I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2749
To establish doctoral fellowships designed to increase the pool of scientists
and engineers trained specifically to address the global energy and envi-
ronmental challenges of the 21st century.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OCTOBER 28, 1997
Mr. KENNEDY of Massachusetts (for himself and Mr. MEEHAN) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science
A BILL
To establish doctoral fellowships designed to increase the
pool of scientists and engineers trained specifically to
address the global energy and environmental challenges
of the 21st century.
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 ‘‘Paul E. Tsongas Fel-
lowship Act’’.
SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.
It is the purpose of this Act to encourage individuals
of exceptional achievement and promise, especially mem-
bers of traditionally underrepresented groups, to pursue
careers in fields that confront the global energy and envi-
ronmental challenges of the 21st century.
SEC. 3. DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS AUTHORIZED.
(a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of En-
ergy is authorized to award doctoral fellowships, to be
known as Paul E. Tsongas Doctoral Fellowships, in ac-
cordance with the provisions of this Act for study and re-
search in fields of science or engineering that relate to
energy or the environment such as physics, mathematics,
chemistry, biology, computer science, materials science,
environmental science, behavioral science, and social
sciences at institutions proposed by applicants for such fel-
lowships.
(b) PERIOD OF AWARD.—A fellowship under this sec-
tion shall be awarded for a period of three succeeding aca-
demic years, beginning with the commencement of a pro-
gram of doctoral study.
(c) FELLOWSHIP PORTABILITY.—Each Fellow shall
be entitled to use the fellowship in a graduate program
at any accredited institution of higher education in which
the recipient may decide to enroll.
(d) NUMBER OF FELLOWSHIPS.—As many fellow-
ships as may be fully funded according to this Act shall
be awarded each year.
(e) DESIGNATION
OF FELLOWS.—Each individual
awarded a fellowship under this Act shall be known as
a ‘‘Paul E. Tsongas Fellow’’ (hereinafter in this Act re-
ferred to as a ‘‘Fellow’’).
SEC. 4. ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION OF FELLOWS.
(a) ELIGIBILITY.—Only United States citizens are el-
igible to receive awards under this Act.
(b) FELLOWSHIP BOARD.—
(1) APPOINTMENT.—The Secretary, in con-
sultation with the Director of the National Science
Foundation, shall appoint a Paul E. Tsongas Fel-
lowship Board (hereinafter in this part referred to
as the ‘‘Board’’) consisting of 5 representatives of
the academic science and engineering communities
who are especially qualified to serve on the Board.
The Secretary shall assure that individuals ap-
pointed to the Board are broadly knowledgeable
about and have experience in graduate education in
relevant fields.
(2) DUTIES.—The Board shall—
(A) establish general policies for the pro-
gram established by this part and oversee its
operation;
(B) establish general criteria for awarding
fellowships;
(C) award fellowships; and
(D) prepare and submit to the Congress at
least once in every 3-year period a report on
any modifications in the program that the
Board determines are appropriate.
(4) TERM.—The term of office of each member
of the Board shall be 3 years, except that any mem-
ber appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve for the re-
mainder of the term for which the predecessor of the
member was appointed. No member may serve for a
period in excess of 6 years.
(5) INITIAL
MEETING; VACANCY.—The Sec-
retary shall call the first meeting of the Board, at
which the first order of business shall be the election
of a Chairperson and a Vice Chairperson, who shall
serve until 1 year after the date of their appoint-
ment. Thereafter each officer shall be elected for a
term of 2 years. In case a vacancy occurs in either
office, the Board shall elect an individual from
among the members of the Board to fill such va-
cancy.
(6) QUORUM; ADDITIONAL MEETINGS.—(A) A
majority of the members of the Board shall con-
stitute a quorum.
(B) The Board shall meet at least once a year
or more frequently, as may be necessary, to carry
out its responsibilities.
