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[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2423 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2423

To improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 15, 2006

 Mr. Santorum introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
                  referred to the Committee on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
To improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.

    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 ``Securing Excellence in Education for 
Our Kids in Math and Science Act of 2006'' or the ``SEEK Math and 
Science Act''.

SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
                           TITLE I--EDUCATION

Sec. 101. Definitions.
Sec. 102. Master's degrees.
Sec. 103. Government Accountability Office Report.
Sec. 104. Undergraduate scholarships.
Sec. 105. Signing and retention bonuses.
Sec. 106. Advanced placement.
Sec. 107. Grants for performance incentive compensation systems.
Sec. 108. Employee training and teaching in mathematics, science, and 
                            technology.
Sec. 109. Public awareness campaign.
                TITLE II--STUDENT LOAN INTEREST PAYMENTS

Sec. 201. Establishment of program.
Sec. 202. Definitions.
Sec. 203. Authorization of appropriations.

                           TITLE I--EDUCATION

SEC. 101. DEFINITIONS.

    The terms used in this title have the same meanings given the terms 
in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 7801).

SEC. 102. MASTER'S DEGREES.

    (a) Grants to Institutions of Higher Education.--The Secretary of 
Education is authorized to award grants to institutions of higher 
education to enable the institutions of higher education--
            (1) to develop, for middle and secondary school teachers of 
        science or mathematics, a master's degree program in science or 
        mathematics, that can be completed on a part-time basis in not 
        more than 2 academic years; and
            (2) to use such grant funds to pay the Federal share of the 
        cost of awarding scholarships to the teachers to complete the 
        master's degree program.
    (b) Federal Share; Non-Federal Share.--The Federal share shall be 
50 percent. The non-Federal share of the cost of tuition, fees, and 
books required to complete the master's degree program shall be 
provided from non-Federal sources.
    (c) Scholarship Amount.--An institution of higher education that 
receives a grant under this section shall award a scholarship under 
subsection (a)(2) in an amount equal to the cost of tuition, fees, and 
books required to complete the master's degree program.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2007 
and each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.

SEC. 103. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE REPORT.

    The Comptroller General shall report to Congress, not later than 6 
months after the date of enactment of this Act, on the effectiveness of 
Federal programs designed to achieve each of the following purposes:
            (1) To increase the number of students studying science, 
        technology, engineering, or mathematics.
            (2) To increase the number of students graduating from 
        college with a degree in science, technology, engineering, or 
        mathematics.
            (3) To improve educational programs in science, 
        engineering, or mathematics.

SEC. 104. UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS.

    (a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary of Education is authorized to 
award grants to States, on a competitive basis, to enable the States to 
award scholarships to eligible students to enable the eligible students 
to obtain an undergraduate degree in the physical or life sciences, 
technology, engineering, or mathematics concurrently with certification 
to teach elementary school or secondary school science or mathematics.
    (b) Teaching Requirement.--In order to receive a scholarship under 
this section an individual shall enter into an agreement with the 
Secretary under which--
            (1) the individual agrees to teach science or mathematics 
        in a public elementary school or secondary school for a period 
        of 5 years after receiving the degree for which the scholarship 
        is awarded; and
            (2) the individual agrees to repay all scholarship payments 
        received under this section if the individual fails to complete 
        the 5-year teaching requirement described in paragraph (1).
    (c) Student Eligibility.--A student is eligible for a scholarship 
under this section if the student is a full-time undergraduate student 
who has completed a rigorous secondary school curriculum in science and 
mathematics.
    (d) Rigorous Curriculum.--Each participating State shall determine 
the requirements for a rigorous secondary school curriculum in science 
and mathematics described in subsection (c). Such curriculum shall not 
serve to exclude, explicitly or implicitly, students in private or home 
school settings.
    (e) Definition of State.--In this section the term ``State'' means 
each of the several States of the United States, the District of 
Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
    (f) Duration.--Each State that receives a grant under this section 
shall award a scholarship under this section for not more than 4 years 
of undergraduate study.
    (g) Amount.--Each State that receives a grant under this section 
shall award a scholarship under this section to an eligible student in 
an amount that is equal to the lesser of--
            (1) the amount necessary to cover, for such student, the 
        cost of tuition, fees, and books required to complete the 
        undergraduate degree; or
            (2) $10,000 per academic year to complete the undergraduate 
        degree.
    (h) Number of Scholarships.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
aggregate number of scholarships awarded under this section by all the 
States equals--
            (1) 5,000 for fiscal year 2007;
            (2) 10,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
            (3) 25,000 for each of the fiscal years 2009, 2010, 2011.
    (i) Relation to Other Assistance.--A scholarship provided under 
this section shall not be considered for purposes of awarding Federal 
grant assistance, except that in no case shall the total amount of 
Federal student assistance awarded to a scholarship recipient under 
this section exceed the student's total cost of attendance as 
determined under section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1087ll).
    (j) Administration and Implementation Limitation.--The Secretary 
shall use not more than a total of 1 percent of the amounts 
appropriated under subsection (k) for each fiscal year for 
administrative expenses and the costs of implementing this section.
    (k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section--
            (1) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
            (2) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
            (3) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
            (4) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
            (5) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.

