Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act

Summary: Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act This bill directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) to: (1) encourage veterans to study and pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and computer science in coordination with other federal agencies that serve veterans, and (2) submit a plan to Congress for enhancing veterans outreach.  The National Science Board shall provide in its annual report on the state of science and engineering in the United States relevant data on veterans in science and engineering careers or education programs. The bill provides for veterans' participation and outreach in: (1) the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship program to recruit and train mathematics and science teachers, (2) NSF fellowships and masters fellowships for mathematics and science teachers, (3) computer and network security capacity building grants, and (4) traineeship grants leading to a doctorate degree in computer and network security research.   The Office of Science and Technology Policy shall establish an interagency working group to coordinate federal programs and policies for transitioning and training veterans and military spouses for STEM careers. 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers 
Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the National Science Foundation.
            (2) Foundation.--The term ``Foundation'' means the National 
        Science Foundation.
            (3) STEM.--The term ``STEM'' has the meaning given the term 
        in section 2 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 
        2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621 note).
            (4) Veteran.--The term ``veteran'' has the meaning given 
        the term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.

SEC. 3. SUPPORTING VETERANS IN STEM EDUCATION AND COMPUTER SCIENCE.

    (a) Supporting Veteran Involvement in Scientific Research and STEM 
Education.--The Director shall, through the research and education 
activities of the Foundation, encourage veterans to study and pursue 
careers in STEM and computer science, in coordination with other 
Federal agencies that serve veterans.
    (b) Veteran Outreach Plan.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit to the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a plan 
for how the Foundation can enhance its outreach efforts to veterans. 
Such plan shall--
            (1) report on the Foundation's existing outreach 
        activities;
            (2) identify the best method for the Foundation to leverage 
        existing authorities and programs to facilitate and support 
        veterans in STEM careers and studies, including teaching 
        programs; and
            (3) include options for how the Foundation could track 
        veteran participation in research and education programs of the 
        Foundation, and describe any barriers to collecting such 
        information.
    (c) National Science Board Indicators Report.--The National Science 
Board shall provide in its annual report on indicators of the state of 
science and engineering in the United States any available and relevant 
data on veterans in science and engineering careers or education 
programs.
    (d) Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program Update.--Section 10 of 
the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 
1862n-1) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(5)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) higher education programs that serve or 
                support veterans.''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)(2)(F)--
                    (A) by striking ``and students'' and inserting ``, 
                students''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``, and veterans'' before the 
                period at the end.
    (e) National Science Foundation Teaching Fellowships and Master 
Teaching Fellowships Update.--Section 10A(d) of the National Science 
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-1a(d)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (3)(F)--
                    (A) by striking ``and individuals'' and inserting 
                ``, individuals''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``, and veterans'' before the 
                period at the end; and
            (2) in paragraph (4)(B), by inserting ``and veterans'' 
        before the period at the end.
    (f) National Science Foundation Computer and Network Security 
Capacity Building Grants Update.--Section 5(a) of the Cyber Security 
Research and Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7404(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``and students who are 
        veterans'' after ``these fields''; and
            (2) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) by redesignating subparagraph (J) as 
                subparagraph (K); and
                    (C) by inserting after subparagraph (I) the 
                following:
                    ``(J) creating opportunities for veterans to 
                transition to careers in computer and network security; 
                and''.
    (g) Graduate Traineeships in Computer and Network Security Research 
Update.--Section 5(c)(6)(C) of the Cyber Security Research and 
Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7404(c)(6)(C)) is amended by inserting ``or 
veterans'' after ``disciplines''.
    (h) Veterans and Military Families STEM Education Interagency 
Working Group.--
            (1) In general.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
        Technology Policy shall establish or designate an interagency 
        working group to coordinate Federal programs and policies for 
        transitioning and training veterans and military spouses for 
        STEM careers.
            (2) Duties of interagency working group.--The interagency 
        working group under paragraph (1) shall--
                    (A) coordinate any Federal agency STEM outreach 
                activities and programs for veterans and military 
                spouses; and
                    (B) develop and facilitate the implementation by 
                participating agencies of a strategic plan, which 
                shall--
                            (i) specify and prioritize short- and long-
                        term objectives;
                            (ii) specify the common metrics that will 
                        be used by Federal agencies to assess progress 
                        toward achieving such objectives;
                            (iii) identify barriers veterans face in 
                        reentering the workforce, including a lack of 
                        formal STEM education, career guidance, and the 
                        process of transferring military credits and 
                        skills to college credits;
                            (iv) identify barriers military spouses 
                        face in establishing careers in STEM fields;
                            (v) describe the approaches that each 
                        participating agency will take to address 
                        administratively the barriers described in 
                        clauses (iii) and (iv); and
                            (vi) identify any barriers that require 
                        Federal or State legislative or regulatory 
                        changes in order to be addressed.
            (3) Duties of ostp.--The Director of the Office of Science 
        and Technology Policy shall encourage and monitor the efforts 
        of the Federal agencies participating in the interagency 
        working group to ensure that the strategic plan required under 
        paragraph (2)(B) is developed and executed effectively and that 
        the objectives of such strategic plan are met.
            (4) Report.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
        Technology Policy shall--
                    (A) not later than 1 year after the date of 
                enactment of this Act, submit to Congress the strategic 
                plan required under paragraph (2)(B); and
                    (B) include in the annual report required by 
                section 101(d) of the America COMPETES Reauthorization 
                Act a description of any progress made in carrying out 
                the activities described in paragraph (2)(B) of this 
                subsection.
            (5) Sunset.--The interagency working group under paragraph 
        (1) shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date 
        that it is established.