546 
to increase these institutions’ ability to educate even 
more students in the STEM disciplines. 
(9) With the demand for STEM skills exceeding 
the supply of STEM graduates, success of HBCUs, 
TCUs, and MSIs in educating and training science 
and engineering leaders is increasingly important for 
United States economic growth and competitiveness. 
SEC. 10532. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE RE-
VIEW. 
Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall report to Congress— 
(1) an inventory of competitive funding pro-
grams and initiatives carried out by Federal science 
agencies that are targeted to HBCUs, TCUs, and 
MSIs or partnerships with HBCUs, TCUs, and 
MSIs; 
(2) an assessment of Federal science agency 
outreach activities to increase the participation and 
competitiveness of HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs in the 
funding programs and initiatives identified in para-
graph (1); and 
(3) recommendations of the Comptroller Gen-
eral to increase the participation of and the rate of 
success of HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs in competitive
547 
funding programs offered by Federal science agen-
cies. 
SEC. 10533. RESEARCH AND CAPACITY BUILDING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National 
Science Foundation shall award grants, on a competitive 
basis, to institutions of higher education or nonprofit orga-
nizations (or consortia thereof) to— 
(1) conduct research described in subsection (b) 
with respect to HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs; 
(2) conduct activities described in subsection (c) 
to build the capacity of HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs 
to graduate students who are competitive in attain-
ing and advancing in the STEM workforce; 
(3) build the research capacity and competitive-
ness of HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs in STEM dis-
ciplines; and 
(4) identify and broadly disseminate effective 
models for programs and practices at HBCUs, 
TCUs, and MSIs that promote the education and 
workforce preparation of minority students pursuing 
STEM studies and careers in which such students 
are underrepresented. 
(b) RESEARCH.—Research described in this sub-
section is research on the contribution of HBCUs, TCUs, 
and MSIs to the education and training of underrep-
548 
resented minority students in STEM fields and to the 
meeting of national STEM workforce needs, including— 
(1) the diversity with respect to local context, 
cultural differences, and institutional structure 
among HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs and any associ-
ated impact on education and research endeavors; 
(2) effective practices at HBCUs, TCUs, and 
MSIs and associated outcomes on student recruit-
ment, retention, and advancement in STEM fields, 
including the ability for students to compete for fel-
lowships, employment, and advancement in the 
workforce; 
(3) contributions made by HBCUs, TCUs, and 
MSIs to local, regional, and national workforces; 
(4) the unique challenges and opportunities for 
HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs in attaining the resources 
needed for integrating effective practices in STEM 
education, including providing research experiences 
for underrepresented minority students; 
(5) the access of students at HBCUs, TCUs, 
and MSIs to STEM infrastructure and any associ-
ated outcomes for STEM competency; 
(6) models of STEM curriculum, learning, and 
teaching successful at HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs for
549 
increasing participation, retention, and success of 
underrepresented minority students; and 
(7) successful or promising partnerships be-
tween HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs and other institu-
tions of higher education, private sector and non- 
profit organizations, Federal laboratories, and inter-
national research institutions. 
(c) CAPACITY BUILDING.—Activities described in this 
subsection include the design, development, implementa-
tion, expansion, and assessment of— 
(1) metrics of success to best capture the 
achievements of HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs and stu-
dents of such institutions to account for institutional 
context and missions, faculty investment, student 
populations, student needs, and institutional re-
source constraints; 
(2) enhancements to undergraduate STEM cur-
riculum at HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs to increase the 
participation, retention, degree completion, and suc-
cess of underrepresented students; 
(3) professional development programs to in-
crease the numbers and the high-quality preparation 
of STEM faculty at HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs, in-
cluding programs to encourage STEM doctoral stu-
dents to teach at HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs; and
550 
(4) mechanisms for institutions of higher edu-
cation that are not HBCUs, TCUs, or MSIs to part-
ner with HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs on STEM edu-
cation, including the facilitation of student transfer, 
mentoring programs for students and junior faculty, 
joint research projects, and student access to grad-
uate education. 
(d) RESEARCH EXPERIENCES.—Grants under this 
section may fund the development or expansion of oppor-
tunities for the exchange of students and faculty to con-
duct research, facilitate professional development, and 
provide mentorship including through partnerships with 
institutions of higher education that are not HBCUs, 
TCUs, or MSIs, private sector and non-profit organiza-
tions, Federal laboratories, and international research in-
stitutions. 
