Paul E. Tsongas Fellowship Act

Summary: Paul E. Tsongas Fellowship Act - Authorizes the Secretary of Energy to award Paul E. Tsongas Doctoral Fellowships for graduate study and research in fields of science or engineering that relate to energy or the environment such as physics, mathematics, chemistry, biology, computer science, materials science, environmental science, behavioral science, and social sciences at institutions proposed by applicants for such fellowships. 
Directs the Secretary to appoint the Paul E. Tsongas Fellowship Board to: (1) establish general policies for the program and oversee its operation; (2) establish general criteria for awarding fellowships; (3) award fellowships; and (4) submit to the Congress at least once in every three-year period a report on any modifications in the program. 
Authorizes appropriations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Paul E. Tsongas Fellowship Act''.

SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.

    It is the purpose of this Act to encourage individuals of 
exceptional achievement and promise, especially members of 
traditionally underrepresented groups, to pursue careers in fields that 
confront the global energy and environmental challenges of the 21st 
century.

SEC. 3. DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS AUTHORIZED.

    (a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary of Energy is authorized to 
award doctoral fellowships, to be known as Paul E. Tsongas Doctoral 
Fellowships, in accordance with the provisions of this Act for study 
and research in fields of science or engineering that relate to energy 
or the environment such as physics, mathematics, chemistry, biology, 
computer science, materials science, environmental science, behavioral 
science, and social sciences at institutions proposed by applicants for 
such fellowships.
    (b) Period of Award.--A fellowship under this section shall be 
awarded for a period of three succeeding academic years, beginning with 
the commencement of a program of doctoral study.
    (c) Fellowship Portability.--Each Fellow shall be entitled to use 
the fellowship in a graduate program at any accredited institution of 
higher education in which the recipient may decide to enroll.
    (d) Number of Fellowships.--As many fellowships as may be fully 
funded according to this Act shall be awarded each year.
    (e) Designation of Fellows.--Each individual awarded a fellowship 
under this Act shall be known as a ``Paul E. Tsongas Fellow'' 
(hereinafter in this Act referred to as a ``Fellow'').

SEC. 4. ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION OF FELLOWS.

    (a) Eligibility.--Only United States citizens are eligible to 
receive awards under this Act.
    (b)  Fellowship Board.--
            (1) Appointment.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
        Director of the National Science Foundation, shall appoint a 
        Paul E. Tsongas Fellowship Board (hereinafter in this part 
        referred to as the ``Board'') consisting of 5 representatives 
        of the academic science and engineering communities who are 
        especially qualified to serve on the Board. The Secretary shall 
        assure that individuals appointed to the Board are broadly 
        knowledgeable about and have experience in graduate education 
        in relevant fields.
            (2) Duties.--The Board shall--
                    (A) establish general policies for the program 
                established by this part and oversee its operation;
                    (B) establish general criteria for awarding 
                fellowships;
                    (C) award fellowships; and
                    (D) prepare and submit to the Congress at least 
                once in every 3-year period a report on any 
                modifications in the program that the Board determines 
                are appropriate.
            (3) Term.--The term of office of each member of the Board 
        shall be 3 years, except that any member appointed to fill a 
        vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the term for which the 
        predecessor of the member was appointed. No member may serve 
        for a period in excess of 6 years.
            (4) Initial meeting; vacancy.--The Secretary shall call the 
        first meeting of the Board, at which the first order of 
        business shall be the election of a Chairperson and a Vice 
        Chairperson, who shall serve until 1 year after the date of 
        their appointment. Thereafter each officer shall be elected for 
        a term of 2 years. In case a vacancy occurs in either office, 
        the Board shall elect an individual from among the members of 
the Board to fill such vacancy.
            (5) Quorum; additional meetings.--(A) A majority of the 
        members of the Board shall constitute a quorum.
            (B) The Board shall meet at least once a year or more 
        frequently, as may be necessary, to carry out its 
        responsibilities.
            (6) Compensation.--Members of the Board, while serving on 
        the business of the Board, shall be entitled to receive 
        compensation at rates fixed by the Secretary, but not exceeding 
        the rate of basic pay payable for level IV of the Executive 
        Schedule, including traveltime, and while so serving away from 
        their homes or regular places of business, they may be allowed 
        travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as 
        authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States Code, for 
        persons in Government service employed intermittently.
    (c) Underrepresented Groups.--In designing selection criteria and 
awarding fellowships, the Board shall--
            (1) consider the need to prepare a larger number of women 
        and individuals from minority groups, especially from among 
        such groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in 
        the professional and academic fields referred to in section 2, 
        but nothing contained in this or any other provision of this 
        Act shall be interpreted to require the Secretary to grant any 
        preference or disparate treatment to the members of any 
        underrepresented group; and
            (2) take into account the need to expand access by women 
        and minority groups to careers heretofore lacking adequate 
        representation of women and minority groups.

