H. R. 4346—168 
(F) Growing academic research capacity in microelec-
tronics by incentivizing the hiring of faculty in fields critical 
to microelectronics; 
(G) support for innovative industry pathway programs 
that connect high school, vocational, military, college, and 
graduate programs; and 
(H) providing informal hands-on microelectronics 
learning opportunities for PreK-12 students in different 
learning environments, including competitions. 
(4) ADVANCED MICROELECTRONICS TRAINEESHIPS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall make awards to 
institutions of higher education or nonprofit organizations 
(or consortia of such institutions and organizations) to 
establish traineeship programs for graduate students who 
pursue microelectronics research leading to a masters or 
doctorate degree by providing funding and other assistance, 
and by providing graduate students with opportunities for 
research experiences in government or industry related 
to the students’ microelectronics studies. 
(B) USE OF FUNDS.—Institutions of higher education 
or non-profit organizations (or consortia of such institutions 
and organizations) shall use award funds provided under 
subparagraph (A) for the purposes of— 
(i) paying tuition and fees, and providing stipends, 
for students receiving traineeships who are citizens, 
nationals, or aliens lawfully admitted for permanent 
residence; 
(ii) facilitating opportunities for scientific intern-
ship programs for students receiving traineeships in 
microelectronics at private industry, nonprofit research 
institutions, or Federal laboratories; and 
(iii) such other costs associated with the adminis-
tration of the program. 
(5) MICROELECTRONICS
SKILLED
TECHNICAL
WORKFORCE 
PROGRAMS.—The Director shall make awards under the Sci-
entific and Advanced-Technology Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 1862h- 
j) to support programs for skilled technical workers in STEM 
disciplines that are aligned with skilled workforce needs of 
the microelectronics industry and lead to an associate’s degree, 
or equivalent certification, by providing funding and other 
assistance, including opportunities for internships and other 
hands-on experiences in industry related to the students’ micro-
electronics studies. 
(6) MICROELECTRONICS RESEARCH EXPERIENCES THROUGH 
EXISTING
PROGRAMS.—The Director shall seek to increase 
opportunities for microelectronics research for students and 
trainees at all levels by encouraging proposals in microelec-
tronics through existing programs including— 
(A) research experiences for undergraduates pursuant 
to section 514 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization 
Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p–6); 
(B) postdoctoral fellowship programs established pursu-
ant to section 522 of the America COMPETES Act of 2010 
(42 U.S.C. 1862p–11); 
(C) graduate fellowships established pursuant to sec-
tion 10 of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 
(42 U.S.C. 1869);
H. R. 4346—169 
(D) informal STEM education programs established 
pursuant to section 3 of the STEM Education Act of 2015 
(42 U.S.C. 1862q); 
(E) the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program 
established pursuant to section 10 of the National Science 
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n– 
1); 
(F) major research instrumentation programs estab-
lished pursuant to section 7036 of the America COMPETES 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1862o–14); and 
(G) low-income scholarship program established pursu-
ant to section 414(d) of the American Competitiveness and 
Workforce Improvement Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 1869c). 
(7) INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS.—In carrying out the activities 
under this section, the Director shall encourage awardees to 
partner with industry and other private sector organizations 
to facilitate the expansion of workforce pipelines and enable 
access to industry-standard equipment and software for use 
in undergraduate and graduate microelectronics education pro-
grams. 
(8) INTERAGENCY COORDINATION.—In carrying out activities 
under this section, the Director shall collaborate with the Sub-
committee on Microelectronics Leadership of the National 
Science and Technology Council, established in subsection (a) 
of section 9906 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 and the 
National Semiconductor Technology Center established in sub-
section (c) of section 9906 of such Act, and other relevant 
Federal agencies to maintain the effectiveness of microelec-
tronics workforce development activities across the agencies. 
(b) NATIONAL NETWORK FOR MICROELECTRONICS EDUCATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director, in coordination with the 
Secretary of Commerce, shall on a competitive, merit-reviewed 
basis, make awards to institutions of higher education and 
non-profit organizations (or consortia of such institutions and 
organizations) to establish partnerships to enhance and broaden 
participation in microelectronics education. 
(2) ACTIVITIES.—Awards made under this subsection shall 
be used for the following: 
(A) To conduct training and education activities funded 
by awards under paragraph (1) and in coordination with 
the Network Coordination Hub established in paragraph 
(3), including curricula design, development, dissemination, 
and assessment, and the sharing of information and best 
practices across the network of awardees. 
(B) To develop regional partnerships among associate- 
degree-granting colleges, bachelor-degree-granting institu-
tions, workforce development programs, labor organiza-
tions, and industry to create a diverse national technical 
workforce trained in microelectronics and ensure education 
and training is meeting the evolving needs of industry. 