(e) PARTNERSHIPS.—In awarding grants under this 
section, the Director of the National Science Foundation 
shall— 
(1) encourage HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs and 
consortia thereof and partnerships with one or more 
HBCU, TCU, or MSI, to submit proposals; 
(2) require proposals submitted in partnership 
with one or more HBCU, TCU, or MSI include a 
plan for establishing a sustained partnership that is
551 
jointly developed and managed, draws from the ca-
pacities of each institution, and is mutually bene-
ficial; and 
(3) encourage proposals submitted in partner-
ship with the private sector, non-profit organiza-
tions, Federal laboratories, and international re-
search institutions, as appropriate. 
(f) MSI CENTERS OF INNOVATION.—Grants under 
this section may fund the establishment of no more than 
five MSI Centers of Innovation to leverage successes of 
HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs in STEM education and re-
search training of underrepresented minority students as 
models for other institutions, including both HBCUs, 
TCUs, and MSIs and institutions of higher education that 
are not HBCUs, TCUs, or MSIs. Such centers will be lo-
cated on campuses of selected institutions of higher edu-
cation and serve as incubators to allow institutions of 
higher education to experiment, pilot, evaluate, and scale 
up promising practices. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Director of the 
National Science Foundation $170,000,000 for fiscal year 
2022, $175,000,000 for fiscal year 2023, $180,000,000 
for fiscal year 2024, $185,000,000 for fiscal year 2025,
552 
and $190,000,000 fiscal year 2026 to carry out this sec-
tion. 
SEC. 10534. AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In consultation with outside 
stakeholders and the heads of the Federal science agen-
cies, the Director shall develop a uniform set of policy 
guidelines for Federal science agencies to carry out a sus-
tained program of outreach activities to increase clarity, 
transparency, and accountability for Federal science agen-
cy investments in STEM education and research activities 
at HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs. 
(b) OUTREACH ACTIVITIES.—In developing policy 
guidelines under subsection (a) the Director shall include 
guidelines that require each Federal science agency— 
(1) to designate a liaison for HBCUs, TCUs, 
and MSIs responsible for— 
(A) enhancing direct communication with 
HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs to increase the Fed-
eral science agency’s understanding of the ca-
pacity and needs of such institutions and to 
raise awareness of available Federal funding op-
portunities at such institutions; 
(B) coordinating programs, activities, and 
initiatives while accounting for the capacity and 
needs of HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs;
555 
as prime recipients/contractors or subrecipients/sub-
contractors. 
(c) STRATEGIC PLAN.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Director, in 
collaboration with the head of each Federal science 
agency, shall submit to Congress a report containing 
a strategic plan for each Federal science agency to 
increase the capacity of HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs 
to compete effectively for grants, contracts, or coop-
erative agreements and to encourage HBCUs, 
TCUs, and MSIs to participate in Federal programs. 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing a stra-
tegic plan under paragraph (1), the Director and 
each head of each Federal science agency shall con-
sider— 
(A) issuing new or expanding existing 
funding opportunities targeted to HBCUs, 
TCUs, and MSIs; 
(B) modifying existing research and devel-
opment program solicitations to incentivize ef-
fective partnerships with HBCUs, TCUs, and 
MSIs; 
(C) offering planning grants for HBCUs, 
TCUs, and MSIs to develop or equip grant of-
556 
fices with the requisite depth of knowledge to 
submit competitive grant proposals and manage 
awarded grants; 
(D) offering additional training programs 
and individualized and timely guidance to grant 
officers faculty and postdoctoral researchers at 
HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs to ensure they un-
derstand the requirements for an effective grant 
proposal; and 
(E) other approaches for making current 
competitive funding models more accessible for 
under-resourced HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs. 
(d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 5 years 
thereafter, the Director shall report to Congress on the 
implementation by Federal science agencies of the policy 
guidelines developed under this section. 
SEC. 10535. DEFINITIONS. 
In this subtitle: 
(1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy. 
(2) FEDERAL LABORATORY.—The term ‘‘Fed-
eral laboratory’’ has the meaning given such term in
557 
section 4 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Inno-
vation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3703). 
(3) FEDERAL
SCIENCE
AGENCY.—The term 
‘‘Federal science agency’’ means any Federal agency 
with an annual extramural research expenditure of 
over $100,000,000. 
(4) HBCU.—The term ‘‘HBCU’’ has the mean-
ing given the term ‘‘part B institution’’ in section 
322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1061). 
(5) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 101 of the High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 
(6) MINORITY
SERVING
INSTITUTION.—The 
term ‘‘minority serving institution’’ or ‘‘MSI’’ means 
Hispanic-Serving Institutions as defined in section 
502 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1101a); Alaska Native Serving Institutions 
and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions as defined 
in section 317 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1059d); and Predominantly Black Insti-
tutions, Asian American and Native American Pa-
cific Islander-Serving Institutions, and Native Amer-
ican-Serving Nontribal Institutions as defined in sec-
558 
tion 371 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1067q(c)). 
