(x) any other activity the Director de-
termines will accomplish the goals of this 
subsection. 
(c) APPLICATION.—An applicant seeking a grant 
under subsection (a) or (b) shall submit an application at 
such time, in such manner, and containing such informa-
tion as the Director may require. The application may in-
clude the following: 
(1) A description of the target population to be 
served by the research activity or activities for which 
such grant is sought. 
(2) A description of the process for recruitment 
and selection of students, educators, or schools from 
rural areas to participate in such activity or activi-
ties. 
(3) A description of how such activity or activi-
ties may inform efforts to promote the engagement 
and achievement of rural students in grades Pre-K 
through 12 in STEM studies. 
(4) In the case of a proposal consisting of a 
partnership or partnerships with one or more rural 
schools and one or more researchers, a plan for es-
tablishing a sustained partnership that is jointly de-
veloped and managed, draws from the capacities of 
each partner, and is mutually beneficial.
(d) PARTNERSHIPS.—In awarding grants under sub-
section (a) or (b), the Director shall— 
(1) encourage applicants which, for the purpose 
of the activity or activities funded through the grant, 
include or partner with a nonprofit organization or 
an institution of higher education (or a consortium 
thereof) that has extensive experience and expertise 
in increasing the participation of rural students in 
grades Pre-K through 12 in STEM; 
(2) encourage applicants which, for the purpose 
of the activity or activities funded through the grant, 
include or partner with a consortium of rural schools 
or rural school districts; and 
(3) encourage applications which, for the pur-
pose of the activity or activities funded through the 
grant, include commitments from school principals 
and administrators to making reforms and activities 
proposed by the applicant a priority. 
(e) EVALUATIONS.—All proposals for grants under 
subsections (a) and (b) shall include an evaluation plan 
that includes the use of outcome oriented measures to as-
sess the impact and efficacy of the grant. Each recipient 
of a grant under this section shall include results from 
these evaluative activities in annual and final projects. 
(f) ACCOUNTABILITY AND DISSEMINATION.—
(1) EVALUATION
REQUIRED.—The Director 
shall evaluate the portfolio of grants awarded under 
subsections (a) and (b). Such evaluation shall— 
(A) use a common set of benchmarks and 
tools to assess the results of research conducted 
under such grants and identify best practices; 
and 
(B) to the extent practicable, integrate the 
findings of research resulting from the activity 
or activities funded through such grants with 
the findings of other research on rural student’s 
pursuit of degrees or careers in STEM. 
(2) REPORT ON EVALUATIONS.—Not later than 
180 days after the completion of the evaluation 
under paragraph (1), the Director shall submit to 
Congress and make widely available to the public a 
report that includes— 
(A) the results of the evaluation; and 
(B) any recommendations for administra-
tive and legislative action that could optimize 
the effectiveness of the grants awarded under 
this section. 
(g) REPORT BY COMMITTEE ON EQUAL OPPORTUNI-
TIES IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—As part of the first report 
required by section 36(e) of the Science and Engi-
neering 
Equal 
Opportunities 
Act 
(42 
U.S.C. 
1885c(e)) transmitted to Congress after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Committee on Equal Op-
portunities in Science and Engineering shall in-
clude— 
(A) a description of past and present poli-
cies and activities of the Foundation to encour-
age full participation of students in rural com-
munities in science, mathematics, engineering, 
and computer science fields; and 
(B) an assessment of trends in participa-
tion of rural students in grades Pre-K through 
12 in Foundation activities, and an assessment 
of the policies and activities of the Foundation, 
along with proposals for new strategies or the 
broadening of existing successful strategies to-
wards facilitating the goals of this Act. 
(2) TECHNICAL CORRECTION.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Section 313 of the 
American Innovation and Competitiveness Act 
(Public Law 114–329) is amended by striking 
‘‘Section 204(e) of the National Science Foun-
dation Authorization Act of 1988’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘Section 36(e) of the Science and Engineer-
ing Equal Opportunities Act’’. 
(B) 
APPLICABILITY.—The 
amendment 
made by paragraph (1) shall take effect as if 
included in the enactment of section 313 of the 
American Innovation and Competitiveness Act 
(Public Law 114–329). 
(h) COORDINATION.—In carrying out this section, the 
Director shall, for purposes of enhancing program effec-
tiveness and avoiding duplication of activities, consult, co-
operate, and coordinate with the programs and policies of 
other relevant Federal agencies. 
