STEM Corps Act of 2020

To establish a STEM corps to enhance the STEM and computer science workforce of the Department of Defense and the defense industry, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the STEM Corps Act of 2020 2. STEM Corps program Part III of subtitle A of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new chapter: 113 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Corps 2200n. STEM Corps program. 2200o. Administration of program. 2200p. Service obligation for STEM Corps participants. 2200q. Security clearance required. 2200r. Refund for failure to complete program. 2200s. Industry and institutional participation. 2200t. Definitions. 2200n. STEM Corps program (a) Program required The Secretary of Defense shall carry out a program to be known as the STEM Corps (b) Application and entrance examination To be considered for participation in the STEM Corps, a qualified student shall— (1) submit to the Administrative Agency an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require; and (2) achieve a passing score on the written exam developed and administered by the Administrative Agency in accordance with section 2200o(a)(2)(B). (c) Financial assistance (1) Amount The amount of financial assistance provided to a qualified student under this section shall not exceed $40,000 for each academic year during which the student is enrolled in a STEM or computer science degree program at a qualified institution of higher education. (2) Duration A qualified student may receive financial assistance under this section for a maximum of two academic years. (3) Use of funds Financial assistance provided to a qualified student under this section may be used only to pay the student’s cost of attendance at a qualified institution of higher education. (d) Academic requirements As a condition of receiving financial assistance under this, a STEM Corps participant shall— (1) complete not less than 15 credit hours (or the equivalent) of postsecondary coursework in computer science; (2) maintain satisfactory progress toward completion of a bachelor’s or graduate degree in a STEM or computer-science discipline; (3) maintain a grade point average of not less than 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 (or the equivalent) while enrolled in such a degree program; and (4) meet such other academic requirements as the Administrative Agency determines to be appropriate. (e) Relationship to other programs The Secretary of Defense shall coordinate the provision of financial assistance under the authorities provided in this chapter with the provision of financial assistance under the authorities provided in chapter 111 of this title (pertaining to support of science, mathematics, and engineering education), to maximize the benefits derived by the Department of Defense from the exercise of all such authorities. 2200o. Administration of program (a) Administrative Agency (1) Designation The Secretary of Defense shall establish or designate an organization of the Department of Defense to serve as the organization within the Department with primary responsibility for administering the STEM Corps program (referred to in this chapter as the Administrative Agency (2) Duties Subject to the direction and control of the Secretary of Defense, the Administrative Agency shall— (A) select qualified students for participation in the STEM Corps; (B) develop and administer a written examination for applicants to the STEM Corps; (C) monitor STEM Corps participants to determine their continued eligibility for participation in the program; (D) facilitate the placement of STEM Corps participants in positions within the Department of Defense and with defense industry sponsors, as applicable; (E) solicit, receive, and manage contributions from defense-industry sponsors under section 2200s(a); (F) enter into memoranda of understanding with institutions of higher education under section 2200s(b); and (G) carry out such other activities relating to the STEM Corps as the Secretary of Defense determines to be appropriate. (b) Advisory panel (1) Establishment The Secretary of Defense shall establish an advisory panel to provide advice and recommendations to the Administrative Agency on the matters described in subsection (a)(2). (2) Members The advisory panel shall be composed of the following members: (A) The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, who shall serve as the chairperson of the panel. (B) One representative of the Department of Defense appointed by the Secretary of Defense. (C) One Member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. (D) One Member of the House of Representatives appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives. (E) One Senator appointed by the majority leader of the Senate. (F) One Senator appointed by the minority leader of the Senate. (3) Terms Each member specified in subparagraphs (B) through (F) of paragraph (2) shall be appointed for a term of two years. (4) Meetings The advisory panel shall meet at the call of the chairperson or a majority of its members not less frequently than once annually. (c) Limitation on availability of funds Of the funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available to carry out this chapter for a fiscal year, not more than $500,000 may be used to pay the costs of administering the STEM Corps, including any costs relating to the advisory panel established under subsection (b). 