(7) COMPENSATION.—Members of the Board,
while serving on the business of the Board, shall be
entitled to receive compensation at rates fixed by the
Secretary, but not exceeding the rate of basic pay
payable for level IV of the Executive Schedule, in-
cluding traveltime, and while so serving away from
their homes or regular places of business, they may
be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu
of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title
5, United States Code, for persons in Government
service employed intermittently.
(c) UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS.—In designing se-
lection criteria and awarding fellowships, the Board
shall—
(1) consider the need to prepare a larger num-
ber of women and individuals from minority groups,
especially from among such groups that have been
traditionally underrepresented in the professional
and academic fields referred to in section 2, but
nothing contained in this or any other provision of
this Act shall be interpreted to require the Secretary
to grant any preference or disparate treatment to
the members of any underrepresented group; and
(2) take into account the need to expand access
by women and minority groups to careers heretofore
lacking adequate representation of women and mi-
nority groups.
SEC. 5. PAYMENTS, STIPENDS, TUITION, AND EDUCATION
AWARDS.
(a) AMOUNT OF AWARD.—
(1) STIPENDS.—The Secretary shall pay to
each individual awarded a fellowship under this Act
a stipend in the amount of $15,000, $16,500, and
$18,000 during the first, second, and third years of
study, respectively.
(2) TUITION.—The Secretary shall pay to the
appropriate institution an amount adequate to cover
the tuition, fees, and health insurance of each indi-
vidual awarded a fellowship under this Act.
(3) ADMINISTRATIVE
AND
TRAVEL
ALLOW-
ANCE.—The Secretary shall pay to each host institu-
tion an annual $5,000 allowance for the purpose of
covering—
(A) administrative expenses;
(B) travel expenses associated with Fellow
participation in academic seminars or con-
ferences approved by the host institution; and
(C) round-trip travel expenses associated
with Fellow participation in the internship re-
quired by section 6 of this Act.
SEC. 6. REQUIREMENT.
Each Fellow shall participate in a 3-month internship
related to the dissertation topic of the Fellow at a national
laboratory or equivalent industrial laboratory as approved
by the host institution.
SEC. 7. FELLOWSHIP CONDITIONS.
(a) ACADEMIC PROGRESS REQUIRED.—No student
shall receive support pursuant to an award under this
Act—
(1) except during periods in which such student
is maintaining satisfactory progress in, and devoting
essentially full time to, study or research in the field
in which such fellowship was awarded, or
(2) if the student is engaging in gainful employ-
ment other than part-time employment involved in
teaching, research, or similar activities determined
by the institution to be in support of the student’s
progress toward a degree.
(b) REPORTS FROM RECIPIENTS.—The Secretary is
authorized to require reports containing such information
in such form and filed at such times as the Secretary de-
termines necessary from any person awarded a fellowship
under the provisions of this Act. The reports shall be ac-
companied by a certificate from an appropriate official at
the institution of higher education, or other research cen-
ter, stating that such individual is fulfilling the require-
ments of this section.
(c) FAILURE TO EARN DEGREE.—A recipient of a
fellowship under this Act found by the Secretary to have
failed in or abandoned the course of study for which as-
sistance was provided under this Act may be required, at
the discretion of the Secretary, to repay a pro rata amount
of such fellowship assistance received, plus interest and,
where applicable, reasonable collection fees, on a schedule
and at a rate of interest to be prescribed by the Secretary
by regulations issued pursuant to this Act.
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated for this Act
$5,000,000 for fiscal year 1998 and such sums as may
be necessary for the succeeding fiscal years.
SEC. 9. APPLICATION OF GENERAL EDUCATIONAL PROVI-
SIONS ACT.
Section 421 of the General Educational Provisions
Act, pertaining to the availability of funds, shall apply to
this Act.
SEC. 10. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act—
(1) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary
of Energy.
(2) The term ‘‘host institution’’ means an insti-
tution where a Paul E. Tsongas Fellow is enrolled
for the purpose of pursuing doctoral studies for
which support is provided under this Act.
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