I 

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4030

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. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 25, 2004

Mr. SMITH of Michigan (for himself and Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of 

Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 

on Science 

A BILL

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.

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’’. 
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1 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

2 In this Act: 

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

4 the Director of the National Science Foundation. 

5 (2) ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND SECONDARY

6 SCHOOL.—The terms ‘‘elementary school’’ and ‘‘sec7 ondary school’’ have the meaning given those terms 

8 in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary 

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

10 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM. 

11 The Director shall establish a Congressional Medal 

12 for Outstanding Contributions in Math and Science Edu13 cation program, which shall be designed to—

14 (1) recognize private entities for outstanding ef15 forts supporting elementary and secondary schools 

16 in improving student achievement in science, tech17 nology, engineering, and mathematics; 

18 (2) encourage private entities to support ele19 mentary and secondary schools to improve and un20 derscore the importance of science, technology, engi21 neering, and mathematics education; and 

22 (3) make information about medal recipients 

23 available to schools, institutions of higher education, 

24 educators, parents, administrators, policymakers, re25 searchers, public and private entities, and the gen26 eral public. 
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1 SEC. 4. MEDALS. 

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

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

4 annually name as finalists for medals under this Act—

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

6 than 500 employees; and 

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

8 or fewer employees. 

9 Each finalist shall receive a citation describing the basis 

10 for the entity achieving status as a finalist. 

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

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

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

14 annually award medals under this Act to—

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

16 than 500 employees; and 

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

18 or fewer employees. 

19 (c) DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION.—(1) The Di20 rector shall distribute information about the Congressional 

21 Medal for Outstanding Contributions in Math and Science 

22 Education recipients under this Act in a timely and effi23 cient manner (including through the use of a searchable 

24 online database) to schools, institutions of higher edu25 cation, educators, parents, administrators, policymakers, 
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1 researchers, public and private entities, and the general 

2 public. 

3 (2) An entity that is a finalist or receives a medal 

4 under this section may use such information for adver5 tising and other publicity purposes. 

6 SEC. 5. ELIGIBILITY. 

7 Any private entity that has, whether working alone 

8 or in partnership with for-profit or nonprofit entities, as9 sisted students, teachers, administrators, or other support 

10 staff to improve student achievement in science, tech11 nology, engineering, and mathematics in a school or com12 munity shall be eligible to receive a medal under section 

13 4. The entity must have been involved in such activities 

14 in a sustained manner for at least 2 years with at least 

15 one elementary or secondary school. 

16 SEC. 6. APPLICATION. 

17 The Director shall establish a system for accepting 

18 applications from entities seeking to be considered for a 

19 medal under this Act. Applications shall include at least 

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

21 professional support staff, administrators, professional or 

22 business organizations, local, county, or State Depart23 ments of Education, or any other category of persons as 

24 designated by the Director. Letters of support shall de25 scribe the reasons the entity deserves the medal. 
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1 SEC. 7. SELECTION. 

2 In selecting entities to receive medals under this Act, 

3 the Director shall give priority consideration to evidence 

4 of improved student achievement in science, technology, 

5 engineering, or mathematics. In addition to any other cri6 teria the Director may establish, the Director shall also 

7 consider the following: 

8 (1) Evidence of innovative approaches to in9 crease interest by students in science, technology, 

10 engineering, and mathematics, such as an increase 

11 in the number of students enrolled in advanced 

12 courses related to such fields. 

13 (2) Evidence of employee interaction with stu14 dents or teachers to support and improve mathe15 matics and science learning. 

16 (3) Evidence of success in positively influencing 

17 student attitudes and promoting education and ca18 reer opportunities in science, technology, engineer19 ing, and mathematics. 

20 (4) Evidence of successful outreach to students, 

21 parents, and the community regarding the impor22 tance of mathematics and science education to the 

23 Nation’s prosperity, job creation, and standard of 

24 living, as well as future earning potential for the in25 dividual. 
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1 (5) Evidence of a strong and sustained commit2 ment to the students and schools. 

3 SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

4 For each of fiscal years 2005 through 2007, there 

5 are authorized to be appropriated to the National Science 

6 Foundation such sums as may be necessary for carrying 

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

8 the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 

9 2002.

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