H. R. 4664—30
SEC. 19. EVALUATIONS.
(a) EDUCATION.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Director, through the Research,
Evaluation and Communication Division of the Education and
Human Resources Directorate of the Foundation, shall evaluate
the effectiveness of all undergraduate science, mathematics,
engineering, or technology education activities supported by
the Foundation in increasing the number and quality of stu-
dents, including individuals identified in section 33 or 34 of
the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C.
1885a or 1885b) studying toward and completing associate’s
or baccalaureate degrees in science, mathematics, engineering,
and technology. In conducting the evaluation, the Director shall
consider information on—
(A) the number of students enrolled in undergraduate
science, mathematics, engineering, and technology pro-
grams;
(B) student academic achievement, including quantifi-
able measurements of students’ mastery of content and
skills;
(C) persistence to degree completion, including stu-
dents who transfer from science, mathematics, engineering,
and technology programs to programs in other academic
disciplines; and
(D) placement during the first year after degree
completion in post-graduate education or career pathways.
(2) ASSESSMENT BENCHMARKS AND TOOLS.—The Director,
through the Research, Evaluation and Communication Division
of the Education and Human Resources Directorate of the
Foundation, shall establish a common set of assessment bench-
marks and tools, and shall enable every Foundation-sponsored
project to incorporate the use of these benchmarks and tools
in their project-based assessment activities.
(3) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 3 years after
the date of the enactment of this Act, and once every 3 years
thereafter, the Director shall transmit to the Committee on
Science of the House of Representatives, the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of
the Senate a report containing the results of evaluations under
paragraph (1).
(b) AWARDS.—Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act,
the Director shall annually evaluate a random sample of grants,
contracts, or other awards made pursuant to this Act.
(c) DISSEMINATION.—The Director shall—
(1) provide for the dissemination of the results of the
evaluations conducted pursuant to this section to the public;
and
(2) provide notice to the public that such evaluations are
available.
SEC. 20. REPORT BY COMMITTEE ON EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES IN
SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING.
As part of the first report required by section 36(e) of the
Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C.
1885c(e)) transmitted to Congress after the date of enactment of
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this Act, the Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science and
Engineering shall include—
(1) a summary of its findings over the previous 10 years;
(2) a description of past and present policies and activities
of the Foundation to encourage full participation of women,
minorities, and persons with disabilities in science, mathe-
matics, and engineering fields, including activities in support
of minority-serving institutions; and
(3) an assessment of the trends in participation in Founda-
tion activities, and an assessment of the success of Foundation
policies and activities, along with proposals for new strategies
or the broadening of existing successful strategies toward facili-
tating the goals of that Act.
SEC. 21. ADVANCED TECHNOLOGICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM.
(a) CORE SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS COURSES.—Section 3(a)
of the Scientific and Advanced-Technology Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C.
1862i(a)) is amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘, and to improve the quality of their
core education courses in science and mathematics’’ after ‘‘edu-
cation in advanced-technology fields’’;
(2) in paragraph (1) by inserting ‘‘and in core science and
mathematics courses’’ after ‘‘advanced-technology fields’’; and
(3) in paragraph (2) by striking ‘‘in advanced-technology
fields’’ and inserting ‘‘who provide instruction in science, mathe-
matics, and advanced-technology fields’’.
(b) ARTICULATION PARTNERSHIPS.—Section 3(c)(1)(B) of the Sci-
entific 
and 
Advanced-Technology 
Act 
of 
1992 
(42 
U.S.C.
1862i(c)(1)(B)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of clause (i);
(2) by striking the period at the end of clause (ii) and
inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding after clause (ii) the following new clauses:
‘‘(iii) provide students with research experiences at
bachelor’s-degree-granting institutions participating in the
partnership, including stipend support for students partici-
pating in summer programs; and
‘‘(iv) provide faculty mentors for students participating
in activities under clause (iii), including summer salary
support for faculty mentors.’’.
(c) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION REPORT.—Within 6 months
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director shall
transmit a report to the Committee on Science of the House of
Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Health, Edu-
cation, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate on—
(1) efforts by the Foundation and awardees under the pro-
gram carried out under section 3 of the Scientific and Advanced-
Technology Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 1862i) to disseminate
information about the results of projects;
(2) the effectiveness of national centers of scientific and
technical education established under section 3(b) of the Sci-
entific and Advanced-Technology Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C.
