are struggling in these subjects.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5784 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5784
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve programs for
minority students in STEM fields, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 6, 2020
Ms. Fudge (for herself and Mr. Turner) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve programs for
minority students in STEM fields, 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 Minority STEM Student to
Career Act''.
SEC. 2. MINORITY SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
(a) Required Criteria.--Section 352(c) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067b(c)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (9), by striking ``and'';
(2) in paragraph (10), by striking the period and inserting
``; and''; and
(3) by adding the following at the end:
``(11) the amount of non-Federal funds a grant recipient
will use to support the activities to be funded by the
grant.''.
(b) Authorized Use of Funds.--Section 353(b) of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067c(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``or'';
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period and
inserting a semicolon; and
(C) by adding the following at the end:
``(C) providing direct financial assistance to students who
are underrepresented in STEM; or
``(D) improving institutional capacity to provide--
``(i) guidance counseling and academic advising;
``(ii) work-study opportunities that are aligned to
a student's chosen field of study;
``(iii) faculty, peer, and near-peer mentorship;
``(iv) summer bridge programs;
``(v) undergraduate research opportunities;
``(vi) work-based learning opportunities aligned
with a student's chosen field of study; or
``(vii) individualized academic support and
tutoring.''; and
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``or'';
(B) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period and
inserting ``; or''; and
(C) by adding the following at the end:
``(E) any of the activities described in subparagraphs (A)
through (D) of paragraph (1).''.
(c) Cross Program and Cross Agency Cooperation.--Section 363 of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067i) is amended to read as
follows:
``SEC. 363. CROSS PROGRAM AND CROSS AGENCY COOPERATION.
``(a) In General.--The Minority Science and Engineering Improvement
Programs shall cooperate and consult with other programs within the
Department and within Federal, State, and private agencies which carry
out programs to improve the quality of science, mathematics, and
engineering education.
``(b) Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment
of the Supporting Minority STEM Student to Career Act, the Secretary
shall, in consultation with all Federal agencies that have STEM
education activities, prepare and submit to the authorizing committees
a coordination strategy report on expanding access and opportunity for
postsecondary students who are underrepresented in science and
engineering that--
``(1) outlines efforts to coordinate Federal grant programs
for these populations to more effectively achieve the Federal
Government's objective to diversify the STEM fields; and
``(2) outlines strategies to align Federal Government
research opportunities, internships, and deferred hiring
programs from minority institutions receiving a grant under
this part for students who are underrepresented in science and
engineering.''.
(d) Definitions.--Section 365 of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1067k) is amended--
(1) by striking paragraphs (3) and (4); and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(10) Institution of higher education.--The term
`institution of higher education' has the meaning given such
term in section 101.
``(11) Minority institution.--The term `minority
institution' means an institution described in section 371(a).
``(12) STEM.--The term `STEM' means the fields of science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics as described in
section 356(a).''.
<all>