SEC. 105. SIGNING AND RETENTION BONUSES.

    (a) Signing Bonuses.--
            (1) Signing bonuses authorized.--The Secretary of Education 
        is authorized to award signing bonuses, in the amount of 
        $5,000, to individuals who have an undergraduate or graduate 
        degree in science or mathematics and who, after the date of 
        enactment of this Act--
                    (A) first teach such subjects in a public 
                elementary school or secondary school with the greatest 
                need for teachers of such subjects, as determined by 
                the Secretary; and
                    (B) enter into an agreement with the Secretary 
                under which--
                            (i) the teacher agrees to teach science or 
                        mathematics in a public elementary school or 
                        secondary school with the greatest need for 
                        teachers of such subjects, as determined by the 
                        Secretary, for a period of 5 consecutive 
                        academic years following receipt of the signing 
                        bonus; and
                            (ii) the teacher agrees to repay to the 
                        Secretary a pro rata portion of the signing 
                        bonus received under this subsection if the 
                        teacher fails to comply with the teaching 
                        requirement described in clause (i).
            (2) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may 
        be necessary for fiscal year 2007 and each of the 4 succeeding 
        fiscal years.
    (b) Retention Bonuses.--
            (1) Retention bonuses authorized.--The Secretary of 
        Education is authorized to award retention bonuses, in the 
        amount of $10,000, to elementary school or secondary school 
        teachers who--
                    (A) have an undergraduate or graduate degree in 
                science or mathematics;
                    (B) have taught science or mathematics for a period 
                of 5 school years in a public elementary school or 
                secondary school with the greatest need for teachers of 
                such subjects, as determined by the Secretary; and
                    (C) enter into an agreement with the Secretary 
                under which--
                            (i) the teacher agrees to teach science or 
                        mathematics in a public elementary school or 
                        secondary school for an additional period of 5 
                        consecutive academic years following receipt of 
                        the retention bonus; and
                            (ii) the teacher agrees to repay to the 
                        Secretary a pro rata portion of the retention 
                        bonus received under this subsection if the 
                        teacher fails to comply with the teaching 
                        requirement described in clause (i).
            (2) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may 
        be necessary for fiscal year 2007 and each of the 4 succeeding 
        fiscal years.

SEC. 106. ADVANCED PLACEMENT.

    (a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary of Education is authorized to 
award grants, on a competitive basis, to local educational agencies and 
State educational agencies to enable the agencies--
            (1) to increase the enrollment of secondary school students 
        in Advanced Placement (AP) science and mathematics courses at 
        their secondary schools, or if Advanced Placement courses in 
        science or mathematics are not offered at their secondary 
        schools, at an institution of higher education; and
            (2) to facilitate distance learning for secondary school 
        students in rural school districts in order to increase such 
        students' access to Advanced Placement (AP) science and 
        mathematics courses.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary 
for fiscal year 2007 and each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.

SEC. 107. GRANTS FOR PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE COMPENSATION SYSTEMS.

    (a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary of Education is authorized to 
award grants, on an competitive basis, to not less than 5 local 
educational agencies and not more than 10 different States, to enable 
the local educational agencies and States to carry out pilot programs 
that develop and implement a fair, differentiated compensation system 
for middle and secondary school teachers of science and mathematics 
that is based primarily on measures of improvement in student academic 
achievement.
    (b) Definition of State.--In this section the term ``State'' means 
each of the several States of the United States, the District of 
Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
    (c) Implementation Limitation.--The Secretary shall not use more 
than 5 percent of the total amount appropriated to carry out this 
section during the period beginning on October 1, 2006, and ending on 
September 30, 2011, for the administration of the programs described in 
subsection (a).
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2007 
and each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.

SEC. 108. EMPLOYEE TRAINING AND TEACHING IN MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, AND 
              TECHNOLOGY.

    (a) In General.--Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to business related 
credits) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 45N. CREDIT FOR EMPLOYEE TRAINING AND TEACHING IN MATHEMATICS, 
              SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY.

