[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9134 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9134
To amend the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act
to direct the Director of the National Science Foundation to carry out
a mentorship demonstration program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 25, 2024
Ms. McClellan (for herself, Mr. Tonko, Ms. Crockett, Ms. Clarke of New
York, Ms. Williams of Georgia, Mr. Carson, Mr. Mullin, Ms. Lee of
California, Ms. Salinas, Ms. Strickland, Mrs. Sykes, Ms. Ross, and Mrs.
Foushee) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act
to direct the Director of the National Science Foundation to carry out
a mentorship demonstration program, 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 ``Improving Mentorship in STEM Higher
Education Act''.
SEC. 2. MENTORSHIP DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM; NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
REPORTING.
(a) Demonstration Program.--Section 10313(a) of the Research and
Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 18993) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(6) Demonstration program.--
``(A) In general.--The Director may make awards,
including through existing programs, on a competitive
basis to eligible entities to carry out projects
designed to improve mentorship practices and provide
resources for faculty, graduate researchers, and
postdoctoral researchers at the eligible entity,
including with respect to--
``(i) building and developing mentoring
skills in such researchers and faculty;
``(ii) promoting evidence-based and
institutionalized mentorship at the eligible
entity;
``(iii) researching methodologies for
improving mentorship;
``(iv) training such researchers and
faculty in cultural competencies; and
``(v) funding outreach related to such
projects.
``(B) Application.--An eligible entity desiring an
award under this subsection shall submit to the
Director an application at such time, in such form, and
containing such information as the Director may
require.
``(C) Special consideration.--In making awards
under this subsection, the Director shall give special
consideration to eligible entities that are--
``(i) minority-serving institutions;
``(ii) historically Black colleges and
universities;
``(iii) Tribal Colleges or Universities;
``(iv) rural-serving institutions of higher
education (as such term is defined in section
861(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1161q(b)));
``(v) emerging research institutions; and
``(vi) consortia that include institutions
described in clauses (i) through (v).
``(D) Report.--Not later than 5 years after the
date of the enactment of this paragraph, the Director
shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology and the Committee on Appropriations of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation and the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate a report that includes--
``(i) an assessment, using qualitative or
quantitative metrics as determined by the
Director, of the effectiveness of the
demonstration program carried out under this
paragraph on increasing the quality of
mentorship in STEM education; and
``(ii) if such assessment determines that
such program is effective, a plan to sustain
and permanently implement such program.
``(E) Eligible entity defined.--For purposes of
this paragraph, the term `eligible entity' means--
``(i) an institution of higher education
(as such term is defined in section 101 of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001));
``(ii) a nonprofit organization; and
``(iii) a consortium of entities described
in clauses (i) and (ii).
``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this paragraph $5,000,000, for fiscal years
2025 through 2029.''.
(b) Misconduct Reporting Requirements.--Section 7009 of the America
COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 1862o-1) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs
(3) and (4), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
``(2) institutional and agency reporting processes with
respect to harassment, discrimination, and other forms of
professional or scientific misconduct;''.
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