(i) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Director— 
(1) $8,000,000 to carry out the activities under 
subsection (a) for each of fiscal years 2021 through 
2025; and 
(2) $12,000,000 to carry out the activities 
under subsection (b) for each of fiscal years 2021 
through 2025. 
SEC. 4. OPPORTUNITIES FOR ONLINE EDUCATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall, subject to ap-
propriations, award competitive grants to institutions of 
higher education or nonprofit organizations (or a consor-
tium thereof, which may include a private sector partner)
to conduct research on online STEM education courses for 
rural communities. 
(b) RESEARCH AREAS.—The research areas eligible 
for funding under this subsection shall include— 
(1) evaluating the learning and achievement of 
rural students in grades Pre-K through 12 in STEM 
subjects; 
(2) understanding how computer-based and on-
line professional development courses and mentor ex-
periences can be integrated to meet the needs of 
educators of rural students in grades Pre-K through 
12; 
(3) combining computer-based and online 
STEM education and training with apprenticeships, 
mentoring, or other applied learning arrangements; 
(4) leveraging online programs to supplement 
STEM studies for rural students that need physical 
and academic accommodation; and 
(5) any other activity the Director determines 
will accomplish the goals of this subsection. 
(c) EVALUATIONS.—All proposals for grants under 
this section shall include an evaluation plan that includes 
the use of outcome oriented measures to assess the impact 
and efficacy of the grant. Each recipient of a grant under
this section shall include results from these evaluative ac-
tivities in annual and final projects. 
(d) ACCOUNTABILITY AND DISSEMINATION.— 
(1) EVALUATION
REQUIRED.—The Director 
shall evaluate the portfolio of grants awarded under 
this section. Such evaluation shall— 
(A) use a common set of benchmarks and 
tools to assess the results of research conducted 
under such grants and identify best practices; 
and 
(B) to the extent practicable, integrate 
findings from activities carried out pursuant to 
research conducted under this section, with re-
spect to the pursuit of careers and degrees in 
STEM, with those activities carried our pursu-
ant to other research on serving rural students 
and communities. 
(2) REPORT ON EVALUATIONS.—Not later than 
180 days after the completion of the evaluation 
under paragraph (1), the Director shall submit to 
Congress and make widely available to the public a 
report that includes— 
(A) the results of the evaluation; and 
(B) any recommendations for administra-
tive and legislative action that could optimize
the effectiveness of the grants awarded under 
this section. 
(e) COORDINATION.—In carrying out this section, the 
Director shall, for purposes of enhancing program effec-
tiveness and avoiding duplication of activities, consult, co-
operate, and coordinate with the programs and policies of 
other relevant Federal agencies. 
SEC. 5. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES EVALUATION. 
(a) STUDY.—Not later than 12 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Director shall enter into an 
agreement with the National Academy of Sciences under 
which the National Academy agrees to conduct an evalua-
tion and assessment that— 
(1) evaluates the quality and quantity of cur-
rent Federal programming and research directed at 
examining STEM education for students in grades 
Pre-K through 12 and workforce development in 
rural areas; 
(2) assesses the impact of the scarcity of 
broadband connectivity in rural communities has on 
STEM and technical literacy for students in grades 
Pre-K through 12 in rural areas; 
(3) assesses the core research and data needed 
to understand the challenges rural areas are facing
in providing quality STEM education and workforce 
development; and 
(4) makes recommendations for action at the 
Federal, State, and local levels for improving STEM 
education for students in grades Pre-K through 12 
and workforce development in rural areas. 
(b) REPORT TO DIRECTOR.—The agreement entered 
into under subsection (a) shall require the National Acad-
emy of Sciences, not later than 24 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, to submit to the Director a re-
port on the study conducted under such subsection, includ-
ing the National Academy’s findings and recommenda-
tions. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Director to carry 
out this section $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2021. 
SEC. 6. GAO REVIEW. 
Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall conduct a study on the engagement of rural popu-
lations in Federal STEM programs and submit to Con-
gress a report that includes— 
(1) an assessment of how Federal STEM edu-
cation programs are serving rural populations;
(2) a description of initiatives carried out by 
Federal agencies that are targeted at supporting 
STEM education in rural areas; 
(3) an assessment of what is known about the 
impact and effectiveness of Federal investments in 
STEM education programs that are targeted to 
rural areas; and 
(4) an assessment of challenges that state and 
Federal STEM education programs face in reaching 
rural population centers. 
SEC. 7. CAPACITY BUILDING THROUGH EPSCOR. 
Section 517(f)(2) of the America COMPETES Reau-
thorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p–9(f)(2)) is 
amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) to increase the capacity of rural com-
munities to provide quality STEM education 
and STEM workforce development program-
ming to students, and teachers; and’’. 
