To establish the Congressional Medal for Outstanding Contributions in Math and Science Education program to recognize private entities for their outstanding contributions to elementary and secondary science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.

Summary: Congressional Medal for Outstanding Contributions in Math and Science Education Act of 2004 - (Sec. 3) Requires the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish a Congressional Medal for Outstanding Contributions in Math and Science Education program.

(Sec. 4) Requires the Director to annually name as finalists for medals up to: (1) 20 private entities with more than 500 employees; and (2) 20 private entities with 500 or fewer employees.

Requires the Director to annually award medals from among such finalists up to: (1) five private entities with more than 500 employees; and (2) five private entities with 500 or fewer employees.

Requires the Director to distribute information about the Medal recipients in a timely and efficient manner (including through the use of a searchable online database) to schools, institutions of higher education, educators, parents, administrators, policy-makers, researchers, public and private entities, and the general public. Allows any entity that is a finalist or receives a medal under this section to use such information for advertising and other publicity purposes.

(Sec. 5) Limits eligibility for such a medal to private entities that have: (1) whether alone or in partnership with for-profit or nonprofit entities, assisted students, teachers, administrators, or other support staff to improve student achievement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in a school or community; and (2) been involved in such activities in a sustained manner for at least two years with at least one elementary or secondary school.

(Sec. 6) Requires the Director to establish a system for accepting applications from entities seeking to be considered for a medal under this Act. Directs that applications include at least two letters of support, which: (1) may come from teachers, professional support staff, administrators, professional or business organizations, local, county, or State Departments of Education, or any other category of persons as designated by the Director; and (2) shall describe the reasons the entity deserves the medal.

(Sec. 7) Requires the Director, in selecting entities to receive medals under this Act, to give priority consideration to evidence of improved achievement in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics by students, including improved achievement by women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

Directs the Director to also consider evidence of: (1) innovative approaches to increase interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics by students, including women, minorities, and persons with disabilities, one measure of which may be an increase in the number of students enrolled in advanced courses related to such fields; (2) employee interaction with students or teachers to support and improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics learning; (3) success in positively influencing student attitudes and promoting education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; (4) successful outreach to students, parents, and the community regarding the importance of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education to the Nation's prosperity, job creation, and standard of living, as well as future earning potential for the individual; and (5) strong and sustained commitment to the students and schools.

(Sec. 8) Amends the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act to change the deadline for submission to Congress of the NSF report on women and minorities in science and engineering from even-numbered to odd-numbered years.

(Sec. 9) Authorizes appropriations to NSF.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Congressional Medal for Outstanding 
Contributions in Math and Science Education Act of 2004''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the National Science Foundation.
            (2) Elementary school and secondary school.--The terms 
        ``elementary school'' and ``secondary school'' have the meaning 
        given those terms in section 9101 of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.

    The Director shall establish a Congressional Medal for Outstanding 
Contributions in Math and Science Education program, which shall be 
designed to--
            (1) recognize private entities for outstanding efforts 
        supporting elementary and secondary schools in improving 
        student achievement in science, technology, engineering, and 
        mathematics;
            (2) encourage private entities to support elementary and 
        secondary schools to improve and underscore the importance of 
        science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education; 
        and
            (3) make information about medal recipients available to 
        schools, institutions of higher education, educators, parents, 
        administrators, policymakers, researchers, public and private 
        entities, and the general public.

SEC. 4. MEDALS.

    (a) Finalists.--Beginning not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director shall annually name as finalists 
for medals under this Act--
            (1) not more than 20 private entities with more than 500 
        employees; and
            (2) not more than 20 private entities with 500 or fewer 
        employees.
Each finalist shall receive a citation describing the basis for the 
entity achieving status as a finalist.
    (b) Medal Winners.--Beginning not later than 2 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, from among finalists named under subsection 
(a), the Director shall annually award medals under this Act to--
            (1) not more than 5 private entities with more than 500 
        employees; and
            (2) not more than 5 private entities with 500 or fewer 
        employees.
    (c) Distribution of Information.--(1) The Director shall distribute 
information about the Congressional Medal for Outstanding Contributions 
in Math and Science Education recipients in a timely and efficient 
manner (including through the use of a searchable online database) to 
schools, institutions of higher education, educators, parents, 
administrators, policymakers, researchers, public and private entities, 
and the general public.
    (2) Any entity that is a finalist or receives a medal under this 
section may use such information for advertising and other publicity 
purposes.

SEC. 5. ELIGIBILITY.

    Eligibility to receive medals under section 4 of this Act shall be 
limited to private entities that--
            (1) have, whether working alone or in partnership with for-
        profit or nonprofit entities, assisted students, teachers, 
        administrators, or other support staff to improve student 
        achievement in science, technology, engineering, and 
        mathematics in a school or community; and
            (2) have been involved in such activities in a sustained 
        manner for at least 2 years with at least one elementary or 
        secondary school.

SEC. 6. APPLICATION.

    The Director shall establish a system for accepting applications 
from entities seeking to be considered for a medal under this Act. 
Applications shall include at least two letters of support, which may 
come from teachers, professional support staff, administrators, 
professional or business organizations, local, county, or State 
Departments of Education, or any other category of persons as 
designated by the Director. Letters of support shall describe the 
reasons the entity deserves the medal.

SEC. 7. SELECTION.

    In selecting entities to receive medals under this Act, the 
Director shall give priority consideration to evidence of improved 
achievement in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics by 
students, including improved achievement by individuals identified in 
section 33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b). In addition to any other criteria the 
Director may establish, the Director shall also consider the following:
            (1) Evidence of innovative approaches to increase interest 
        in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics by 
        students, including individuals identified in section 33 or 34 
        of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 
        U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b). One measure of such evidence may be an 
        increase in the number of students enrolled in advanced courses 
        related to such fields.
            (2) Evidence of employee interaction with students or 
        teachers to support and improve science, technology, 
        engineering, and mathematics learning.
            (3) Evidence of success in positively influencing student 
        attitudes and promoting education and career opportunities in 
        science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
            (4) Evidence of successful outreach to students, parents, 
        and the community regarding the importance of science, 
        technology, engineering, and mathematics education to the 
        Nation's prosperity, job creation, and standard of living, as 
        well as future earning potential for the individual.
            (5) Evidence of a strong and sustained commitment to the 
        students and schools.

SEC. 8. BIENNIAL REPORT.

    Section 37(a) of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1885d(a)) is amended by striking ``By January 30, 1982, 
and biennially thereafter'' and inserting ``By January 30 of each odd-
numbered year''.

SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    For each of fiscal years 2005 through 2007, there are authorized to 
be appropriated to the National Science Foundation such sums as may be 
necessary for carrying out this Act, to be derived from amounts 
authorized by the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 
2002.

            Passed the House of Representatives April 21, 2004.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.