[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8251 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8251
To authorize the National Science Foundation to make awards to
institutions of higher education and non-profit organizations for
research, development, and related activities to advance innovative
approaches to developing, improving, and expanding evidence-based
microelectronics education and workforce development activities and
learning experiences at all levels of education, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 28, 2022
Ms. Stevens (for herself, Mr. Waltz, Mr. Kildee, and Mr. Gonzalez of
Ohio) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the
Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the National Science Foundation to make awards to
institutions of higher education and non-profit organizations for
research, development, and related activities to advance innovative
approaches to developing, improving, and expanding evidence-based
microelectronics education and workforce development activities and
learning experiences at all levels of education, 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 ``Creating Helpful Initiatives to
Produce Personnel In Needed Growth INdustries Act of 2022'' or the
``CHIPPING IN Act of 2022''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) While microelectronics are a primary driver of economic
growth and scientific advancement, the United States has lost
much of its capacity to design and manufacture, test, and
package microelectronics and microelectronics systems
domestically.
(2) Current educational and vocational training
opportunities are insufficient to meet the domestic
microelectronics industry workforce needs. The deficit between
open jobs and qualified workers is projected to grow as design
and manufacturing activities increase.
(3) Growth in microelectronics design and manufacturing
capabilities may be limited by a lack of qualified workers.
(4) The United States education pathways for
microelectronics faces significant challenges, from a lack of
gender and racial diversity to an inability of universities and
community colleges to attract and retain faculty and other
instructors qualified to teach microelectronics.
(5) Students often fail to get the hands-on training they
need to succeed in microelectronics careers, especially at the
community or technical college level.
(6) Skilled technical jobs in the manufacturing industry
and in the microelectronics design industry are well-suited for
apprenticeship and other paid training models, however
prospective participants must have adequate STEM training.
(7) The microelectronics industry suffers from a lack of
awareness and visibility as pre-college students, students
pursuing STEM degrees, technical workers, and doctorate-level
researchers seek employment in other industries.
(8) Lack of access to co-located design and fabrication
facilities, including attendant software licensing issues is a
deterrent for United States competitiveness and workforce
development.
(9) In order to help drive forward advances in
microelectronics and increase domestic microelectronics design
and manufacturing capability, the Federal Government must
provide sufficient resources and use its convening power to
facilitate the growth of microelectronics talent in academia,
the Federal Government, and the microelectronics industry.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION MICROELECTRONICS EDUCATION
ACTIVITIES.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
the National Science Foundation.
(2) Foundation.--The term ``Foundation'' means the National
Science Foundation.
(3) Historically black college or university.--The term
``historically Black college or university'' has the meaning
given the term ``part B institution'' in section 322 of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061).
(4) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the
term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001(a)).
(5) K-12 education.--The term ``K-12 education'' means
elementary school and secondary education, as such terms are
defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(6) Labor organization.--The term ``labor organization''
has the meaning given the term in paragraph (5) of section 2 of
the National Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 152), except that
such term shall also include--
(A) any organization composed of labor
organizations, such as a labor union federation or a
State or municipal labor body; and
(B) any organization which would be included in the
definition of such term under such paragraph (5) but
for the fact the organization represents--
(i) individuals employed by the United
States, any wholly owned Government
corporation, any Federal Reserve Bank, or any
State or political subdivision thereof;
(ii) individuals employed by persons
subject to the Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 151
et seq.); or
(iii) individuals employed as agricultural
laborers.
(7) Minority-serving institution.--The term ``minority-
serving institution'' means--
(A) a Hispanic-serving institution (as such term is
defined in section 502 of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a));
(B) an Alaska Native-serving institution and Native
Hawaiian-serving institution (as such terms are defined
in section 317 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1059d)); and
(C) Predominantly Black institutions, Asian
American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving
Institutions, and Native American-serving Nontribal
Institutions (as such terms are defined in section 371
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1067q(c))).
(8) Tribal college or university.--The term ``Tribal
College or University'' has the meaning given the term ``Tribal
College or University'' in section 316 of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c).
(9) STEM.--The term ``STEM'' means the academic and
professional disciplines of science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics, including computer science.
(10) Microelectronics.--The term ``microelectronics'' means
semiconductors and related materials, processing chemistries,
design, fabrication, manufacturing, lithography, packaging,
sensors, devices, integrated circuits, processors, computing
architectures, modeling and simulation, software tools, and
related technologies.
(b) National Science Foundation Microelectronics Education
Activities.--
(1) In general.--The Director shall make awards to
institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations, or
consortia thereof, for research, development, and related
activities to advance innovative approaches to developing,
improving, and expanding evidence-based education and workforce
development activities and learning experiences at all levels
of education in fields and disciplines related to
microelectronics.
(2) Purposes.--Activities carried out under this section
shall be for the purpose of supporting the growth, retention,
and development of a diverse, flexible, and sustainable
microelectronics workforce that meets the evolving needs of
industry, academia, and Federal laboratories.
(3) Uses of funds.--Awards made under this subsection shall
be used for the following:
(A) To develop curricula and teaching modules for
topics relevant to microelectronics, including those
modules that provide meaningful hands-on learning
experiences, including at the K-12 education level.
(B) To disseminate materials developed pursuant to
subparagraph (A), including through the creation and
maintenance of a publicly accessible database.
(C) To implement training, research, and
professional development programs for teachers,
including innovative pre-service and in-service
programs, in microelectronics and related fields.
(D) To support learning activities that provide
physical, simulated, or remote access to training
facilities and industry-standard processes and tools,
including equipment and software for the design,
development, and manufacture of microelectronics.