(C) To develop local workforce pipelines that align with 
capacity investments made by industry and the Federal 
government, including vocational and high school training 
programs, community college degrees and certificates, vet-
eran post service opportunities, and mentoring.
H. R. 4346—170 
(D) To facilitate partnerships with employers, employer 
consortia or other private sector organizations that offer 
apprenticeships, internships, or applied learning experi-
ences in the field of microelectronics. 
(E) To develop shared infrastructure available to 
institutions of higher education, two-year colleges, and pri-
vate organizations to enable experiential learning activities 
and provide physical or digital access to training facilities 
and industry-standard tools and processes. 
(F) To create and disseminate public outreach to sup-
port awareness of microelectronics education and career 
opportunities, including through outreach to PreK–12 
schools and STEM-related organizations. 
(G) To collaborate and coordinate with industry and 
existing public and private organizations conducting micro-
electronics education and workforce development activities, 
as practicable. 
(3) NETWORK COORDINATION HUB.—The Director shall make 
an award on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis to an institu-
tion of higher education or nonprofit organization (or a consor-
tium thereof) to establish a national network of partnerships 
(referred to in this section as the ‘‘National Network for Micro-
electronics Education’’) to coordinate activities, best practice 
sharing, and access to facilities across the partnerships estab-
lished in accordance with paragraph (1). 
(4) INCENTIVIZING
PARTICIPATION.—To the extent prac-
ticable, the Director shall encourage participation in the 
National Network for Microelectronics Education through the 
coordination of activities and distribution of awards described 
in subsection (a). 
(5) PARTNERSHIPS.—The Director shall encourage the 
submission of proposals that are led by historically Black col-
leges and universities, Tribal Colleges or Universities, and 
minority-serving institutions or that include partnerships with 
or among such institutions to increase the recruitment of stu-
dents from groups historically underrepresented in STEM to 
pursue graduate studies in microelectronics. 
(6) OUTREACH.—In addition to any other requirements as 
determined appropriate by the Director, the Director shall 
require that proposals for awards under this section shall 
include a description of how the applicant will develop and 
implement outreach activities to increase the participation of 
women and other students from groups historically underrep-
resented in STEM. 
(7) COORDINATION ACROSS FOUNDATION PROGRAMS.—In car-
rying out the activities under this section, the Director shall 
ensure awardees coordinate with, and avoid unnecessary 
duplication of, the activities carried out under this Section 
with the activities of the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research 
and Development Act (Public Law 108–153), the National 
Quantum Initiative Act (Public Law 115-368), and Division 
E of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, and other related pro-
grams, as appropriate. 
(8) INTERAGENCY COORDINATION.—In carrying out activities 
under this section, the Director shall collaborate with the Sub-
committee on Microelectronics Leadership of the National
H. R. 4346—171 
Science and Technology Council, established in subsection (a) 
of section 9906 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 and the 
National Semiconductor Technology Center established in sub-
section (c) of section 9906 of such Act. 
SEC. 10319. INCORPORATION OF ART AND DESIGN INTO CERTAIN STEM 
EDUCATION. 
(a) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION AUTHORIZATION ACT.—Sec-
tion 9(a) of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act 
of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n(a)) is amended in paragraph (3)— 
(1) in subparagraph (M), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (N) as subparagraph 
(O); and 
(3) after subparagraph (M), by inserting the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(N) developing science, technology, engineering, and 
mathematics educational curriculum that incorporates art 
and design to promote creativity and innovation; and’’. 
(b) STEM EDUCATION ACT [LOG 169 H10304(K)].—Section 3 
of the STEM Education Act of 2015 (42 U.S.C. 1862q) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period and 
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) the integration of art and design in STEM educational 
programs.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(B) in paragraph (4), by striking the period and 
inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) design and testing of programming that integrates 
art and design in STEM education to promote creativity and 
innovation.’’. 
SEC. 10320. MANDATORY COST-SHARING. 
(a) WAIVER.—The cost-sharing requirements under section 
7036(c) of the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Pro-
mote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science Act (42 
U.S.C. 1862o-14(c)) for the Major Research Instrumentation Pro-
gram and under section 10A(i) of the National Science Foundation 
Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-1a(i)) for teaching 
fellowships administered within the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholar-
ship Program are waived for a period of 5 years following the 
date of enactment of this Act. 
(b) ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 5 years following the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit to Congress 
an assessment, that includes feedback from the research commu-
nity, of the impacts of the waivers provided under subsection (a), 
including— 
(1) programmatic and scientific goals; 
(2) institutional commitment and stewardship of Federal 
resources; 
(3) institutional strategic planning and administrative bur-
den; 
(4) equity among recipient institutions; and