‘‘(2) achieve a passing score on the written 
exam developed and administered by the Administra-
tive 
Agency 
in 
accordance 
with 
section 
2200o(a)(2)(B). 
‘‘(c) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(1) AMOUNT.—The amount of financial assist-
ance provided to a qualified student under this sec-
tion 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 in-
stitution of higher education. 
‘‘(2) DURATION.—A qualified student may re-
ceive financial assistance under this section for a 
maximum of two academic years. 
‘‘(3) USE OF FUNDS.—Financial assistance pro-
vided 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 com-
puter science; 
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‘‘(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 appro-
priate. 
‘‘(e) RELATIONSHIP
TO OTHER PROGRAMS.—The 
Secretary of Defense shall coordinate the provision of fi-
nancial assistance under the authorities provided in this 
chapter with the provision of financial assistance under 
the authorities provided in chapter 111 of this title (per-
taining to support of science, mathematics, and engineer-
ing education), to maximize the benefits derived by the 
Department of Defense from the exercise of all such au-
thorities. 
‘‘§ 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 (re-
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ferred to in this chapter as the ‘Administrative 
Agency’). 
‘‘(2) DUTIES.—Subject to the direction and 
control of the Secretary of Defense, the Administra-
tive Agency shall— 
‘‘(A) select qualified students for participa-
tion in the STEM Corps; 
‘‘(B) develop and administer a written ex-
amination for applicants to the STEM Corps; 
‘‘(C) monitor STEM Corps participants to 
determine their continued eligibility for partici-
pation in the program; 
‘‘(D) facilitate the placement of STEM 
Corps participants in positions within the De-
partment of Defense and with defense industry 
sponsors, as applicable; 
‘‘(E) solicit, receive, and manage contribu-
tions from defense-industry sponsors under sec-
tion 2200s(a); 
‘‘(F) enter into memoranda of under-
standing with institutions of higher education 
under section 2200s(b); and 
‘‘(G) carry out such other activities relat-
ing to the STEM Corps as the Secretary of De-
fense determines to be appropriate. 
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‘‘(b) ADVISORY PANEL.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of De-
fense shall establish an advisory panel to provide ad-
vice 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 Depart-
ment of Defense appointed by the Secretary of 
Defense. 
‘‘(C) One Member of the House of Rep-
resentatives appointed by the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives. 
‘‘(D) One Member of the House of Rep-
resentatives appointed by the minority leader of 
the House of Representatives. 
‘‘(E) One Senator appointed by the major-
ity leader of the Senate. 
‘‘(F) One Senator appointed by the minor-
ity leader of the Senate. 
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‘‘(3) TERMS.—Each member specified in sub-
paragraphs (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 ad-
ministering the STEM Corps, including any costs relating 
to the advisory panel established under subsection (b). 
‘‘§ 2200p. Service obligation for STEM Corps partici-
pants 
‘‘(a) SERVICE AGREEMENT FOR RECIPIENTS OF FI-
NANCIAL ASSISTANCE.—To be eligible to receive financial 
assistance under section 2200n, a qualified student shall 
enter into a written agreement with the Secretary of De-
fense under which the student agrees— 
‘‘(1) to accept placement in an internship with 
a defense industry sponsor as described in sub-
section (b); 
‘‘(2) to accept and continue employment in the 
Department of Defense in a Department of Defense 
Laboratory as described in subsection (c); and 
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‘‘(3) to accept any additional terms and condi-
tions that the Secretary determines to be appro-
priate. 
‘‘(b) INTERNSHIP WITH DEFENSE INDUSTRY SPON-
SOR.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Pursuant to the agreement 
under subsection (a)(1), each STEM Corps partici-
pant shall complete an internship with a defense in-
dustry sponsor before the student completes the sec-
ond academic year of participation in the program. 
‘‘(2) TYPE OF POSITION.—As part of an intern-
ship under paragraph (1), a STEM Corps partici-
pant 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 re-
quired 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 employ-
ment in a STEM or computer-science related posi-
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tion 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 oppor-
tunities for such participants within the Department 
of Defense. To the extent practicable, the Adminis-
trative Agency shall consider the skills, training, ex-
perience, and preferences of a STEM Corps partici-
pant 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 serv-
ice in the armed forces. 
‘‘(4) CHANGE OF ASSIGNMENT.— 
‘‘(A) REQUEST FOR CHANGE OF ASSIGN-
MENT.—After the conclusion of the first year of 
an assignment under paragraph (1), a STEM 
Corps participant may submit to the Adminis-
trative Agency a request to be reassigned to a 
different STEM or computer-science related po-
sition within the Department. 
