To establish a program to provide student fellowships in fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, with preference given to the study of technological development encompassing the fields of energy, environment, and economy.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Fellowships for Undergraduate 
Training and Useful Research in Energy-related Science, Technology, 
Engineering, and Mathematics fields Act'' or ``FUTURE STEM Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) STEM.--The term ``STEM'' has the meaning given to that 
        term in section 2 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act 
        of 2010.
            (2) E3.--The term ``E3'' means the academic and 
        professional area of technological development encompassing the 
        fields of energy, environment, and economy.

SEC. 3. FELLOWSHIPS FOR STEM PROJECTS WITH PREFERENCE TO E3.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Energy shall establish an 
undergraduate student fellowships pilot program to award competitive 
grants to partner institutions to provide work experience in STEM 
fields that will overall improve education and training in support of 
STEM fields. Grants under this section may be used for--
            (1) employing eligible students for 10-week research 
        fellowships with partner institutions;
            (2) approved travel and housing expenses for student 
        fellows;
            (3) purchasing, renting, or leasing of equipment, 
        instrumentation, and other educational and training materials 
        needed to satisfy the student research fellowships;
            (4) supporting outreach efforts to recruit students;
            (5) encouraging collaboration between government, industry, 
        and academic partners; and
            (6) assessing the activities funded under this Act.
    (b) Partners.--Grants awarded under subsection (a) shall be to a 
partner institution that--
            (1) is a 2-year degree granting institution of higher 
        education offering an associate degree in a STEM field;
            (2) is a 4-year degree granting institution of higher 
        education;
            (3) is a business, nonprofit organization, or labor 
        organization; or
            (4) is a State educational agency, other public agency, or 
        National Laboratory.
    (c) Preference.--The Secretary of Energy shall give preference to 
awarding grants under this section to partner institutions--
            (1) whose proposal incorporates E3 concepts;
            (2) whose proposal includes student work experience with 
        emphasis on research;
            (3) who demonstrate that they will employ students from 
        groups that have been historically underrepresented in STEM 
        fields; and
            (4) who can demonstrate the likely long-term stability of 
        the program without continued Federal funding.
    (d) Eligibility.--A student is eligible for employment under 
subsection (a) if the student--
            (1) is at least 18 years of age on the date of submission 
        of the grant application and--
                    (A) is a high school student who has been 
                officially accepted to begin undergraduate studies at 
                least half-time within 6 months of high school 
                graduation; or
                    (B) is enrolled as an undergraduate student at 
                least half-time at a degree granting institution;
            (2) in the case of a student described in paragraph (1)(B), 
        has achieved at a minimum a 3.0 undergraduate cumulative grade 
        point average; and
            (3) is a citizen or permanent resident of the United 
        States.
    (e) Student Allowances.--An eligible undergraduate student employed 
using grant funds awarded under subsection (a) shall receive--
            (1) $4,500 direct salary stipend; and
            (2) reimbursement up to $2,000 for approved housing and 
        travel expenses.
    (f) Diversity of Subject Matter.--The Secretary of Energy shall 
ensure that, to the extent possible, grants are provided under this Act 
for projects representing a wide diversity of STEM fields.
    (g) Limitation.--No single grant under subsection (a) may be made 
in an amount greater than $10,000 per year.
    (h) Public Information.--The Secretary of Energy shall make 
publicly available all planning documents and other materials related 
to a project supported by a grant made under this Act.
    (i) Project Reports.--The Secretary of Energy shall require grant 
recipients under subsection (a) to submit a report to the Secretary, 
not later than 1 year after receiving the grant, on the results of the 
project supported by the grant. Each such report shall include an 
assessment of which elements of the project supported with the grant 
were successful and which were not, along with an identification and 
analysis of improvements that could have made the project more 
successful. The Secretary shall make all reports submitted under this 
subsection available to the public.

SEC. 4. REPORT.

    The Secretary of Energy shall evaluate the effectiveness of 
activities carried out under this Act. A report documenting the results 
of that evaluation shall be submitted to the Committee on Education and 
the Workforce and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and 
the Committee on Health, Education, 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 
demonstrated by partners awarded a grant.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act--
            (1) $250,000 for fiscal year 2012;
            (2) $250,000 for fiscal year 2013;
            (3) $250,000 for fiscal year 2014; and
            (4) $250,000 for fiscal year 2015.

Summary: Fellowships for Undergraduate Training and Useful Research in Energy-related Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Fields Act or FUTURE STEM Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy (DOE) to establish an undergraduate student fellowships pilot program to award competitive grants to specified partner institutions to provide work experience in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields that will improve overall education and training in support of STEM fields.

Allows such grants to be used to: (1) employ eligible students for 10-week research fellowships with partner institutions; (2) purchase, rent, or lease equipment, instrumentation, and other educational and training materials needed to satisfy such fellowships; (3) support outreach efforts to recruit students; and (4) encourage collaboration between government, industry, and academic partners.

Requires preference to be given in the awarding of such grants to partner institutions whose proposal incorporates E3 concepts. Defines "E3" as the academic and professional area of technological development encompassing the fields of energy, environment, and economy.

Requires the Secretary to evaluate the effectiveness of the activities carried out under this Act.