SEC. 8. NIST ENGAGEMENT WITH RURAL COMMUNITIES. 
(a) MEP OUTREACH.—Section 25 of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 
278k) is amended—
(1) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘commu-
nity colleges and area career and technical edu-
cation schools’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘secondary schools (as defined in section 8101 
of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801)), community col-
leges, and area career and technical education 
schools, including those in underserved and 
rural communities,’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (7)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘and local colleges’’ 
and inserting the following: ‘‘local high 
schools and local collseges, including those 
in underserved and rural communities,’’; 
and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘or other applied 
learning opportunities’’ after ‘‘apprentice-
ships’’; and 
(2) in subsection (d)(3) by striking ‘‘, commu-
nity colleges, and area career and technical edu-
cation schools,’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘and 
local high schools, community colleges, and area ca-
reer and technical education schools, including those 
in underserved and rural communities,’’.
(b) RURAL CONNECTIVITY PRIZE COMPETITION.— 
(1) PRIZE COMPETITION.—Pursuant to section 
24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation 
Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719), the Secretary of 
Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary of 
Commerce for Standards and Technology (referred 
to in this subsection as the ‘‘Secretary’’), shall, sub-
ject to appropriations, carry out a program to award 
prizes competitively to stimulate research and devel-
opment of creative technologies in order to deploy 
affordable and reliable broadband connectivity to un-
derserved rural communities. 
(2) PLAN FOR DEPLOYMENT IN RURAL COMMU-
NITIES.—Each proposal submitted pursuant to para-
graph (1) shall include a plan for deployment of the 
technology that is the subject of such proposal in an 
underserved rural community. 
(3) PRIZE AMOUNT.—In carrying out the pro-
gram under paragraph (1), the Secretary may award 
not more than a total of $5,000,000 to one or more 
winners of the prize competition. 
(4) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date on which a prize is awarded under the prize 
competition, the Secretary shall submit to the rel-
evant committees of Congress a report that describes 
the winning proposal of the prize competition. 
(5) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the pro-
gram under subsection (a), the Secretary may con-
sult with the heads of relevant departments and 
agencies of the Federal Government. 
SEC. 9. NITR-D BROADBAND WORKING GROUP. 
Title I of the High-Performance Computing Act of 
1991 (15 U.S.C. 5511 et seq.) is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 103. BROADBAND RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
WORKING GROUP. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall establish a 
broadband research and development working group to ad-
dress national research challenges and opportunities for 
improving broadband access and adoption across the 
United States. 
‘‘(b) ACTIVITIES.—The working group shall identify 
and coordinate key research priorities for addressing 
broadband access and adoption, including— 
‘‘(1) promising research areas; 
‘‘(2) requirements for data collection and shar-
ing;
‘‘(3) opportunities for better alignment and co-
ordination across Federal agencies and external 
stakeholders; and 
‘‘(4) input on the development of new Federal 
policies and programs to enhance data collection and 
research. 
‘‘(c) COORDINATION.—The working group shall co-
ordinate, as appropriate, with the Rural Broadband Inte-
gration Working Group established under section 6214 of 
the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law 
115–334) and the National Institute of Food and Agri-
culture of the Department of Agriculture. 
‘‘(d) REPORT.—The working group shall report to 
Congress on their activities as part of the annual report 
submitted under section 101(a)(2)(D). 
‘‘(e) SUNSET.—The authority to carry out this sec-
tion shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the 
date of enactment of the Rural STEM Education Act.’’. 
SEC. 10. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the National Science Foundation es-
tablished under section 2 of the National Science 
Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1861).
(2) FEDERAL LABORATORY.—The term ‘‘Fed-
eral laboratory’’ has the meaning given such term in 
section 4 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Inno-
vation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3703). 
(3) FOUNDATION.—The term ‘‘Foundation’’ 
means the National Science Foundation established 
under section 2 of the National Science Foundation 
Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1861). 
(4) 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)). 
(5) STEM.—The term ‘‘STEM’’ has the mean-
ing given the term in section 2 of the America COM-
PETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 
6621 note). 
(6) STEM EDUCATION.—The term ‘‘STEM 
education’’ has the meaning given the term in sec-
tion 2 of the STEM Education Act of 2015 (42 
U.S.C. 6621 note). 
Passed the House of Representatives September 16, 
2020. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4979 
AN ACT 
To direct the Director of the National Science 
Foundation to support STEM education and 
workforce development research focused on rural 
areas, and for other purposes.