I 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6263 
To increase awareness of the existence of and to overcome gender bias 
in academic science and engineering through research and training, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 12, 2008 
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas (for herself, Mr. HONDA, and Ms. 
BERKLEY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Science and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on 
Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To increase awareness of the existence of and to overcome 
gender bias in academic science and engineering through 
research and training, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Fulfilling the Potential 
of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Act of 
2008’’. 
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SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following: 
(1) In its 2007 report, Beyond Bias and Bar-
riers, the National Academies state that, to maintain 
its scientific and engineering leadership amid in-
creasing economic and educational globalization, the 
United States must aggressively pursue the innova-
tive capacity of all of its people—women and men. 
(2) Women make up an increasing proportion 
of science and engineering majors at all institutions 
of higher education, including at top-rated programs 
such as those at the Massachusetts Institute of 
Technology where women make up 51 percent of its 
science undergraduates and 35 percent of its engi-
neering undergraduates. 
(3) Despite this progress, however, women still 
receive only 20 percent of all bachelor’s degrees 
awarded in engineering and physics. 
(4) For women to participate to their full po-
tential across all science and engineering fields, they 
must see a career path that allows them to reach 
their full intellectual potential; much remains to be 
done to achieve that goal. 
(5) The Federal Government provides over 60 
percent of research funding at institutions of higher 
education. 
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(6) Women are a small portion of the science 
and engineering faculty members at major research 
universities, and they typically receive fewer institu-
tional resources for their research activities than 
their male colleagues. 
(7) Unintentional biases and outmoded institu-
tional structures are hindering the access and ad-
vancement of women in science and engineering. 
(8) Women hold a small portion of leadership 
positions in our institutions of higher education, sci-
entific and professional societies, and honorary orga-
nizations. 
(9) Neither our institutions of higher education 
nor our Nation can afford such underuse of precious 
human capital in science and engineering. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act, the following definitions shall apply: 
(1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy in the Executive Office of the President, act-
ing through the National Science and Technology 
Council. 
(2) FEDERAL
SCIENCE
AGENCY.—The term 
‘‘Federal science agency’’ means any Federal agency 
that is responsible for at least 2 percent of the total 
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Federal obligation for research and development at 
institutions of higher education, according to the 
most recent data available from the National Science 
Foundation. 
(3) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 101(a) of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). 
SEC. 4. WORKSHOPS TO ENHANCE GENDER EQUITY IN ACA-
DEMIC SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall develop 
a uniform policy for each Federal science agency to carry 
out a program of workshops that educate program offi-
cers, members of grant review panels, institution of higher 
education department chairs, and other federally funded 
researchers about methods that minimize the effects of 
gender bias in evaluation, including of Federal research 
grants, for hiring, tenure, and promotion, and for selection 
for any other honor based on academic merit. Each Fed-
eral science agency shall establish a program of workshops 
according to this policy. 
(b) INTERAGENCY COORDINATION.—The Director 
shall ensure that programs of workshops across the Fed-
eral science agencies are coordinated and supported jointly 
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as appropriate. As part of this process, the Director shall 
ensure that at least 1 workshop is supported every 2 years 
among the Federal science agencies in each of the major 
science and engineering disciplines supported by those 
agencies. 
(c) SCIENTIFIC AND PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES.— 
Federal science agencies may carry out the program of 
workshops under this section by making grants to eligible 
organizations. In addition to any other organizations made 
eligible by the Federal science agencies, the following orga-
nizations are eligible for grants under this section: 
(1) Nonprofit scientific and professional soci-
eties and organizations that represent one or more 
science and engineering disciplines. 
(2) Nonprofit organizations that have the pri-
mary mission of advancing the participation of 
women in science and engineering. 
(d) CHARACTERISTICS OF WORKSHOPS.—The work-
shops shall have the following characteristics: 
(1) Invitees to workshops shall include at 
least— 
(A) the chairs from at least the top 50 in-
stitution of higher education departments in the 
relevant discipline, as determined by the 
amount of Federal research and development 
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funds obligated to each department in the prior 
year based on data available from the National 
Science Foundation; 
(B) members of any standing research 
grant review panel appointed by the Federal 
science agencies in the relevant discipline; 
(C) in the case of major science and engi-
neering disciplines supported by the Depart-
ment of Energy, the individuals from each of 
the Department of Energy National Labora-
tories with personnel management responsibil-
ities comparable to those of an institution of 
higher education department chair; and 
(D) Federal science agency program offi-
cers in the relevant discipline, other than pro-
gram officers that participate in comparable 
workshops organized and run specifically for 
that agency’s program officers. 
