21st Century Technology Resources and Commercial Leadership Act

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``21st Century Technology Resources 
and Commercial Leadership Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The United States Department of Commerce, through its 
        Office of Technology Policy, has reported in June, 1999, that 
        the United States will require more than 1.3 million new 
        highly-skilled core information technology workers by the year 
        2006.
            (2) The need for computer scientists, computer engineers, 
        and systems analysts by 2006 is projected to be more than 
        double the number of such scientists, engineers, and analysts 
        in 1996.
            (3) The supply of new graduates qualified for the positions 
        described in paragraph (2) is anticipated to be well short of 
        half the number needed.
            (4) The lack of qualified workers is due in part to a lack 
        of sufficient numbers of students pursuing advanced degrees in 
        mathematics, science, and engineering technology.
            (5) The number of degrees in technical science and 
        engineering fields awarded by United States institutions of 
        higher learning have declined since 1990.
            (6) Foreign national students in the United States were 
        awarded 47 percent of Doctorate degrees in engineering, 38 
        percent of Master's degrees, and 46 percent of Doctorate 
        degrees in computer science in 1996.
            (7) The United States is a leader in the global development 
        of technology related enterprises.
            (8) If the United States cannot meet the needs of industry 
        to allow continued expansion and innovation in the 21st 
        century, American companies will locate in those countries 
        which do have the technical base to meet those needs and this 
        will be counterproductive to the American economy.
            (9) Section 8 of Article I of the Constitution grants 
        Congress the power ``To regulate Commerce with foreign nations 
        and among the several States.''.
            (10) In order to maintain a strong domestic economy and 
        provide for the national defense, it is critical that the 
        United States maintain its leadership position in technology.
    (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to provide incentives 
and opportunities for the United States' improving the mathematics, 
science, engineering, and technology resources in order to maintain the 
United States leadership in technology, and to permit United States 
companies to continue the technology-related expansion of the United 
States' domestic economy and international economic presence.

SEC. 3. PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with 
the Director of the Office of Science Technology and the Director of 
the National Science Foundation, shall establish and administer a 
program under this Act to strengthen the scientific, mathematical, 
engineering, and technology resources of the United States in order to 
ensure the United States continued global leadership in technology-
related commerce.
    (b) Grants.--The program shall include grants of financial 
assistance, awarded on a competitive basis, to support the advancement 
and improvement of mathematics, science, engineering, and technology 
competencies and resources to assure continued growth, leadership, and 
competitiveness of United States based companies in interstate and 
international commerce.
    (c) Recipients.--The Secretary may award grants under subsection 
(b) to business enterprises, organizations supporting mathematics, 
scientific, engineering, technology research and advancement, teachers, 
schools, school districts, or institutions of higher learning.
    (d) Criteria.--The Secretary shall award grants for programs that 
can demonstrate an economically beneficial return on investment and 
achievement in the advancement of science, math, engineering, and 
technology competencies and resources.

SEC. 4. TEMPORARY SKILLED PERSONNEL IN MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, 
              ENGINEERING, AND TECHNOLOGY.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding clauses (iii), (iv), and (v) of 
section 214(g)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1184(g)(1)(A)), the total number of aliens who may be issued visas or 
otherwise provided nonimmigrant status during fiscal years 2000 through 
2006 under section 101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) of that Act (8 U.S.C. 
1101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b)) shall not be subject to numerical limitation, and 
shall be subject to numerical limitations after 2006 as provided by 
law.
    (b) Certain Applications Given Preference.--In processing 
applications for visas or other nonimmigrant status under the 
Immigration and Nationality Act, as modified by subsection (a), the 
Secretary of State shall give preferential consideration to 
applications from foreign national students who are graduates of post-
secondary schools in the United States with advanced degrees in 
mathematics, science, engineering, or technology.
    (c) Funding for Grants.--
            (1) In general.--Notwithstanding section 286(s) of such Act 
        (8 U.S.C. 1356(s)), for fiscal years 2000 through 2006 51.3 
        percent of the amounts deposited into the H-1B Nonimmigrant 
        Petitioner Account established by paragraph (1) of that section 
        shall be available to the Secretary of Commerce until expended 
        under section 3 of this Act.
            (2) Job training.--For fiscal years 2000 through 2006, 
        section 286(s)(2) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1356(s)(2)) shall be 
        applied by substituting ``5 percent'' for ``56.3 percent''.

Summary: Prohibits subjecting to a numerical limitation during FY 2000 through 2006 the total number of aliens who are skilled in those areas who may be issued work visas or otherwise provided nonimmigrant status. Directs the Secretary of State, in processing such visas, to give preferential consideration to applications from foreign national students who are graduates of post-secondary schools in the United States with advanced degrees in such fields.
Provides grant funding.