I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 524 
To establish a laboratory science pilot program at the National Science 
Foundation. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 17, 2007 
Mr. HINOJOSA (for himself, Mr. GORDON of Tennessee, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE 
JOHNSON of Texas, and Mr. BACA) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Science and Technology 
A BILL 
To establish a laboratory science pilot program at the 
National Science Foundation. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following: 
(1) To remain competitive in science and tech-
nology in the global economy, the United States 
must increase the number of students graduating 
from high school prepared to pursue postsecondary 
education in science, technology, engineering, and 
mathematics. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:18 Jan 20, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H524.IH
H524
bajohnson on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
(2) There is broad agreement in the scientific 
community that learning science requires direct in-
volvement by students in scientific inquiry and that 
laboratory experience is so integral to the nature of 
science that it must be included in every science pro-
gram for every science student. 
(3) In America’s Lab Report, the National Re-
search Council concluded that the current quality of 
laboratory experiences is poor for most students and 
that educators and researchers do not agree on how 
to define high school science laboratories or on their 
purpose, hampering the accumulation of research on 
how to improve labs. 
(4) The National Research Council found that 
schools with higher concentrations of non-Asian mi-
norities and schools with higher concentrations of 
poor students are less likely to have adequate labora-
tory facilities than other schools. 
(5) The Government Accountability Office re-
ported that 49.1 percent of schools where the minor-
ity student population is greater than 50.5 percent 
reported not meeting functional requirements for 
laboratory science well or at all. 
(6) 40 percent of those college students who left 
the science fields reported some problems related to 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:18 Jan 20, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H524.IH
H524
bajohnson on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
high school science preparation, including lack of 
laboratory experience and no introduction to theo-
retical or to analytical modes of thought. 
(7) It is in the national interest for the Federal 
Government to invest in research and demonstration 
projects to improve the teaching of laboratory 
science in the Nation’s high schools. 
SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM. 
Section 8(8) of the National Science Foundation Au-
thorization Act of 2002 is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through 
(F) as clauses (i) through (vi), respectively; 
(2) by inserting ‘‘(A)’’ before ‘‘A program of 
competitive’’; and 
(3) by inserting at the end the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(B) In accordance with subparagraph (A)(v), 
the Director shall establish a pilot program des-
ignated as ‘Partnerships for Access to Laboratory 
Science’ to award grants to partnerships to improve 
laboratories and provide instrumentation as part of 
a comprehensive program to enhance the quality of 
mathematics, science, engineering, and technology 
instruction at the secondary school level. Grants 
under this subparagraph may be used for— 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
18:29 Jan 22, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H524.IH
H524
bajohnson on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
‘‘(i) purchase, rental, or leasing of equip-
ment, instrumentation, and other scientific edu-
cational materials; 
‘‘(ii) maintenance, renovation, and im-
provement of laboratory facilities; 
‘‘(iii) professional development and train-
ing for teachers; 
‘‘(iv) development of instructional pro-
grams designed to integrate the laboratory ex-
perience with classroom instruction and to be 
consistent with State mathematics and science 
academic achievement standards; 
‘‘(v) training in laboratory safety for school 
personnel; 
‘‘(vi) design and implementation of hands- 
on laboratory experiences to encourage the in-
terest of individuals identified in section 33 or 
34 of the Science and Engineering Equal Op-
portunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b) in 
mathematics, science, engineering, and tech-
nology and help prepare such individuals to 
pursue postsecondary studies in these fields; 
and 
‘‘(vii) assessment of the activities funded 
under this subparagraph. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
18:29 Jan 22, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H524.IH
H524
bajohnson on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
‘‘(C) Grants awarded under subparagraph (B) 
shall be to a partnership that— 
‘‘(i) includes an institution of higher edu-
cation or a community college; 
‘‘(ii) includes a high-need local educational 
agency; 
‘‘(iii) includes a business or eligible non-
profit organization; and 
‘‘(iv) may include a State educational 
agency, other public agency, National Labora-
tory, or community-based organization. 
‘‘(D) The Federal share of the cost of activities 
carried out using amounts from a grant under sub-
paragraph (B) shall not exceed 50 percent.’’. 
SEC. 3. REPORT. 
The Director of the National Science Foundation 
shall evaluate the effectiveness of activities carried out 
under the pilot projects funded by the grant program es-
tablished pursuant to the amendment made by section 1 
in improving student performance in mathematics, 
science, engineering, and technology. A report docu-
menting the results of that evaluation shall be submitted 
to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House 
of Representatives and the Committees on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation and on Health, Education, 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:18 Jan 20, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H524.IH
H524
bajohnson on PROD1PC71 with BILLS
Labor, and Pensions of the Senate not later than 5 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act. The report shall 
identify best practices and materials developed and dem-
onstrated by grant awardees. 
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Na-
tional Science Foundation to carry out this Act and the 
amendments made by this Act $5,000,000 for fiscal year 
2008, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 
3 succeeding fiscal years. 
Æ 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
04:18 Jan 20, 2007
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H524.IH
H524
bajohnson on PROD1PC71 with BILLS