108TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 4030

AN ACT

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

108TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 4030

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:

Clerk.