I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 9134 
To amend the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act 
to direct the Director of the National Science Foundation to carry 
out a mentorship demonstration program, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 25, 2024 
Ms. MCCLELLAN (for herself, Mr. TONKO, Ms. CROCKETT, Ms. CLARKE of 
New York, Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia, Mr. CARSON, Mr. MULLIN, Ms. 
LEE of California, Ms. SALINAS, Ms. STRICKLAND, Mrs. SYKES, Ms. 
ROSS, and Mrs. FOUSHEE) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
A BILL 
To amend the Research and Development, Competition, and 
Innovation Act to direct the Director of the National 
Science Foundation to carry out a mentorship dem-
onstration program, and for other purposes. 
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 ‘‘Improving Mentorship 
in STEM Higher Education Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. MENTORSHIP DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM; NA-
TIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION REPORTING. 
(a) DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.—Section 10313(a) 
of the Research and Development, Competition, and Inno-
vation Act (42 U.S.C. 18993) is amended by adding at 
the end the following: 
‘‘(6) DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Director may 
make awards, including through existing pro-
grams, on a competitive basis to eligible entities 
to carry out projects designed to improve 
mentorship practices and provide resources for 
faculty, graduate researchers, and postdoctoral 
researchers at the eligible entity, including with 
respect to— 
‘‘(i) building and developing men-
toring skills in such researchers and fac-
ulty; 
‘‘(ii) promoting evidence-based and in-
stitutionalized mentorship at the eligible 
entity; 
‘‘(iii) researching methodologies for 
improving mentorship; 
‘‘(iv) training such researchers and 
faculty in cultural competencies; and 
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‘‘(v) funding outreach related to such 
projects. 
‘‘(B) APPLICATION.—An eligible entity de-
siring an award under this subsection shall sub-
mit to the Director an application at such time, 
in such form, and containing such information 
as the Director may require. 
‘‘(C) SPECIAL CONSIDERATION.—In mak-
ing awards under this subsection, the Director 
shall give special consideration to eligible enti-
ties that are— 
‘‘(i) minority-serving institutions; 
‘‘(ii) historically Black colleges and 
universities; 
‘‘(iii) Tribal Colleges or Universities; 
‘‘(iv) 
rural-serving 
institutions 
of 
higher education (as such term is defined 
in section 861(b) of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1161q(b))); 
‘‘(v) emerging research institutions; 
and 
‘‘(vi) consortia that include institu-
tions described in clauses (i) through (v). 
‘‘(D) REPORT.—Not later than 5 years 
after the date of the enactment of this para-
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graph, the Director shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Science, Space, and Technology and 
the Committee on Appropriations of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation and the 
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate a 
report that includes— 
‘‘(i) an assessment, using qualitative 
or quantitative metrics as determined by 
the Director, of the effectiveness of the 
demonstration program carried out under 
this paragraph on increasing the quality of 
mentorship in STEM education; and 
‘‘(ii) if such assessment determines 
that such program is effective, a plan to 
sustain and permanently implement such 
program. 
‘‘(E) ELIGIBLE
ENTITY
DEFINED.—For 
purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘eligible 
entity’ means— 
‘‘(i) an institution of higher education 
(as such term is defined in section 101 of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1001)); 
‘‘(ii) a nonprofit organization; and 
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‘‘(iii) a consortium of entities de-
scribed in clauses (i) and (ii). 
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this para-
graph $5,000,000, for fiscal years 2025 through 2029.’’. 
(b) MISCONDUCT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.—Sec-
tion 7009 of the America COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 
1862o–1) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as 
paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(2) institutional and agency reporting proc-
esses with respect to harassment, discrimination, 
and other forms of professional or scientific mis-
conduct;’’. 
Æ 
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