parts, despite the fact that LGBQ students are 10 
percent more likely to participate in undergraduate 
research experiences, which is a significant contrib-
utor to STEM retention absent other factors such as 
sexual or gender identity, than their heterosexual 
counterparts. 
(14) According to research published by the 
American Society for Cell Biology, transgender and 
gender nonconforming undergraduate students, who 
represent 1 in 14 adults in the United States aged 
18–24, are 10 percent less likely to remain in STEM 
majors than their cisgender counterparts. 
(15) Research published by the AAAS also indi-
cates that 22 percent of LGBTQ professionals had 
thought about leaving their STEM job, compared 
with 15 percent of non-LGBTQ STEM profes-
sionals. Moreover, 12 percent of LGBTQ profes-
sionals planned to leave their STEM profession 
within the next 5 years, compared with 8 percent of 
non-LGBTQ professionals. 
(16) Finally, according to the NSF, persons 
with a disability are underrepresented in the general 
workforce (4 percent) compared with their represen-
tation in the general U.S. population (9 percent), 
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and even less represented in the STEM workforce (3 
percent). 
(b) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—The Director of the 
National Science Foundation shall award grants to eligible 
entities, on a competitive basis, to enable such eligible en-
tities to carry out the activities described in subsection (d), 
in order to increase the participation of women, persons 
underrepresented in science and engineering, and persons 
with disabilities in the fields of science, technology, engi-
neering, and mathematics. 
(c) APPLICATION.—Each eligible entity that desires 
to receive a grant under this section shall submit an appli-
cation to the National Science Foundation at such time, 
in such manner, and containing such information as the 
Director of the National Science Foundation may reason-
ably require. 
(d) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—An eligible entity 
that receives a grant under this section shall use such 
grant funds to carry out 1 or more of the following activi-
ties designed to increase the participation of women, per-
sons underrepresented in science and engineering, or per-
sons with disabilities, or 2 or more of such groups, in the 
fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathe-
matics: 
(1) Online workshops. 
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(2) Mentoring programs that partner science, 
technology, engineering, or mathematics profes-
sionals with students. 
(3) Internships for undergraduate and graduate 
students in the fields of science, technology, engi-
neering, and mathematics. 
(4) Conducting outreach programs that provide 
elementary school and secondary school students 
with opportunities to increase their exposure to the 
fields of science, technology, engineering, or mathe-
matics. 
(5) Programs to increase the recruitment and 
retention of underrepresented faculty. 
(6) Such additional programs as the Director of 
the National Science Foundation may determine. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act: 
(1) MINORITY.—The term ‘‘minority’’ means 
American Indian, Alaskan Native, Black (not of His-
panic origin), Hispanic (including persons of Mexi-
can, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and Central or South 
American origin), Asian (including underrepresented 
subgroups), Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander origin 
subgroup, or other ethnic group underrepresented in 
science and engineering, or Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, 
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Transgender, or Queer (LGBTQ), or gender-noncon-
forming. 
(2) UNDERREPRESENTED IN SCIENCE AND EN-
GINEERING.—The term ‘‘underrepresented in science 
and engineering’’ means a minority group whose 
number of scientists and engineers per 10,000 popu-
lation of that group is substantially below the com-
parable figure for scientists and engineers who are 
White and not of Hispanic origin, as determined by 
the Secretary of Education under section 637.4(b) of 
title 34, Code of Federal Regulations (or a similar 
successor regulation). 
(3) PERSON
WITH
A
DISABILITY.—The term 
‘‘person with a disability’’ means an individual with 
1 or more disability types as defined by the U.S. 
Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey (CPS). 
(f) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2024, 2025, 2026, 
2027, and 2028. 
Æ 
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