I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1144 
To increase awareness of the existence of and to overcome gender bias 
in academic science and engineering through research and training, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 24, 2009 
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas (for herself, Ms. EDWARDS of Mary-
land, Mr. REYES, Mrs. DAHLKEMPER, Mr. MILLER of North Carolina, 
Mr. CARSON of Indiana, Mr. WILSON of Ohio, and Mr. GRAYSON) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science 
and Technology 
A BILL 
To increase awareness of the existence of and to overcome 
gender bias in academic science and engineering through 
research and training, 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 ‘‘Fulfilling the Potential 
of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following: 
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(1) In its 2007 report, Beyond Bias and Bar-
riers, the National Academies state that, to maintain 
its scientific and engineering leadership amid in-
creasing economic and educational globalization, the 
United States must aggressively pursue the innova-
tive capacity of all of its people—women and men. 
(2) Women make up an increasing proportion 
of science and engineering majors at all institutions 
of higher education, including at top-rated programs 
such as those at the Massachusetts Institute of 
Technology where women make up 51 percent of its 
science undergraduates and 35 percent of its engi-
neering undergraduates. 
(3) Despite this progress, however, women still 
receive only 20 percent of all bachelor’s degrees 
awarded in engineering and physics. 
(4) For women to participate to their full po-
tential across all science and engineering fields, they 
must see a career path that allows them to reach 
their full intellectual potential; much remains to be 
done to achieve that goal. 
(5) The Federal Government provides over 60 
percent of research funding at institutions of higher 
education. 
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(6) Women are a small portion of the science 
and engineering faculty members at major research 
universities, and they typically receive fewer institu-
tional resources for their research activities than 
their male colleagues. 
(7) Unintentional biases and outmoded institu-
tional structures are hindering the access and ad-
vancement of women in science and engineering. 
(8) Women hold a small portion of leadership 
positions in our institutions of higher education, sci-
entific and professional societies, and honorary orga-
nizations. 
(9) Neither our institutions of higher education 
nor our Nation can afford such underuse of precious 
human capital in science and engineering. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act, the following definitions shall apply: 
(1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy in the Executive Office of the President, act-
ing through the National Science and Technology 
Council. 
(2) FEDERAL
SCIENCE
AGENCY.—The term 
‘‘Federal science agency’’ means any Federal agency 
that is responsible for at least 2 percent of the total 
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