[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3703 Introduced in House (IH)]
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3703
To establish a program to provide student fellowships in fields of
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, with preference
given to the study of technological development encompassing the fields
of energy, environment, and economy.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 16, 2011
Mr. Inslee introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a program to provide student fellowships in fields of
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, with preference
given to the study of technological development encompassing the fields
of energy, environment, and economy.
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 ``Fellowships for Undergraduate
Training and Useful Research in Energy-related Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics fields Act'' or ``FUTURE STEM Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) STEM.--The term ``STEM'' has the meaning given to that
term in section 2 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act
of 2010.
(2) E3.--The term ``E3'' means the academic and
professional area of technological development encompassing the
fields of energy, environment, and economy.
SEC. 3. FELLOWSHIPS FOR STEM PROJECTS WITH PREFERENCE TO E3.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Energy shall establish an
undergraduate student fellowships pilot program to award competitive
grants to partner institutions to provide work experience in STEM
fields that will overall improve education and training in support of
STEM fields. Grants under this section may be used for--
(1) employing eligible students for 10-week research
fellowships with partner institutions;
(2) approved travel and housing expenses for student
fellows;
(3) purchasing, renting, or leasing of equipment,
instrumentation, and other educational and training materials
needed to satisfy the student research fellowships;
(4) supporting outreach efforts to recruit students;
(5) encouraging collaboration between government, industry,
and academic partners; and
(6) assessing the activities funded under this Act.
(b) Partners.--Grants awarded under subsection (a) shall be to a
partner institution that--
(1) is a 2-year degree granting institution of higher
education offering an associate degree in a STEM field;
(2) is a 4-year degree granting institution of higher
education;
(3) is a business, nonprofit organization, or labor
organization; or
(4) is a State educational agency, other public agency, or
National Laboratory.
(c) Preference.--The Secretary of Energy shall give preference to
awarding grants under this section to partner institutions--
(1) whose proposal incorporates E3 concepts;
(2) whose proposal includes student work experience with
emphasis on research;
(3) who demonstrate that they will employ students from
groups that have been historically underrepresented in STEM
fields; and
(4) who can demonstrate the likely long-term stability of
the program without continued Federal funding.
(d) Eligibility.--A student is eligible for employment under
subsection (a) if the student--
(1) is at least 18 years of age on the date of submission
of the grant application and--
(A) is a high school student who has been
officially accepted to begin undergraduate studies at
least half-time within 6 months of high school
graduation; or
(B) is enrolled as an undergraduate student at
least half-time at a degree granting institution;
(2) in the case of a student described in paragraph (1)(B),
has achieved at a minimum a 3.0 undergraduate cumulative grade
point average; and
(3) is a citizen or permanent resident of the United
States.
(e) Student Allowances.--An eligible undergraduate student employed
using grant funds awarded under subsection (a) shall receive--
(1) $4,500 direct salary stipend; and
(2) reimbursement up to $2,000 for approved housing and
travel expenses.
(f) Diversity of Subject Matter.--The Secretary of Energy shall
ensure that, to the extent possible, grants are provided under this Act
for projects representing a wide diversity of STEM fields.
(g) Limitation.--No single grant under subsection (a) may be made
in an amount greater than $10,000 per year.
(h) Public Information.--The Secretary of Energy shall make
publicly available all planning documents and other materials related
to a project supported by a grant made under this Act.
(i) Project Reports.--The Secretary of Energy shall require grant
recipients under subsection (a) to submit a report to the Secretary,
not later than 1 year after receiving the grant, on the results of the
project supported by the grant. Each such report shall include an
assessment of which elements of the project supported with the grant
were successful and which were not, along with an identification and
analysis of improvements that could have made the project more
successful. The Secretary shall make all reports submitted under this
subsection available to the public.
SEC. 4. REPORT.
The Secretary of Energy shall evaluate the effectiveness of
activities carried out under this Act. A report documenting the results
of that evaluation shall be submitted to the Committee on Education and
the Workforce and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate
not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act. The
report shall identify best practices and materials developed and
demonstrated by partners awarded a grant.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act--
(1) $250,000 for fiscal year 2012;
(2) $250,000 for fiscal year 2013;
(3) $250,000 for fiscal year 2014; and
(4) $250,000 for fiscal year 2015.
<all>