    ``(a) Amount of Credit.--For purposes of section 38, the employee 
training and teaching credit determined under this section with respect 
to any employer for any taxable year is equal to the sum of--
            ``(1) 25 percent of the qualified employee training costs 
        paid or incurred by the employer during the calendar year 
        ending with or within such taxable year, and
            ``(2) 50 percent of the qualified employee teaching costs 
        paid or incurred by the employer during such calendar year.
    ``(b) Limitation.--The credit allowable under subsection (a) for 
any taxable year shall not exceed the lesser of--
            ``(1) 5 percent of the net income of the taxpayer for such 
        taxable year, or
            ``(2) $10,000.
    ``(c) Qualified Employee Training Costs.--For purposes of this 
section, the term `qualified employee training costs' means costs paid 
or incurred by an employer for post-secondary education or training to 
maintain or improve knowledge or skills in mathematics, science, or 
technology of any employee whose specific position requires greater 
knowledge or skills in mathematics, science, or technology.
    ``(d) Qualified Employee Teaching Costs.--For purposes of this 
section, the term `qualified employee teaching costs' means costs 
(including wages) paid or incurred by an employer to allow any 
employee, who is a highly qualified (as defined in section 9101 of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965) teacher, to teach 1 or 
more courses of instruction in the core academic subjects of 
mathematics or science.
    ``(e) Applicable Rules.--For purposes of this section, rules 
similar to the rules under section 45F(e) shall apply.
    ``(f) Regulations.--The Secretary may prescribe such regulations as 
may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this 
section consistent with regulations established by the Department of 
Education regarding post-secondary education and training and teaching 
of the core academic subjects of mathematics and science.''.
    (b) Credit Allowed Against the Alternative Minimum Tax.--Section 
38(c)(4)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (defining specified 
credits) is amended by striking the period at the end of clause 
(ii)(II) and inserting ``, and'', and by adding at the end the 
following new clause:
                            ``(iii) the credit determined under section 
                        45N.''.
    (c) Credit Made Part of General Business Credit.--Section 38(b) of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``and'' at the 
end of paragraph (29), by striking the period at the end of paragraph 
(30) and inserting ``, plus'', and by adding at the end the following 
new paragraph:
            ``(31) the employee training and teaching credit determined 
        under section 45N(a).''.
    (d) Denial of Double Benefit.--Section 280C of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
    ``(e) Employee Training and Teaching Credit.--No deduction shall be 
allowed for that portion of the expenses otherwise allowable as a 
deduction for the taxable year which is equal to the amount of the 
credit determined under section 45N(a).''.
    (e) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart D of 
part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

        ``Sec. 45N. Employee training and teaching credit.''.
    (f) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to costs paid or incurred in taxable years beginning after 
December 31, 2006.

SEC. 109. PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Education, in consultation with 
the Secretary of Energy and the Director of the National Science 
Foundation, is authorized to develop and carry out a public awareness 
campaign in public elementary schools and secondary schools to 
encourage the students attending such schools to pursue careers in 
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $500,000 for fiscal year 2007 
and each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.

                TITLE II--STUDENT LOAN INTEREST PAYMENTS

SEC. 201. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.