SEC. 5. PAYMENTS, STIPENDS, TUITION, AND EDUCATION AWARDS.

    (a) Amount of Award.--
            (1) Stipends.--The Secretary shall pay to each individual 
        awarded a fellowship under this Act a stipend in the amount of 
        $15,000, $16,500, and $18,000 during the first, second, and 
        third years of study, respectively.
            (2) Tuition.--The Secretary shall pay to the appropriate 
        institution an amount adequate to cover the tuition, fees, and 
        health insurance of each individual awarded a fellowship under 
        this Act.
            (3) Administrative and travel allowance.--The Secretary 
        shall pay to each host institution an annual $5,000 allowance 
        for the purpose of covering--
                    (A) administrative expenses;
                    (B) travel expenses associated with Fellow 
                participation in academic seminars or conferences 
                approved by the host institution; and
                    (C) round-trip travel expenses associated with 
                Fellow participation in the internship required by 
                section 6 of this Act.

SEC. 6. REQUIREMENT.

    Each Fellow shall participate in a 3-month internship related to 
the dissertation topic of the Fellow at a national laboratory, 
equivalent industrial laboratory, or any other institution or agency 
approved by the host institution.

SEC. 7. FELLOWSHIP CONDITIONS.

    (a) Academic Progress Required.--No student shall receive support 
pursuant to an award under this Act--
            (1) except during periods in which such student is 
        maintaining satisfactory progress in, and devoting essentially 
        full time to, study or research in the field in which such 
        fellowship was awarded, or
            (2) if the student is engaging in gainful employment other 
        than part-time employment involved in teaching, research, or 
        similar activities determined by the institution to be in 
        support of the student's progress toward a degree.
    (b) Reports From Recipients.--The Secretary is authorized to 
require reports containing such information in such form and filed at 
such times as the Secretary determines necessary from any person 
awarded a fellowship under the provisions of this Act. The reports 
shall be accompanied by a certificate from an appropriate official at 
the institution of higher education, or other research center, stating 
that such individual is fulfilling the requirements of this section.
    (c) Failure To Earn Degree.--A recipient of a fellowship under this 
Act found by the Secretary to have failed in or abandoned the course of 
study for which assistance was provided under this Act may be required, 
at the discretion of the Secretary, to repay a pro rata amount of such 
fellowship assistance received, plus interest and, where applicable, 
reasonable collection fees, on a schedule and at a rate of interest to 
be prescribed by the Secretary by regulations issued pursuant to this 
Act.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated for this Act $5,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2000 and such sums as may be necessary for the succeeding 
fiscal years.

SEC. 9. APPLICATION OF GENERAL EDUCATIONAL PROVISIONS ACT.

    Section 421 of the General Educational Provisions Act, pertaining 
to the availability of funds, shall apply to this Act.

SEC. 10. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this Act--
            (1) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Energy.
            (2) The term ``host institution'' means an institution 
        where a Paul E. Tsongas Fellow is enrolled for the purpose of 
        pursuing doctoral studies for which support is provided under 
        this Act.