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‘‘(B) CONSIDERATION BY ADMINISTRATIVE 
AGENCY.—After receiving a request for a reas-
signment under subparagraph (A), the Admin-
istrative Agency, in consultation with the hiring 
authorities of the offices concerned, shall— 
‘‘(i) determine whether such a reas-
signment would be appropriate; and 
‘‘(ii) based on such determination, ap-
prove or deny the request. 
‘‘(5) RATES OF PAY.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), during the period of obli-
gated service described in paragraph (1), each 
STEM Corps participant shall be paid as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(i) FIRST THREE YEARS OF SERV-
ICE.—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 Sched-
ule. 
‘‘(ii) FOURTH
YEAR
OF
SERVICE.— 
For the fourth year of obligated service, 
each participant shall be paid at a rate 
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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 de-
scribed in paragraph (1) through service as a 
member of the armed forces. 
‘‘(6) 
INCLUSION
OF
DEFENSE
LABORA-
TORIES.—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 con-
tractor. 
‘‘(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 of 
title 5, United States Code, other than sections 3303 
and 3328 of such title, qualified participants to posi-
tions in the competitive service at the Department of 
Defense. 
‘‘(d) EMPLOYMENT
WITH
DEFENSE
INDUSTRY 
SPONSOR.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—At the discretion of the Ad-
ministrative Agency, a STEM Corps participant may 
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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 Agen-
cy shall ensure that a STEM Corps participant em-
ployed by a defense industry sponsor under para-
graph (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 sub-
section (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 
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‘‘(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 partici-
pant 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 reim-
burse 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. 
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‘‘§ 2200s. Industry and institutional participation 
‘‘(a) SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENTS WITH DEFENSE 
CONTRACTORS.— 
‘‘(1) CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS.—The Sec-
retary 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 obli-
gation 
in 
accordance 
with 
section 
2200p(d). 
‘‘(2) TREATMENT
OF
CONTRIBUTIONS.—Any 
contribution of funds under subsection (a) shall be 
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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 appro-
priation 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 agree-
ments 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’ has the meaning given that term in sec-
tion 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1087ll). 
‘‘(2) DEFENSE INDUSTRY PARTNER.—The term 
‘defense industry partner’ means a qualified defense 
contractor that has an agreement in effect with the 
Secretary under section 2200s(a). 
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‘‘(3) DEFENSE
LABORATORY.—The term ‘de-
fense laboratory’ means a laboratory operated by the 
Department of Defense or owned by the Department 
of Defense and operated by a contractor or a facility 
of a Defense Agency at which research and develop-
ment activities are conducted. 
‘‘(4) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.— 
The term ‘institution of higher education’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 101 of the High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 
‘‘(5) STEM CORPS
PARTICIPANT.—The term 
‘STEM Corps participant’ means an individual 
who— 
‘‘(A) has received, or is receiving, financial 
assistance under section 2200n; and 
‘‘(B) has not yet completed the service ob-
ligation described in section 2200p(c)(1). 
‘‘(6) QUALIFIED DEFENSE CONTRACTOR.—The 
term ‘qualified defense contractor’, for any year, 
means an entity awarded a contract with the De-
partment of Defense for that year for an amount in 
excess of $500,000. 
‘‘(7) QUALIFIED INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDU-
CATION.—The term ‘qualified institution of higher 
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education’ means an institution of higher education 
that— 
‘‘(A) provides an educational program in a 
STEM or computer-science field for which the 
institution awards a bachelor’s or graduate de-
gree; and 
‘‘(B) has an agreement in effect with the 
Secretary under section 2200s(b). 
‘‘(8) QUALIFIED STUDENT.—The term ‘quali-
fied student’ means an individual who— 
‘‘(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 tech-
nical subjects and a propensity for public serv-
ice; 
‘‘(D) before the beginning of the first year 
of participation in the program, will have com-
pleted 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 
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Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1058(f))); and 
‘‘(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 quali-
fied institution of higher education; or 
‘‘(ii) in the case of a graduate stu-
dent— 
‘‘(I) will be enrolled in graduate 
degree program in a STEM or com-
puter-science discipline at a qualified 
institution of higher education; and 
‘‘(II) is expected to complete 
such graduate degree by the conclu-
sion of the academic year following 
the first year of participation in the 
program. 
‘‘(9) STEM.—The term ‘STEM’ means science, 
technology, engineering, and mathematics.’’. 
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
chapter 113 of title 10, United States Code, as added by 
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section 2 of this Act, $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2021 and 
each fiscal year thereafter. 
Æ 
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