1862i(b)) in serving as national and regional clearinghouses
of information and models for best practices in undergraduate
science, mathematics, and technology education; and
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(3) efforts to satisfy the requirement of section 3(f)(4) of
the Scientific and Advanced-Technology Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C.
1862i(f)(4)).
SEC. 22. REPORT ON FOUNDATION BUDGETARY AND PROGRAMMATIC
EXPANSION.
The Board shall prepare a report to address and examine
the Foundation’s budgetary and programmatic growth provided for
by this Act. The report shall be submitted to the Committee on
Science of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Com-
mittee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate
within one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and
shall include—
(1) recommendations on how the increased funding should
be utilized;
(2) an examination of the projected impact that the budg-
etary increases will have on the Nation’s scientific and techno-
logical workforce;
(3) a description of new or expanded programs that will
enable institutions of higher education to expand their partici-
pation in Foundation-funded activities;
(4) an estimate of the national scientific and technological
research infrastructure needed to adequately support the
Foundation’s increased funding and additional programs; and
(5) a description of the impact the budgetary increases
provided under this Act will have on the size and duration
of grants awarded by the Foundation.
SEC. 23. ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Foundation and the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration shall jointly establish an
Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee (in this section
referred to as the ‘‘Advisory Committee’’).
(b) DUTIES.—The Advisory Committee shall—
(1) assess, and make recommendations regarding, the
coordination of astronomy and astrophysics programs of the
Foundation and the National Aeronautics and Space Adminis-
tration;
(2) assess, and make recommendations regarding, the
status of the activities of the Foundation and the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration as they relate to the
recommendations contained in the National Research Council’s
2001 report entitled ‘‘Astronomy and Astrophysics in the New
Millennium’’, and the recommendations contained in subse-
quent National Research Council reports of a similar nature;
and
(3) not later than March 15 of each year, transmit a report
to the Director, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration, and the Committee on Science of
the House of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee
on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate on
the Advisory Committee’s findings and recommendations under
paragraphs (1) and (2).
(c) MEMBERSHIP.—The Advisory Committee shall consist of 13
members, none of whom shall be a Federal employee, including—
(1) 5 members selected by the Director;
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(2) 5 members selected by the Administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration; and
(3) 3 members selected by the Director of the Office of
Science and Technology Policy.
(d) SELECTION PROCESS.—Initial selections under subsection
(c) shall be made within 3 months after the date of the enactment
of this Act. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as provided
in subsection (c).
(e) CHAIRPERSON.—The Advisory Committee shall select a chair-
person from among its members.
(f) COORDINATION.—The Advisory Committee shall coordinate
with the advisory bodies of other Federal agencies, such as the
Department of Energy, which may engage in related research activi-
ties.
(g) COMPENSATION.—The members of the Advisory Committee
shall serve without compensation, but shall receive travel expenses,
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with sections
5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
(h) MEETINGS.—The Advisory Committee shall convene, in per-
son or by electronic means, at least 4 times a year.
(i) QUORUM.—A majority of the members serving on the
Advisory Committee shall constitute a quorum for purposes of con-
ducting the business of the Advisory Committee.
(j) DURATION.—Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee
Act shall not apply to the Advisory Committee.
SEC. 24. MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS UNDERGRADUATE PRO-
GRAM.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director is authorized to establish a
new program to award grants on a competitive, merit-reviewed
basis to Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native-serving
institutions, Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and other
institutions of higher education serving a substantial number of
minority students to enhance the quality of undergraduate science,
mathematics, and engineering education at such institutions and
to increase the retention and graduation rates of students pursuing
associate’s or baccalaureate degrees in science, mathematics,
engineering, or technology.
(b) PROGRAM COMPONENTS.—Grants awarded under this section
shall support—
(1) activities to improve courses and curriculum in science,
mathematics, and engineering;
(2) faculty development;
(3) stipends for undergraduate students participating in
research; and
(4) other activities consistent with subsection (a), as deter-
mined by the Director.
(c) PROGRAM COORDINATION.—This program shall be coordi-
nated with and in addition to the ongoing Historically Black Col-
leges and Universities Undergraduate Program and the Tribal Col-
leges and Universities Program.
(d) INSTRUMENTATION.—Funding for instrumentation is an
allowed use of grants awarded under this section and under the
ongoing Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate
Program and the Tribal Colleges and Universities Program.