    (a) Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out a program of 
        assuming the obligation to pay, pursuant to the provisions of 
        this title, the interest on a loan made, insured, or guaranteed 
        under part B or D of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 
        1965 (20 U.S.C. 1071 et seq., 1087a et seq.).
            (2) Eligibility.--The Secretary may assume interest 
        payments under paragraph (1) only for a borrower who--
                    (A) has submitted an application in compliance with 
                subsection (d);
                    (B) obtained 1 or more loans described in paragraph 
                (1) as an undergraduate student;
                    (C) is a new borrower (within the meaning of 
                section 103(7) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 1003(7)) on or after the date of enactment of 
                this Act;
                    (D) is a teacher of science or mathematics at an 
                elementary school or secondary school, or is a 
                mathematics, science, or engineering professional;
                    (E) maintains eligibility as described in paragraph 
                (5); and
                    (F) enters into an agreement with the Secretary to 
                complete 5 consecutive years of service in a position 
                described in subparagraph (D), starting on the date of 
                the agreement.
            (3) Prior interest limitations.--The Secretary shall not 
        make any payments for interest that--
                    (A) accrues prior to the beginning of the repayment 
                period on a loan in the case of a loan made under 
                section 428H of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 1078-8) or a Federal Direct Unsubsidized 
                Stafford Loan; or
                    (B) has accrued prior to the signing of an 
                agreement under paragraph (2)(E).
            (4) Initial selection.--In selecting participants for the 
        program under this title, the Secretary--
                    (A) shall choose among eligible applicants on the 
                basis of--
                            (i) the areas of national need designated 
                        pursuant to section 712 of the Higher Education 
                        Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1135a), especially those 
                        designated areas of national need related to 
                        math and science; and
                            (ii) the academic record or job performance 
                        of the applicant; and
                    (B) may choose among eligible applicants on the 
                basis of--
                            (i) the likelihood of the applicant to 
                        complete the 5-year service obligation;
                            (ii) the likelihood of the applicant to 
                        remain in science, mathematics, or engineering 
                        after the completion of the service 
                        requirement; or
                            (iii) other relevant criteria determined by 
                        the Secretary.
            (5) Maintaining eligibility.--To remain eligible to receive 
        loan interest payments under this title, a borrower shall 
        maintain academic progress in the same manner as a student 
        receiving an award under section 714 of the Higher Education 
        Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1135c) shall maintain academic progress 
        under subsection (d)(1) of such Act.
            (6) Availability subject to appropriations.--Loan interest 
        payments under this title shall be subject to the availability 
        of appropriations. If the amount appropriated for any fiscal 
        year is not sufficient to provide interest payments on behalf 
        of all qualified applicants, the Secretary shall give priority 
        to those individuals on whose behalf interest payments were 
        made during the preceding fiscal year.
            (7) Regulations.--The Secretary is authorized to prescribe 
        such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the 
        provisions of this section.
    (b) Duration and Amount of Interest Payments.--The period during 
which the Secretary shall pay interest on behalf of a student borrower 
who is selected under subsection (a) is the period that begins on the 
effective date of the agreement under subsection (a)(2)(F), continues 
after successful completion of the service obligation, and ends on the 
earlier of--
            (1) the completion of the repayment period of the loan;
            (2) payment by the Secretary of a total of $10,000 on 
        behalf of the borrower;
            (3) if the borrower ceases to fulfill the service 
        obligation under such agreement prior to the end of the 5-year 
        period, as soon as the borrower is determined to have ceased to 
        fulfill such obligation in accordance with regulations of the 
        Secretary; or
            (4) 6 months after the end of any calendar year in which 
        the borrower's gross income equals or exceeds 4 times the 
        national per capita disposable personal income (current 
        dollars) for such calendar year, as determined on the basis of 
        the National Income and Product Accounts Tables of the Bureau 
        of Economic Analysis of the Department of Commerce, as 
        determined in accordance with regulations prescribed by the 
        Secretary.
    (c) Repayment to Eligible Lenders.--Subject to the regulations 
prescribed by the Secretary pursuant to subsection (a)(7), the 
Secretary shall pay to each eligible lender or holder for each payment 
period the amount of the interest that accrues on a loan of a student 
borrower who is selected under subsection (a) under the same terms as 
such borrower would pay.
    (d) Application for Repayment.--
            (1) In general.--Each eligible individual desiring loan 
        interest payment under this section shall submit a complete and 
        accurate application to the Secretary at such time, in such 
        manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
        require.
            (2) Failure to complete service agreement.--Such 
        application shall contain an agreement by the individual that, 
        if the individual fails to complete the 5 consecutive years of 
        service required by subsection (a)(2)(F), the individual agrees 
        to repay the Secretary the amount of any interest paid by the 
        Secretary on behalf of the individual.
    (e) Treatment of Consolidation Loans.--A consolidation loan made 
under section 428C of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1078-
3), or a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan made under part D of title 
IV of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1087a et seq.), may be a loan for which 
interest is paid pursuant to this section only to the extent that such 
loan amount was used by a borrower who otherwise meets the requirements 
of this section to repay--
            (1) a loan made under section 428 or 428H of such Act (20 
        U.S.C. 1078, 1078-8); or
            (2) a Federal Direct Stafford Loan, or a Federal Direct 
        Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, made under part D of title IV of 
        such Act (20 U.S.C. 1087a et seq.).
    (f) Prevention of Double Benefits.--No borrower may, for the same 
service, receive a benefit under both this section and--
            (1) any loan forgiveness program under title IV of the 
        Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.); or
            (2) subtitle D of title I of the National and Community 
        Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12601 et seq.).

SEC. 202. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this title:
            (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Education.
            (2) Mathematics, science, or engineering professional.--the 
        term ``mathematics, science, or engineering professional'' 
        means a person who--
                    (A) holds a baccalaureate, masters, or doctoral 
                degree (or a combination thereof) in science, 
                mathematics, or engineering; and
                    (B) works in a field the Secretary determines is 
                closely related to that degree, which shall include 
                working as a professor at a 2- or 4-year institution of 
                higher education.

SEC. 203. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title 
such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007 and for each of the 
4 succeeding fiscal years.
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