2200p. Service obligation for STEM Corps participants (a) Service agreement for recipients of financial assistance To be eligible to receive financial assistance under section 2200n, a qualified student shall enter into a written agreement with the Secretary of Defense under which the student agrees— (1) to accept placement in an internship with a defense industry sponsor as described in subsection (b); (2) to accept and continue employment in the Department of Defense in a Department of Defense Laboratory as described in subsection (c); and (3) to accept any additional terms and conditions that the Secretary determines to be appropriate. (b) Internship with defense industry sponsor (1) In general Pursuant to the agreement under subsection (a)(1), each STEM Corps participant shall complete an internship with a defense industry sponsor before the student completes the second academic year of participation in the program. (2) Type of position As part of an internship under paragraph (1), a STEM Corps participant shall perform duties that require a security clearance and that directly support the Department of Defense. (3) Placement The Administrative Agency, in consultation with STEM Corps participants and defense industry sponsors, shall place each STEM Corps participant in an appropriate internship as required under paragraph (1). (c) Employment in Department of Defense (1) Service obligation Pursuant to the agreement under subsection (a)(2), each STEM Corps participant shall accept and continue employment in a STEM or computer-science related position within the Department of Defense, which may include employment in a defense laboratory, for a period of not less than four years. (2) Placement The Administrative Agency shall consult with STEM Corps participants who are in the final year of a bachelor’s or graduate degree program to identify appropriate employment opportunities for such participants within the Department of Defense. To the extent practicable, the Administrative Agency shall consider the skills, training, experience, and preferences of a STEM Corps participant when assigning the participant to a position under paragraph (1). (3) Treatment of service in the armed forces A STEM Corps participant may fulfill the service obligation under paragraph (1) through service in the armed forces. (4) Change of assignment (A) Request for change of assignment After the conclusion of the first year of an assignment under paragraph (1), a STEM Corps participant may submit to the Administrative Agency a request to be reassigned to a different STEM or computer-science related position within the Department. (B) Consideration by Administrative Agency After receiving a request for a reassignment under subparagraph (A), the Administrative Agency, in consultation with the hiring authorities of the offices concerned, shall— (i) determine whether such a reassignment would be appropriate; and (ii) based on such determination, approve or deny the request. (5) Rates of pay (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B), during the period of obligated service described in paragraph (1), each STEM Corps participant shall be paid as follows: (i) First three years of service For the first through third years of obligated service, each participant shall be paid at a rate of not less than the rate of basic pay for GS–6 of the General Schedule. (ii) Fourth year of service For the fourth year of obligated service, each participant shall be paid at a rate equal to the rate of basic pay for GS–10 of the General Schedule. (B) Exception Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to a STEM Corps participant who fulfills the period of obligated service described in paragraph (1) through service as a member of the armed forces. (6) Inclusion of defense laboratories Employment in a defense laboratory shall be treated as employment within the Department of Defense for purposes of this chapter without regard to whether the laboratory is operated by a contractor. (7) Waiver of veterans’ preference The hiring authority of the Department of Defense organization concerned, may appoint, without regard to the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 33 (d) Employment with defense industry sponsor (1) In general At the discretion of the Administrative Agency, a STEM Corps participant may fulfill the fourth year of the service obligation under subsection (c)(1) through employment with a defense industry sponsor. (2) Rate of pay The Administrative Agency shall ensure that a STEM Corps participant employed by a defense industry sponsor under paragraph (1) receives pay at a rate that is not less than the equivalent of the rate of basic pay for GS–10 of the General Schedule. (e) Transition assistance The Administrative Agency shall provide advice and technical assistance to STEM Corps participants to assist the transition of such participants to long-term employment in the Department of Defense, other departments or agencies of the Federal Government, or the private-sector defense industry after the participant fulfills the service obligation under subsection (c)(1). 2200q. Security clearance required As a condition of participation in the STEM Corps each STEM Corps participant shall be required to— (1) apply for and obtain a security clearance before the conclusion of the first academic year for which the participant receives assistance under the program; and (2) maintain such security clearance until the conclusion of the participant’s period of obligated service under section 2200p(c)(1). 