IIB 

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4030 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 22, 2004 

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, 

Labor, and Pensions 

AN ACT 

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. 
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1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Congressional Medal 

5 for Outstanding Contributions in Math and Science Edu6 cation Act of 2004’’. 

7 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

8 In this Act: 

9 (1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 

10 the Director of the National Science Foundation. 

11 (2) ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND SECONDARY

12 SCHOOL.—The terms ‘‘elementary school’’ and ‘‘sec13 ondary school’’ have the meaning given those terms 

14 in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary 

15 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 

16 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM. 

17 The Director shall establish a Congressional Medal 

18 for Outstanding Contributions in Math and Science Edu19 cation program, which shall be designed to— 

20 (1) recognize private entities for outstanding ef21 forts supporting elementary and secondary schools 

22 in improving student achievement in science, tech23 nology, engineering, and mathematics; 

24 (2) encourage private entities to support ele25 mentary and secondary schools to improve and un-
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1 derscore the importance of science, technology, engi2 neering, and mathematics education; and 

3 (3) make information about medal recipients 

4 available to schools, institutions of higher education, 

5 educators, parents, administrators, policymakers, re6 searchers, public and private entities, and the gen7 eral public. 

8 SEC. 4. MEDALS. 

9 (a) FINALISTS.—Beginning not later than 2 years 

10 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall 

11 annually name as finalists for medals under this Act— 

12 (1) not more than 20 private entities with more 

13 than 500 employees; and 

14 (2) not more than 20 private entities with 500 

15 or fewer employees. 

16 Each finalist shall receive a citation describing the basis 

17 for the entity achieving status as a finalist. 

18 (b) MEDAL WINNERS.—Beginning not later than 2 

19 years after the date of enactment of this Act, from among 

20 finalists named under subsection (a), the Director shall 

21 annually award medals under this Act to— 

22 (1) not more than 5 private entities with more 

23 than 500 employees; and 

24 (2) not more than 5 private entities with 500 

25 or fewer employees. 
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1 (c) DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION.—(1) The Di2 rector shall distribute information about the Congressional 

3 Medal for Outstanding Contributions in Math and Science 

4 Education recipients in a timely and efficient manner (in5 cluding through the use of a searchable online database) 

6 to schools, institutions of higher education, educators, par7 ents, administrators, policymakers, researchers, public 

8 and private entities, and the general public. 

9 (2) Any entity that is a finalist or receives a medal 

10 under this section may use such information for adver11 tising and other publicity purposes. 

12 SEC. 5. ELIGIBILITY. 

13 Eligibility to receive medals under section 4 of this 

14 Act shall be limited to private entities that— 

15 (1) have, whether working alone or in partner16 ship with for-profit or nonprofit entities, assisted 

17 students, teachers, administrators, or other support 

18 staff to improve student achievement in science, 

19 technology, engineering, and mathematics in a 

20 school or community; and 

21 (2) have been involved in such activities in a 

22 sustained manner for at least 2 years with at least 

23 one elementary or secondary school. 
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1 SEC. 6. APPLICATION. 

2 The Director shall establish a system for accepting 

3 applications from entities seeking to be considered for a 

4 medal under this Act. Applications shall include at least 

5 two letters of support, which may come from teachers, 

6 professional support staff, administrators, professional or 

7 business organizations, local, county, or State Depart8 ments of Education, or any other category of persons as 

9 designated by the Director. Letters of support shall de10 scribe the reasons the entity deserves the medal. 

11 SEC. 7. SELECTION. 

12 In selecting entities to receive medals under this Act, 

13 the Director shall give priority consideration to evidence 

14 of improved achievement in science, technology, engineer15 ing, or mathematics by students, including improved 

16 achievement by individuals identified in section 33 or 34 

17 of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act 

18 (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b). In addition to any other cri19 teria the Director may establish, the Director shall also 

20 consider the following: 

21 (1) Evidence of innovative approaches to in22 crease interest in science, technology, engineering, 

23 and mathematics by students, including individuals 

24 identified in section 33 or 34 of the Science and En25 gineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a 

26 or 1885b). One measure of such evidence may be an 
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1 increase in the number of students enrolled in ad2 vanced courses related to such fields. 

3 (2) Evidence of employee interaction with stu4 dents or teachers to support and improve science, 

5 technology, engineering, and mathematics learning. 

6 (3) Evidence of success in positively influencing 

7 student attitudes and promoting education and ca8 reer opportunities in science, technology, engineer9 ing, and mathematics. 

10 (4) Evidence of successful outreach to students, 

11 parents, and the community regarding the impor12 tance of science, technology, engineering, and mathe13 matics education to the Nation’s prosperity, job cre14 ation, and standard of living, as well as future earn15 ing potential for the individual. 

16 (5) Evidence of a strong and sustained commit17 ment to the students and schools. 

18 SEC. 8. BIENNIAL REPORT. 

19 Section 37(a) of the Science and Engineering Equal 

20 Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885d(a)) is amended by 

21 striking ‘‘By January 30, 1982, and biennially thereafter’’ 

22 and inserting ‘‘By January 30 of each odd-numbered 

23 year’’. 
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1 SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

2 For each of fiscal years 2005 through 2007, there 

3 are authorized to be appropriated to the National Science 

4 Foundation such sums as may be necessary for carrying 

5 out this Act, to be derived from amounts authorized by 

6 the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 

7 2002. 

Passed the House of Representatives April 21, 2004. 

Attest: JEFF TRANDAHL, 

Clerk.