(E) To increase the integration of microelectronics
content into STEM curricula at all education levels.
(F) To provide informal hands-on learning
opportunities for K-12 students in microelectronics,
including competitions.
(G) To carry out such other activities as the
Director determines appropriate.
(4) Advanced microelectronics traineeships.--
(A) In general.--The Director shall make awards to
institutions of higher education and non-profit
organizations (or consortia of such institutions and
organizations) to establish traineeship programs for
graduate students who pursue microelectronics research
leading to a masters or doctorate degree by providing
funding and other assistance, and by providing graduate
students with opportunities for research experiences in
government or industry related to such students'
microelectronics studies.
(B) Use of funds.--An institution of higher
education or non-profit organizations (or consortia of
such institutions and organizations) shall use award
funds provided under subparagraph (A) for the following
purposes:
(i) Paying tuition and fees, and providing
stipends, for students receiving traineeships
who are citizens, nationals, or aliens lawfully
admitted for permanent residence.
(ii) Facilitating opportunities for
scientific internship programs for students
receiving traineeships in microelectronics at
private industry, non-profit research
institutions, or Federal laboratories.
(iii) Such other costs associated with the
administration of the program.
(5) Microelectronics research experiences through existing
programs.--The Director shall seek to increase opportunities
for microelectronics research for students and trainees at all
levels by encouraging proposals in microelectronics through
existing programs, including the following:
(A) Research experiences for undergraduates
pursuant to section 514 of the America COMPETES
Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p-6).
(B) Postdoctoral fellowship programs established
pursuant to section 522 of the America COMPETES Act of
2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p-11).
(C) Graduate fellowships established pursuant to
section 10 of the National Science Foundation Act of
1950 (42 U.S.C. 1869).
(D) Informal STEM education programs established
pursuant to section 3 of the STEM Education Act of 2015
(42 U.S.C. 1862q).
(E) The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program
established pursuant to section 10 of the National
Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C.
1862n-1).
(F) Major research instrumentation programs
established pursuant to section 7036 of the America
COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 1862o-14).
(G) Scientific and technical education programs
established pursuant to section 3 of the Scientific and
Advanced-Technology Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 1862i).
(6) Industry partnerships.--In carrying out the activities
under this subsection, the Director shall encourage awardees to
partner with industry and other private sector organizations to
facilitate the expansion of workforce pipelines and enable
access to industry-standard equipment and software for use in
undergraduate and graduate microelectronics education programs.
(7) Interagency coordination.--The Director shall
collaborate with the Subcommittee on Microelectronics
Leadership of the National Science and Technology Council,
established pursuant to section 9906(a) of the William M. (Mac)
Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2021 (Public Law 116-283; 15 U.S.C. 4656), to maintain the
effectiveness of microelectronics workforce development
activities across the agencies.
(c) National Network for Microelectronics Education.--
(1) In general.--The Director shall, on a competitive,
merit-reviewed basis, make awards to institutions of higher
education and non-profit organizations (or consortia of such
institutions and organizations) to establish partnerships to
enhance and broaden participation in microelectronics
education.
(2) Activities.--Awards made under this subsection shall be
used for the following:
(A) To conduct training and education activities,
including curricula design, development, dissemination,
and assessment, and share information and best
practices across the network of awardees.
(B) To develop regional partnerships among
associate-degree-granting colleges, bachelor-degree-
granting institutions, workforce development programs,
labor organizations, and industry to create a diverse
national technical workforce trained in
microelectronics and ensure education and training is
meeting the evolving needs of industry.
(C) To facilitate partnerships with employers,
employer consortia or other private sector
organizations that offer apprenticeships, internships,
or applied learning experiences in the field of
microelectronics.
(D) To develop shared infrastructure available to
institutions of higher education, two-year colleges,
and private organizations to enable experiential
learning activities and provide physical or digital
access to training facilities and industry-standard
tools and processes.
(E) To create and disseminate public outreach to
support awareness of microelectronics education and
career opportunities, including through outreach to K-
12 schools and STEM-related organizations.
(F) To collaborate and coordinate with industry and
existing public and private organizations conducting
microelectronics education and workforce development
activities, as practicable.
(3) National network for microelectronics education.--The
Director shall make an award to an organization to establish a
national network of partnerships (referred to in this section
as the ``National Network for Microelectronics Education'') to
coordinate activities, best practice sharing, and access to
facilities across the partnerships established in accordance
with paragraph (1).
(4) Incentivizing participation.--To the extent
practicable, the Director shall encourage participation in the
National Network for Microelectronics Education under paragraph
(3) through the coordination of activities and distribution of
awards described in subsection (b).
(5) Partnerships.--The Director shall encourage the
submission of proposals that are led by historically Black
colleges and universities, Tribal Colleges or Universities, and
minority-serving institutions or that include partnerships with
or among such institutions to increase the recruitment of
students from groups historically underrepresented in STEM to
pursue graduate studies in microelectronics.
(6) Outreach.--In addition to any other requirements as
determined appropriate by the Director, the Director shall
require that proposals for awards under this subsection shall
include a description of how the applicant will develop and
implement outreach activities to increase the participation of
women and other students from groups historically
underrepresented in STEM.
(7) Coordination across foundation programs.--In carrying
out the activities under this subsection, the Director shall
ensure awardees coordinate with, and avoid unnecessary
duplication of, activities carried out pursuant to the 21st
Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (Public Law
108-153), the National Quantum Initiative Act (Public Law 115-
368), the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of
2020 (enacted as division E of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public
Law 116-283)), and other related programs, as appropriate.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated $250,000,000 to the Foundation for fiscal years 2023
through 2027 to carry out this section.
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