2200r. Refund for failure to complete program (a) In general A STEM Corps participant shall refund to the United States an appropriate amount, as determined by the Secretary, in the event that the participant does not— (1) complete the educational program for which financial assistance has been provided under section 2200n; (2) meet the academic requirements described in section 2200n(d); (3) complete the service obligation described in section 2200p(c); or (4) obtain and maintain a security clearance as required under section 2200q. (b) Treatment as debt An obligation to reimburse the United States imposed under subsection (a) is for all purposes a debt owed to the United States. (c) Waiver The Secretary of Defense may waive, in whole or in part, a refund required under subsection (a) if the Secretary determines that recovery would be against equity and good conscience or would be contrary to the best interests of the United States. 2200s. Industry and institutional participation (a) Sponsorship agreements with defense contractors (1) Contribution agreements The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Administrative Agency, shall seek to enter into agreements with qualified defense contractors under which— (A) the contractor will contribute not less than $40,000 to the Administrative Agency, to be used to provide financial assistance to STEM Corps participants in accordance with section 2200n; and (B) in exchange for each contribution of $40,000 under paragraph (1) for a year— (i) the Administrative Agency will, to the extent practicable, place one STEM Corps participant in an internship with the contractor in accordance with section 2200p(b); and (ii) the contractor may be eligible to employ a STEM Corps participant in the final year of the participant’s service obligation in accordance with section 2200p(d). (2) Treatment of contributions Any contribution of funds under subsection (a) shall be credited to the appropriation or account providing the funds to carry out this chapter. Any amount so credited shall be merged with amounts in the appropriation or account to which credited, and shall be available for the same purposes, and subject to the same conditions and limitations, as amounts in such appropriation or account. (b) Agreements with institutions of higher education The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Administrative Agency, shall seek to enter into agreements with institutions of higher education under which the institutions shall agree to such terms and conditions as are necessary to facilitate the participation of students of the institution in the STEM Corps. 2200t. Definitions In this chapter: (1) Cost of attendance The term cost of attendance 20 U.S.C. 1087ll (2) Defense industry partner The term defense industry partner (3) Defense laboratory The term defense laboratory (4) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education 20 U.S.C. 1001 (5) STEM Corps participant The term STEM Corps participant (A) has received, or is receiving, financial assistance under section 2200n; and (B) has not yet completed the service obligation described in section 2200p(c)(1). (6) Qualified defense contractor The term qualified defense contractor (7) Qualified institution of higher education The term qualified institution of higher education (A) provides an educational program in a STEM or computer-science field for which the institution awards a bachelor's or graduate degree; and (B) has an agreement in effect with the Secretary under section 2200s(b). (8) Qualified student The term qualified student (A) is a citizen of the United States; (B) is between the ages of 19 and 31 years old (inclusive), except that the Secretary may waive such age requirement on a case-by-case basis; (C) demonstrates an aptitude for technical subjects and a propensity for public service; (D) before the beginning of the first year of participation in the program, will have completed not less than 30 credit hours (or the equivalent) of coursework at an institution of higher education, which may include coursework completed at a junior or community college (as that term is defined in section 312(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1058(f) (E) for the first year of participation in the program— (i) in the case of an undergraduate student, will be enrolled in the third year of a bachelor’s degree program in a STEM or computer-science discipline at a qualified institution of higher education; or (ii) in the case of a graduate student— (I) will be enrolled in graduate degree program in a STEM or computer-science discipline at a qualified institution of higher education; and (II) is expected to complete such graduate degree by the conclusion of the academic year following the first year of participation in the program. (9) STEM The term STEM . 3. Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out chapter 113

Summary: STEM Corps Act of 2020 This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to establish a STEM Corps program to enhance the STEM (i.e., science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and computer science workforce of DOD and the defense industry. Under the program, DOD must provide financial assistance to qualified students who pursue a bachelor's or graduate degree in a STEM or computer science discipline in exchange for their commitment to work within DOD in a STEM-related position for a period of not less than four years.