(7) STEM.—The term ‘‘STEM’’ has the mean-
ing given the term in the STEM Education Act of 
2015 (42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.). 
(8) TCU.—The term ‘‘TCU’’ has the meaning 
given the term ‘‘Tribal College or University’’ in sec-
tion 316 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1059c). 
Subtitle D—Combating Sexual 
Harassment in Science 
SEC. 10541. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) According to the report issued by the Na-
tional Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Med-
icine in 2018 entitled ‘‘Sexual Harassment of 
Women: Climate, Culture, and Consequences in Aca-
demic Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’’— 
(A) sexual harassment is pervasive in insti-
tutions of higher education; 
(B) the most common type of sexual har-
assment is gender harassment, which includes 
verbal and nonverbal behaviors that convey in-
sulting, hostile, and degrading attitudes about 
members of one gender;
559 
(C) 58 percent of individuals in the aca-
demic workplace experience sexual harassment, 
the second highest rate when compared to the 
military, the private sector, and Federal, State, 
and local government; 
(D) women who are members of racial or 
ethnic minority groups are more likely to expe-
rience sexual harassment and to feel unsafe at 
work than White women, White men, or men 
who are members of such groups; 
(E) the training for each individual who 
has a doctor of philosophy in the science, tech-
nology, engineering, and mathematics fields is 
estimated to cost approximately $500,000; and 
(F) attrition of an individual so trained re-
sults in a loss of talent and money. 
(2) Sexual harassment undermines career ad-
vancement for women. 
(3) According to a 2017 University of Illinois 
study, among astronomers and planetary scientists, 
18 percent of women who are members of racial or 
ethnic minority groups and 12 percent of White 
women skipped professional events because they did 
not feel safe attending.
560 
(4) Many women report leaving employment at 
institutions of higher education due to sexual har-
assment. 
(5) Research shows the majority of individuals 
do not formally report experiences of sexual harass-
ment due to a justified fear of retaliation or other 
negative professional or personal consequences. 
(6) Reporting procedures with respect to such 
harassment are inconsistent among Federal science 
agencies and have varying degrees of accessibility. 
(7) There is not adequate communication 
among Federal science agencies and between such 
agencies and grantees regarding reports of sexual 
harassment, which has resulted in harassers receiv-
ing Federal funding after moving to a different in-
stitution. 
SEC. 10542. DEFINITIONS. 
In this subtitle: 
(1) 
ACADEMIES.—The 
term 
‘‘Academies’’ 
means the National Academies of Sciences, Engi-
neering, and Medicine. 
(2) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the National Science Foundation. 
(3) FEDERAL
SCIENCE
AGENCY.—The term 
‘‘Federal science agency’’ means any Federal agency
561 
with an annual extramural research expenditure of 
over $100,000,000. 
(4) FINDING OR DETERMINATION.—The term 
‘‘finding or determination’’ means the final disposi-
tion of a matter involving a violation of organiza-
tional policies and processes, to include the exhaus-
tion of permissible appeals, or a conviction of a sex-
ual offense in a criminal court of law. 
(5) GENDER HARASSMENT.—The term ‘‘gender 
harassment’’ means verbal and nonverbal behaviors 
that convey hostility, objectification, exclusion, or 
second-class status about one’s gender, gender iden-
tity, gender presentation, sexual orientation, or preg-
nancy status. 
(6) GRANTEE.—The term ‘‘grantee’’ means the 
legal entity to which a grant is awarded and that is 
accountable to the Federal Government for the use 
of the funds provided. 
(7) GRANT PERSONNEL.—The term ‘‘grant per-
sonnel’’ means principal investigators, co-principal 
investigators, postdoctoral researchers and other em-
ployees supported by a grant award, cooperative 
agreement, or contract under Federal law. 
(8) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the
562 
meaning given such term in section 101 of the High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 
(9) SEXUAL HARASSMENT.—The term ‘‘sexual 
harassment’’ means conduct that encompasses— 
(A) unwelcome sexual advances; 
(B) unwanted physical contact that is sex-
ual in nature, including assault; 
(C) unwanted sexual attention, including 
sexual comments and propositions for sexual ac-
tivity; 
(D) conditioning professional or edu-
cational benefits on sexual activity; and 
(E) retaliation for rejecting unwanted sex-
ual attention. 
(10) 
STEM.—The 
term 
‘‘STEM’’ 
means 
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, 
including computer science. 
