[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7156 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7156
To amend title 10, United States Code, to establish a program to
enhance the participation of Department of Defense contractors in
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics activities.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 11, 2020
Mr. Brown of Maryland (for himself, Ms. Escobar, and Mrs. Hartzler)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 10, United States Code, to establish a program to
enhance the participation of Department of Defense contractors in
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics activities.
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 ``STEM Education and Recruitment by
Valuing Increased Community Engagement Act of 2020'' or the ``SERVICE
Act''.
SEC. 2. ENHANCED PARTICIPATION OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CONTRACTORS IN
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS
ACTIVITIES.
(a) In General.--
(1) Program required.--Chapter 111 of title 10, United
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 2192b the
following new section:
``Sec. 2192c. Program to enhance contractor participation in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics activities
``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense shall carry out a
program under which the Secretary shall seek to enter into partnerships
with Department of Defense contractors to promote interest in careers
in STEM disciplines.
``(b) Objectives.--The objectives of the program under subsection
(a) are--
``(1) to maximize strategic partnerships between
institutions of higher education and private sector
organizations to build and strengthen communities involved in
STEM disciplines;
``(2) to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion by
providing access to career paths in STEM in historically
underserved and underrepresented communities; and
``(3) to encourage employers in STEM disciplines to
establish work-based learning experiences such as internships
and apprenticeships.
``(c) Activities.--As part of the program under subsection (a), the
Secretary of Defense shall seek to encourage and provide support to
Department of Defense contractors to enable such contractors to carry
out activities to promote interest in careers in STEM disciplines. Such
activities may include--
``(1) aiding in the development of educational programs and
curriculum in STEM disciplines for students of elementary
schools and secondary schools;
``(2) establishing volunteer programs in elementary schools
and secondary schools receiving assistance under part A of
title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.) to enhance education in STEM
disciplines.
``(3) enhancing education in STEM disciplines at
institutions of higher education by--
``(A) making personnel available to advise and
assist faculty at such institutions in the performance
of research and instruction in STEM disciplines that
are determined to be critical to the functions of the
Department of Defense;
``(B) awarding scholarships and fellowships to
students pursuing courses of study in STEM disciplines;
or
``(C) establishing cooperative work-education
programs in STEM disciplines for students; or
``(4) enhancing education in STEM disciplines at minority
institutions by--
``(A) establishing partnerships between offerors
and such institutions for the purpose of training
students in STEM disciplines;
``(B) conducting recruitment activities at such
institutions; or
``(C) making internships or apprenticeships
available to students of such institutions.
``(d) Allowability of Costs.--Activities described in subsection
(c) shall be considered as allowable community service activities for
the purposes of determining allowability of cost on a government
contract.
``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The terms `elementary school' and `secondary school'
have the meanings given those terms in section 8101 of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
``(2) The term `institution of higher education' has the
meaning given that term in section 101 of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
``(3) The term `minority institution' means--
``(A) a part B institution (as that term is defined
in section 322(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1061(2)); or
``(B) any other institution of higher education (as
that term is defined in section 101 of such Act (20
U.S.C. 1001)) at which not less than 50 percent of the
total student enrollment consists of students from
ethnic groups that are underrepresented in the fields
of science and engineering.
``(4) The term `STEM disciplines' means disciplines
relating to science, technology, engineering and mathematics,
including disciplines that are critical to the national
security functions of the Department of Defense and that are
needed in the Department of Defense workforce (as determined by
the Secretary of Defense under section 2192a(a)).''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 2192b the following new item:
``2192c. Program to enhance contractor participation in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics
activities.''.
(b) Conforming Repeal.--Section 862 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (Public Law 112-81; 10 U.S.C.
note prec. 2191) is repealed.
<all>