(2) Activities at the workshops shall include re-
search presentations and interactive discussions or 
other activities that increase the awareness of the 
existence of gender bias in recruitment, hiring, ten-
ure review, promotion, grant evaluation, award selec-
tion, and other forms of formal recognition of indi-
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vidual achievement and provide strategies to over-
come such bias. 
(3) Research presentations and other workshop 
programs, as appropriate, shall include a discussion 
of the unique challenges faced by women from his-
torically underrepresented groups. 
(4) Workshop programs shall include informa-
tion on best practices and the value of mentoring 
undergraduate and graduate women students as well 
as outreach to girls earlier in their science, tech-
nology, engineering, and mathematics education. 
(e) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 5 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall 
transmit to the Committee on Science and Tech-
nology of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate a report evaluating the impact 
of the program carried out under this section to re-
duce gender bias towards women engaged in re-
search funded by the Federal Government. The Di-
rector shall include in this report any recommenda-
tions for improving the evaluation process described 
in paragraph (2). 
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(2) MINIMUM CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION.—In 
determining the effectiveness of the program, the 
Director shall consider, at a minimum— 
(A) the rates of participation by invitees in 
the workshops authorized under this section; 
(B) the results of attitudinal surveys con-
ducted on workshop participants before and 
after the workshops; 
(C) any institutional policy or practice 
changes reported by participants from institu-
tions of higher education; and 
(D) for institution of higher education de-
partment chairs and Department of Energy Na-
tional Laboratory employees who participated in 
at least 1 workshop 3 or more years prior to 
the due date for the report, trends in the data 
for the department represented by the chair or 
employee including— 
(i) the number and percent of women 
faculty; 
(ii) the number and percent of women 
in tenure-track positions by rank; 
(iii) tenure promotion outcomes by 
gender; 
(iv) years in rank by gender; 
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(v) time at institution by gender; 
(vi) attrition by gender; 
(vii) the number of women who are in 
nontenure-track positions, including teach-
ing and research; 
(viii) the number and percent of 
women faculty in endowed or named 
chairs; and 
(ix) the number and percent of women 
faculty on promotion and tenure commit-
tees. 
(f) MINIMIZING COSTS.—To the extent practicable, 
workshops shall be held in conjunction with national or 
regional disciplinary meetings to minimize costs associated 
with participant travel. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Each 
Federal science agency is authorized to contribute funds, 
from funds which are otherwise authorized, to support the 
workshop and evaluation requirements under this section, 
including— 
(1) providing grants to organizations, including 
the organizations identified under subsection (c), to 
plan and organize the workshops; and 
(2) reimbursing the travel and lodging costs of 
invited speakers and workshop participants. 
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SEC. 5. EXTENDED RESEARCH GRANT SUPPORT AND IN-
TERIM 
TECHNICAL 
SUPPORT 
FOR 
CARE-
GIVERS. 
(a) POLICIES FOR CAREGIVERS.—Not later than 6 
months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Direc-
tor shall develop a uniform policy to— 
(1) extend the period of grant support for fed-
erally funded researchers who have caregiving re-
sponsibilities; and 
(2) provide funding for interim technical staff 
support for federally funded researchers who take a 
leave of absence for caregiving responsibilities. 
(b) REPORT.—Upon developing the policy required 
under subsection (a), the Director shall transmit a copy 
of the policy to the Committee on Science and Technology 
of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 
SEC. 6. COLLECTION OF DATA ON FEDERAL RESEARCH 
GRANTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Each Federal science agency shall 
collect standardized annual composite information on de-
mographics, field, award type and budget request, review 
score, and funding outcome for all applications for re-
search and development grants to institutions of higher 
education supported by that agency. 
(b) REPORTING OF DATA.— 
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(1) The Director shall establish a policy to en-
sure uniformity and standardization of data collec-
tion required under subsection (a). 
(2) Not later than June 30, 2010, and annually 
thereafter, each Federal science agency shall submit 
data collected under subsection (a) to the National 
Science Foundation. 
(3) The National Science Foundation shall be 
responsible for storing and publishing all of the 
grant data submitted under paragraph (2) in con-
junction with the biennial report required under sec-
tion 37 of the Science and Engineering Equal Op-
portunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885d). 
SEC. 7. PUBLICATION OF LIST OF INSTITUTIONAL PARTICI-
PATION IN WORKSHOPS TO ENHANCE GEN-
DER EQUITY IN ACADEMIC SCIENCE AND EN-
GINEERING. 
The Director, on the basis of data reported by the 
Federal science agencies, shall publish annually a list of 
institutions of higher education science and engineering 
departments represented by individuals who attend the 
workshops described in section 4. The list shall be publicly 
available through the website of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy. Any institution of higher education 
science and engineering department that is publicized on 
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the list may publicize its receipt of such recognition on 
its website, in printed materials, or through other means. 
Æ 
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