SEC. 10543. RESEARCH GRANTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall establish a pro-
gram to award grants, on a competitive basis, to institu-
tions of higher education or nonprofit organizations (or 
consortia of such institutions or organizations)— 
(1) to expand research efforts to better under-
stand the factors contributing to, and consequences 
of, sexual harassment and gender harassment affect-
563 
ing individuals in the STEM workforce, including 
students and trainees; and 
(2) to examine interventions to reduce the inci-
dence and negative consequences of such harass-
ment. 
(b) USE OF FUNDS.—Activities funded by a grant 
under this section may include— 
(1) research on the sexual harassment and gen-
der harassment experiences of individuals in under-
represented or vulnerable groups, including racial 
and ethnic minority groups, disabled individuals, for-
eign nationals, sexual- and gender-minority individ-
uals, and others; 
(2) development and assessment of policies, 
procedures, trainings, and interventions, with respect 
to sexual harassment and gender harassment, con-
flict management, and ways to foster respectful and 
inclusive climates; 
(3) research on approaches for remediating the 
negative impacts and outcomes of such harassment 
on individuals experiencing such harassment; 
(4) support for institutions of higher education 
to develop, adapt, and assess the impact of innova-
tive, evidence-based strategies, policies, and ap-
564 
proaches to policy implementation to prevent and 
address sexual harassment and gender harassment; 
(5) research on alternatives to the hierarchical 
and dependent relationships, including but not lim-
ited to the mentor-mentee relationship, in academia 
that have been shown to create higher levels of risk 
for sexual harassment and gender harassment; and 
(6) establishing a center for the ongoing com-
pilation, management, and analysis of campus cli-
mate survey data. 
SEC. 10544. DATA COLLECTION. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Director shall convene a working group 
composed of representatives of Federal statistical agen-
cies— 
(1) to develop questions on sexual harassment 
and gender harassment in STEM departments to 
gather national data on the prevalence, nature, and 
implications of sexual harassment and gender har-
assment in institutions of higher education; and 
(2) to include such questions as appropriate, 
with sufficient protections of the privacy of respond-
ents, in relevant surveys conducted by the National 
Center for Science and Engineering Statistics and 
other relevant entities.
565 
SEC. 10545. RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT GUIDE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall enter into 
an agreement with the Academies to update the report en-
titled ‘‘On Being a Scientist: A Guide to Responsible Con-
duct in Research’’ issued by the Academies. The report, 
as so updated, shall include— 
(1) updated professional standards of conduct 
in research; 
(2) standards of treatment individuals can ex-
pect to receive under such updated standards of con-
duct; 
(3) evidence-based practices for fostering a cli-
mate intolerant of sexual harassment and gender 
harassment; 
(4) methods, including bystander intervention, 
for identifying and addressing incidents of sexual 
harassment and gender harassment; and 
(5) professional standards for mentorship and 
teaching with an emphasis on preventing sexual har-
assment and gender harassment. 
(b) RECOMMENDATIONS.—In updating the report 
under subsection (a), the Academies shall take into ac-
count recommendations made in the report issued by the 
Academies in 2018 entitled ‘‘Sexual Harassment of 
Women: Climate, Culture, and Consequences in Academic
566 
Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’’ and other relevant 
studies and evidence. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the ef-
fective date of the contract under subsection (a), the Acad-
emies, as part of such agreement, shall submit to the Di-
rector and the Committee on Science, Space, and Tech-
nology of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
the report referred to in such subsection, as updated pur-
suant to such subsection. 
SEC. 10546. INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy, acting through the Na-
tional Science and Technology Council, shall establish an 
interagency working group for the purpose of coordinating 
Federal science agency efforts to reduce the prevalence of 
sexual harassment and gender harassment involving grant 
personnel. The working group shall be chaired by the Di-
rector of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (or 
the Director’s designee) and shall include a representative 
from each Federal science agency with annual extramural 
research expenditures totaling over $1,000,000,000, a rep-
resentative from the Department of Education, and a rep-
resentative from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity 
Commission.
592 
(d) PRIORITIZATION.—In awarding grants under this 
section, the Secretary shall prioritize awarding grants to 
eligible entities that work with students at minority-serv-
ing institutions. 
(e) COORDINATION.—In carrying out this program, 
the Secretary shall coordinate and partner with other 
clean energy technology prize competitions. In doing so, 
the Secretary may develop and disseminate best practices 
for administering prize competitions under this section. 
(f) REPORT.—In accordance with section 9007 of di-
vision Z of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 
(Public Law 116–260), the Secretary shall report annually 
on the progress and implementation of the program estab-
lished under section (b). 
(g) EVALUATION.—In accordance with section 9007 
of division Z of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 
(Public Law 116–260), the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy 
and Natural Resources of the Senate an evaluation on the 
long-term outcomes of the program established under this 
section and the progress towards achieving the purposes 
of the program in subsection (b). 
(h) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry