21st Century Jobs Act
Bill: H.R.4461 | Sponsor: Rep. Khanna, Ro (D-CA)
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
21st Century Jobs Act
This bill establishes an independent agency to be known as the Federal Institute of Technology in the executive branch of the federal government.
The bill provides for a Board of Directors for the institute, which shall establish a minimum of 10 local boards.
The Board of Directors shall develop requirements for each local board based on the comprehensive strategy of the local board.
Each local board shall establish a research hub and oversee the activities of such hub.

To establish an independent agency in the executive branch to be known 
    as the Federal Institute of Technology, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``21st Century Jobs Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) In the year 2018, funding for research and development 
        in science and technology in the United States was $124.7 
        billion, or approximately 0.6 percent of the gross domestic 
        product.
            (2) In the year 1964, the United States spent approximately 
        2 percent of gross domestic product on research and development 
        in science and technology.
            (3) Public funding for research and development in science 
        and technology financed a majority of the innovations that 
        powered growth in the United States after World War II, 
        including digital computing and modern pharmaceutical science.
            (4) The United States currently ranks ninth in the world 
        for total percentage of gross domestic product used for 
        research and development in science and technology and twelfth 
        in the world for public funding for research and development in 
        science and technology.
            (5) Funding for research and development in science and 
        technology is concentrated in a small number of geographic 
        regions in the United States.
            (6) Established technology centers that promote research 
        and development in science and technology are extremely 
        crowded, have high real estate costs, and are in locations that 
        require long commutes for many of the researchers at such 
        centers.
            (7) The private sector has a limited ability or desire to 
        invest outside of such centers, which limits the potential for 
        growth in science and technology, including the availability of 
        employment opportunities in such industries.
            (8) Increasing public funding for research and development 
        in science and technology to 1 percent of the gross domestic 
        product would significantly increase the rank of the United 
        States with respect to funding for such research and 
        development among developed countries.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that 
amounts provided through this Act will be used--
            (1) in a manner that is similar to breakthrough-focused, 
        project management models of the Defense Advanced Research 
        Projects Agency of the Department of Defense; and
            (2) to supplement existing funding to Federal agencies.

SEC. 3. THE FEDERAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established in the executive branch of 
the Government an independent agency to be known as the ``Federal 
Institute of Technology'' (in this section referred to as the 
``Institute'').
    (b) Headquarters.--The Institute shall be headquartered in the 
District of Columbia.
    (c) Board of Directors.--
            (1) In general.--The Institute shall have a Board of 
        Directors (in this section referred to as the ``Board'').
            (2) Duties of the board.--The duties of the Board shall 
        include the following:
                    (A) Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
                enactment of this section, establish a minimum of 10 
                local boards in accordance with subsection (d), 
                including--
                            (i) appointing the members of each local 
                        board with consideration given to the 
                        recommendations provided pursuant to subsection 
                        (d)(1)(A)(iii);
                            (ii) providing funding to local boards to 
                        support the local boards in achieving the 
                        duties under subsection (d)(3) and to carry out 
                        the comprehensive strategy under subsection 
                        (d)(2), including funds from amounts in the 
                        private endowment established under subsection 
                        (e); and
                            (iii) annually evaluate the effectiveness 
                        of each local board based on the requirements 
                        developed pursuant to subsection (d)(1)(D).
                    (B) Provide funds to Federal, State, and local 
                agencies to support programs and research in the 
                qualified subjects, including programs and research in 
                certain technology sectors.
            (3) Local board limitation.--The Board may establish--
                    (A) not more than 30 local boards in the 10-year 
                period after the date of the enactment of this Act; and
                    (B) not more than 3 local boards each fiscal year 
                during such period.
            (4) New local board applications.--The Board may consider 
        new applications on an annual basis each fiscal year for the 
        10-year period after the date of the enactment of this Act, and 
        every 3 years thereafter.
            (5) Members; chair.--The President shall--
                    (A) appoint 5 members of the Board by and with the 
                advice and consent of the Senate; and
                    (B) designate a Chair from among the members.
            (6) Terms.--
                    (A) Length.--Each Board member shall be appointed 
                for a term of 5 years.
                    (B) Amount.--Each Board member shall not serve more 
                than 2 terms.
            (7) Vacancy.--A vacancy on the Board shall be filled in the 
        manner in which the original appointment was made.
            (8) Basic pay.--To the extent or in the amounts provided in 
        advance in appropriation Acts, members shall each be paid at a 
        rate not to exceed the rate of basic pay for level II of the 
        Executive Schedule.
    (d) Local Boards.--
            (1) Applications.--
                    (A) In general.--In establishing local boards 
                pursuant to subsection (c)(1)(A), the Board shall 
                consider applications on a competitive basis from State 
                and local governments, which shall include the 
                following:
                            (i) The location of the local board, which 
                        must be in a covered region that--
                                    (I) possesses relevant assets for 
                                the development of technology; and
                                    (II) does not possess a leading 
                                technology center.
                            (ii) A comprehensive strategy described 
                        under paragraph (2).
                            (iii) A recommendation of individuals to be 
                        appointed to the local board.
                    (B) Duration period.--Each grant under this section 
                shall be made for a period of 10 years, provided that 
                the local board that receives such grant meets the 
                requirements developed pursuant to subparagraph (C).
                    (C) Requirements.--The Board shall develop 
                requirements for each local board based on the 
                comprehensive strategy of each such local board.
            (2) Comprehensive strategy.--Each local board shall submit 
        to the Board a comprehensive strategy that includes the 
        following:
                    (A) A technology development plan, including the 
                focus of the local board and existing advantages for 
                the development of a hub in the covered region of the 
                local board.
                    (B) A spending plan, including an outline of the 
                use of funds based on the duties of the local board 
                under paragraph (3).
                    (C) A plan to address infrastructure barriers to 
                the development of a hub, including--
                            (i) the development of data infrastructure;
                            (ii) remediation of environmentally damaged 
                        sites;
                            (iii) the development of buildings, labs, 
                        roads, and bridges; and
                            (iv) improvements to airports, train 
                        stations, and other forms of public transit.
                    (D) A higher education improvement plan, 
                including--
                            (i) hiring faculty;
                            (ii) supporting students; and
                            (iii) partnering with institutions of 
                        higher education.
                    (E) A primary and secondary education improvement 
                plan, including--
                            (i) an outline with respect to educating 
                        students in science, technology, engineering, 
                        and mathematics through the use of Federal 
                        resources; and
                            (ii) an evidence-based program to overcome 
                        existing barriers to student achievement in the 
                        covered region.
                    (F) A career placement plan based on the duties of 
                the local board under paragraph (3).
                    (G) A plan to improve access to capital for local 
                businesses.
                    (H) A sustainable growth plan that--
                            (i) ensures housing remains affordable in 
                        the covered region; and
                            (ii) addresses environmentally damaged 
                        areas in the covered region.
            (3) Duties of the local board.--Each local board shall--
                    (A) establish a hub and oversee the activities of 
                such hub;
                    (B) make grants available for programs and research 
                in the qualified subjects in covered regions, which may 
                include grants to--
                            (i) promote the development of student 
                        skills at all levels, including--
                                    (I) primary and secondary school 
                                improvements that support education in 
                                technology and the qualified subjects;
                                    (II) fellowships for undergraduate 
                                students to support education in 
                                technology and the qualified subjects; 
                                and
                                    (III) post-graduate fellowship 
                                programs to support such graduate 
                                students working in technology and the 
                                qualified subjects;
                            (ii) improve the ability of local 
                        institutions of higher education to carry out 
                        leading-edge research in technology and the 
                        qualified subjects, including--
                                    (I) hiring faculty in the relevant 
                                areas;
                                    (II) laboratory construction and 
                                development;
                                    (III) developing and sponsoring 
                                programs to promote technological 
                                entrepreneurship among students (in 
                                partnership with leading firms in the 
                                covered region); and
                                    (IV) developing partnerships with 
                                local businesses to facilitate the 
                                transition of students to the 
                                technology workforce; and
                            (iii) develop effective pathways for career 
                        advancement in technology that creates and 
                        reduces the costs of--
                                    (I) training programs for work in 
                                technology jobs; and
                                    (II) apprenticeship programs in 
                                technology jobs;
                    (C) develop effective infrastructure to promote the 
                creation of a technology center as described in the 
                plan under paragraph (2)(C);
                    (D) improve access to capital for businesses in the 
                covered region, including--
                            (i) supporting partnerships with venture 
                        capitalists in regions with developed 
                        technology centers in the United States; and
                            (ii) providing matching funds for Federal 
                        grants that support innovative businesses;
                    (E) develop and implement a plan for improving 
                education in the qualified subjects;
                    (F) develop and implement a plan for increasing 
                employment opportunities in the covered region in which 
                the local board is located, including--
                            (i) coordinating with the heads of 
                        businesses and institutions of higher education 
                        to support job placement in the covered region; 
                        and
                            (ii) analyzing employment indicators with 
                        respect to high-wage job opportunities in the 
                        covered region of the local board to 
                        determine--
                                    (I) areas that need development in 
                                such industries; and
                                    (II) ways such industries would 
                                benefit from the advancement of 
                                technology;
                    (G) analyze infrastructure in covered regions and 
                provide policy recommendations to the Board with 
                respect to inadequate infrastructure, including data 
                infrastructure;
                    (H) analyze the cost of housing, zoning 
                regulations, and laws related to housing in the covered 
                region of the local board and provide policy 
                recommendations to State and local governments to 
                ensure the cost of housing remains affordable as the 
                hub established pursuant to subparagraph (A) increases 
                research activities in such covered region; and
                    (I) provide support for the development of 
                technology, including establishing partnerships with 
                institutions of higher education.
    (e) Gifts, Bequests, and Devises.--Notwithstanding section 3302 of 
title 31, United States Code, and without further appropriation, the 
Board may accept, use, or dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of 
services or property, both real and personal, for the purpose of aiding 
or facilitating the work of the Institute. Gifts, bequests, or devises 
of money and proceeds from sales of other property received as gifts, 
bequests, or devices shall be deposited in a private endowment for 
disbursement upon order of the Board.
    (f) Inspector General of the Federal Institute of Technology.--
Section 12 of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-452; 5 
U.S.C. App.) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``the Board of Directors 
        of the Federal Institute of Technology;'' after ``the Tennessee 
        Valley Authority;''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``the Federal Institute 
        of Technology,'' after the ``Tennessee Valley Authority,''.
    (g) Reports.--
            (1) Local board report.--Not later than 1 year after the 
        date of the enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, 
        each local board shall submit to the Board a report containing 
        recommendations based on the activities of each such local 
        board, including recommendations for--
                    (A) legislation that--
                            (i) supports research and education in the 
                        qualified subjects;
                            (ii) increases employment opportunities 
                        related to the qualified subjects;
                            (iii) addresses inadequate infrastructure 
                        in covered regions; and
                            (iv) ensures the cost of housing is 
                        affordable in covered regions;
                    (B) funding scientific development; and
                    (C) policy priorities with respect to supporting 
                scientific development.
            (2) Breakthrough science report.--Not later than 1 year 
        after the date of the enactment of this section, and annually 
        thereafter, the Board shall submit to the President and 
        Congress a report known as the ``Breakthrough Science Report'' 
        containing recommendations for--
                    (A) legislation based on the activities of the 
                Institute; and
                    (B) policy priorities with respect to supporting 
                scientific development, which shall take the funding 
                priorities of the private sector into account.
            (3) National academy of sciences report.--Not later than 1 
        year after the date of the enactment of this section, and 
        annually thereafter, the National Academy of Sciences shall 
        submit to Congress a report on the activities of the local 
        boards, including an analysis of research activities for areas 
        that did not receive grants from such local boards.
            (4) Authorization of appropriations; use of amounts.--
                    (A) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out 
                this section, there is authorized to be appropriated to 
                the Board--
                            (i) $67,500,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;
                            (ii) $72,500,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;
                            (iii) $77,500,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
                            (iv) $82,500,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;
                            (v) $87,500,000,000 for fiscal year 2026;
                            (vi) $92,500,000,000 for fiscal year 2027;
                            (vii) $97,500,000,000 for fiscal year 2028;
                            (viii) $102,500,000,000 for fiscal year 
                        2029;
                            (ix) $107,500,000,000 for fiscal year 2030; 
                        and
                            (x) $112,500,000,000 for fiscal year 2031.
                    (B) Use of amounts.--Of the amounts made available 
                to the Board under subparagraph (A) in each fiscal year 
                to carry out this section not less than--
                            (i) 12.5 percent shall be used to provide 
                        funds to the Department of Energy;
                            (ii) 12.5 percent shall be used to provide 
                        funds to the National Science Foundation;
                            (iii) 12.5 percent shall be used to provide 
                        funds to the National Institutes of Health; and
                            (iv) 20 percent shall be used to provide 
                        funds to the local boards to carry out the 
                        duties under subsection (d)(3).
                    (C) Definitions.--In this section:
                            (i) Certain technology sectors.--The term 
                        ``certain technology sectors'' means areas in 
                        technology that relate to the qualified 
                        subjects, which may include the following:
                                    (I) Advanced manufacturing.
                                    (II) Artificial intelligence.
                                    (III) Biotechnology.
                                    (IV) Blockchain technology.
                                    (V) Climate science.
                                    (VI) Computer science.
                                    (VII) Cybersecurity.
                                    (VIII) Material science.
                                    (IX) Medical technology.
                                    (X) Synthetic biology.
                                    (XI) Telecommunications.
                                    (XII) Transportation technology.
                                    (XIII) Virtual reality and 
                                augmented reality.
                            (ii) Covered region.--The term ``covered 
                        region'' means a physical boundary identified 
                        by a local board and located near an 
                        institution of higher education.
                            (iii) Hub.--The term ``hub'' means a center 
                        for research in the qualified subjects.
                            (iv) Qualified subjects.--The term 
                        ``qualified subjects'' means mathematics and 
                        the physical, biological, engineering, social, 
                        and chemical sciences.

SEC. 4. PREFERENCE FOR SOFTWARE PRODUCED IN RURAL AREAS AND MINORITY 
              MAJORITY AREAS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 33 of title 41, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 3313. Preference for software produced in rural areas and 
              minority majority areas
    ``In awarding a contract for the procurement of software, an agency 
shall provide a contracting preference to an offeror who demonstrates 
in the bid or proposal of that offeror that at least 10 percent of the 
production or development of the software offered in that bid or 
proposal occurred in or will occur in--
            ``(1) a rural area, as that term is defined under section 
        343(a)(13) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act 
        (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)(13)); or
            ``(2) a ZIP Code in which over 50 percent of the residents 
        of such ZIP Code are minorities, as that term is defined under 
        section 365 of the Higher Education of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1067k).''.
    (b) Technical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 33 of title 41, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
after the matter relating to section 3312 the following:

``3313. Preference for software produced in rural areas and minority 
                            majority areas.''.

SEC. 5. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION RULES REQUIRED FOR 
              EMPLOYERS TO REPORT INFORMATION REGARDING EMPLOYEES.

    The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission shall--
            (1) initiate a rulemaking proceeding, including notice and 
        opportunity for public comment, not later than 90 days after 
        the date of the enactment of this section, and
            (2) issue rules not later than 18 months after the date of 
        the enactment of this section,
to require employers to specify in the periodic employer information 
reports submitted to the Commission by each such employer the number of 
individuals employed by the employer, the number of individuals 
performing services billed hourly by head count or by team for the 
employer, the countries in which such respective individuals reside, 
and all of the revenue generated by the employer in each such country.

SEC. 6. AMENDMENT TO THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT.

    (a) In General.--Section 1111(b)(1)(C) of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(1)(C)) is amended by 
striking ``and science'' and inserting ``science, and computer 
science''.
    (b) Effective Date.--Not later than 5 years after the date of the 
enactment of this section, the amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect.
    (c) Report Required.--Not later than 3 years after the date of the 
enactment of this section, each State educational agency shall submit 
to the Secretary a report on preparations made by local educational 
agencies within the State to implement academic standards for computer 
science as required under section 1111(b)(1)(C) of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(1)(C)), as amended 
by subsection (a).

SEC. 7. COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this section, the Secretary of Education (referred to in 
this section as the ``Secretary'') shall carry out a program known as 
the ``Computer Science Education Grant Program'' (referred to in this 
section as the ``Program'') to make grants on a competitive basis to 
eligible entities to pay the Federal share of the costs of training 
teachers and developing computer science curriculum (which includes 
data analytics) in accordance with subsection (c).
    (b) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant under the 
Program, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an 
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as the Secretary may require.
    (c) Requirement for Uses of Grant Funds.--An eligible entity that 
receives a grant under the Program shall use grant funds to--
            (1) create opportunities for licensed elementary school 
        teachers to pursue and receive training in computer science for 
        the purpose of incorporating computer science in the curriculum 
        and educational material of such teacher;
            (2) create opportunities for licensed secondary school 
        teachers to add computer science endorsements to the license of 
        each such teacher and to provide computer science learning 
        experiences that are age-appropriate;
            (3) provide assistance to States that do not have computer 
        science standards for teachers or students to develop such 
        standards and provide licenses and endorsements with respect to 
        such standards;
            (4) create opportunities for teacher candidates interested 
        in computer science to complete a full-year residency program 
        specialized in computer science;
            (5) expand access for teachers and students to high-quality 
        learning materials, including computer equipment and high speed 
        network infrastructure that supports the study of computer 
        science;
            (6) expand computer science education programs--
                    (A) at public institutions of higher education; and
                    (B) for the education of teachers;
            (7) create and implement plans for expanding access to 
        rigorous classes in science, technology, engineering, and math 
        for underrepresented groups, including minorities, girls, and 
        youth from low-income families; and
            (8) ensure support and resources for students, which may 
        include mentoring for students traditionally underrepresented 
        in fields related to science, technology, engineering, and 
        math.
    (d) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary 
shall give priority to applicants that demonstrate greater need as 
determined by the Secretary.
    (e) Evaluation and Report.--An eligible entity that receives a 
grant under the Program shall--
            (1) conduct an evaluation on the effects of the Program, 
        including any increase in the ability of teachers to teach 
        computer science; and
            (2) submit to the Secretary a report on such evaluation.
    (f) Limitation on Use of Grant Funds.--An eligible entity that 
receives a grant under the Program may not use more than 20 percent of 
the grant funds to purchase computer equipment and network 
infrastructure.
    (g) Grant Duration and Amount.--
            (1) Duration.--Each grant under this section shall be made 
        for a period of 5 years.
            (2) Amount.--The Secretary shall determine the maximum 
        amount of each grant under this section.
    (h) Federal Share.--The Federal share of a grant under the Program 
shall not exceed 90 percent of the costs of carrying out the activities 
described in subsection (c).
    (i) Supplement, Not Supplant.--An eligible entity shall use a grant 
received under the Program only to supplement funds that would, in the 
absence of such grant, be made available from other Federal, State, or 
local sources for activities supported by the grant, not to supplant 
such funds.
    (j) Eligible Entity Defined.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
            (1) a State educational agency;
            (2) an institution of higher education; and
            (3) a local educational agency.
    (k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $8,000,000,000 for fiscal year 
2021.

SEC. 8. SMART STUDENTS EVERYWHERE GRANTS.

    (a) Eligible Participants.--
            (1) In general.--Section 401A of the Higher Education Act 
        of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-1) is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (a), by inserting ``or graduate'' 
                before ``education'';
                    (B) in subsection (b)--
                            (i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and'' 
                        at the end;
                            (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking the 
                        period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) for the first through fourth year in a graduate 
        program in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics 
        shall be known as a `SMART Students Everywhere Grant'.'';
                    (C) by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
    ``(c) Definition of Eligible Student.--In this section, the term 
`eligible student' means a student who--
            ``(1) either--
                    ``(A) received a high school diploma from a high 
                school located in a county that has a college 
                graduation rate that is below the national average; or
                    ``(B) is a minority student; and
            ``(2) for the award year for which the determination of 
        eligibility is made for a grant under this section--
                    ``(A) except with respect to a student described in 
                clause (C)(vi), is eligible for a Federal Pell Grant;
                    ``(B) is enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an 
                institution of higher education on not less than a 
                half-time basis; and
                    ``(C) in the case of a student enrolled or accepted 
                for enrollment in--
                            ``(i) the first year of a program of 
                        undergraduate education at an institution of 
                        higher education (including a program of not 
                        less than one year for which the institution 
                        awards a certificate)--
                                    ``(I) has not been previously 
                                enrolled in a program of undergraduate 
                                education, except as part of a 
                                secondary school program of study; and
                                    ``(II) is certified by the 
                                institution of higher education as 
                                pursuing a major in the physical, life, 
                                or computer sciences, mathematics, 
                                technology, or engineering (as 
                                determined by the Secretary pursuant to 
                                regulations); or
                            ``(ii) the second year of a program of 
                        undergraduate education at a two- or four-year 
                        degree-granting institution of higher education 
                        (including a program of not less than two years 
                        for which the institution awards a 
                        certificate), is certified by the institution 
                        of higher education as pursuing a major in a 
                        subject described in clause (i)(II);
                            ``(iii) the third or fourth year of a 
                        program of undergraduate education at a four-
                        year degree-granting institution of higher 
                        education, is certified by the institution of 
                        higher education to be pursuing a major in a 
                        subject described in clause (i)(II);
                            ``(iv) the third or fourth year of a 
                        program of undergraduate education at an 
                        institution of higher education (as defined in 
                        section 101(a)), if such institution of higher 
                        education demonstrates, to the satisfaction of 
                        the Secretary, that--
                                    ``(I) such institution of higher 
                                education offers a single liberal arts 
                                curriculum leading to a baccalaureate 
                                degree, under which students are not 
                                permitted by the institution to declare 
                                a major in a particular subject area, 
                                and the student--
                                            ``(aa) studies, in such 
                                        years, a subject described in 
                                        clause (i)(II) that is at least 
                                        equal to the requirements for 
                                        an academic major at an 
                                        institution of higher education 
                                        that offers a baccalaureate 
                                        degree in such subject, as 
                                        certified by an appropriate 
                                        official from such institution; 
                                        or
                                            ``(bb) is required, as part 
                                        of the student's degree 
                                        program, to undertake a course 
                                        of study in a subject described 
                                        in clause (i)(II) which 
                                        consists of at least--

                                                    ``(AA) 4 years of 
                                                study in mathematics; 
                                                and

                                                    ``(BB) 3 years of 
                                                study in the sciences, 
                                                with a laboratory 
                                                component in each of 
                                                those years; and

                                    ``(II) such institution offered 
                                such curriculum prior to February 8, 
                                2006;
                            ``(v) the fifth year of a program of 
                        undergraduate education that requires 5 full 
                        years of coursework, as certified by the 
                        appropriate official of the degree-granting 
                        institution of higher education, for which a 
                        baccalaureate degree is awarded by a degree-
                        granting institution of higher education, is 
                        certified by such institution of higher 
                        education to be pursuing a major in a subject 
                        described in clause (i)(II); or
                            ``(vi) the first through fourth year of a 
                        graduate program at an institution of higher 
                        education, is certified by such institution of 
                        higher education to be pursuing a graduate 
                        degree (including a program of not less than 
                        two years for which the institution awards a 
                        certificate) in a subject described in clause 
                        (i)(II).'';
                    (D) in subsection (d)--
                            (i) in paragraph (1)--
                                    (I) by amending subparagraph (A) to 
                                read as follows:
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall award a 
                grant under this section in the amount of--
                            ``(i) $10,000 for an eligible student under 
                        clause (i) through (v) of subsection (c)(2)(C); 
                        and
                            ``(ii) $20,000 for an eligible student 
                        under clause (vi) of subsection (c)(2)(C).'';
                                    (II) in subparagraph (B)(i), by 
                                striking ``a student'' and inserting 
                                ``an undergraduate student'' ; and
                                    (III) by adding at the end the 
                                following:
                    ``(C) Reduction for less than full-time graduate 
                students.--Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), in any 
                case in which a graduate that attends an institution of 
                higher education on less than a full-time basis, the 
                amount of the grant that such a student may receive 
                shall be reduced in proportion to the degree to which 
                such student is not so attending on a full-time 
                basis.'';
                            (ii) in paragraph (2)--
                                    (I) in subparagraph (A), by 
                                inserting ``or graduate'' after 
                                ``undergraduate''; and
                                    (II) in subparagraph (B), by 
                                striking ``subsection (c)(3)'' and 
                                inserting ``subsection (c)(2)(C)''; and
                            (iii) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``to 
                        an undergraduate student'' before ``in the same 
                        manner''; and
                    (E) by striking subsections (e), (f), and (g) and 
                inserting the following:
    ``(e) Report to Secretary.--An institution of higher education 
shall submit to the Secretary a report on the students who receive a 
grant under this section, including data disaggregated with respect to 
the degree being pursued by such students and (if applicable) the 
earnings of such students.
    ``(f) Funding.--
            ``(1) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to the Secretary of Education to carry out 
        this section $5,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2020 and each 
        fiscal year thereafter.
            ``(2) Availability of funds.--The amounts made available by 
        paragraph (1) for any fiscal year shall be available from 
        October 1 of that fiscal year and remain available through 
        September 30 of the succeeding fiscal year.
            ``(3) Technical assistance.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Of the amounts appropriated for 
                a fiscal year under paragraph (1), the Secretary may 
                use 1 percent to carry out technical assistance in such 
                fiscal year to institutions of higher education to 
                assist such institutions of higher education in 
                carrying out SMART Students Everywhere Grants.
                    ``(B) Application.--This paragraph shall only apply 
                to the first 3 years after the date of the enactment of 
                this paragraph in which--
                            ``(i) amounts are appropriated under 
                        paragraph (1); and
                            ``(ii) SMART Students Everywhere Grants are 
                        awarded under this section.''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection 
        shall take effect on the date that is 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of this section.
    (b) Tax Credit for First-Year Wages of Qualified Recipients of a 
SMART Grant.--
            (1) In general.--Section 51(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue 
        Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``or'' at the end of 
        subparagraph (I), by striking the period at the end of 
        subparagraph (J) and inserting a comma, and by adding at the 
        end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(K) a qualified recipient of a SMART grant.''.
            (2) Definitions and special rules.--Section 51(d) of the 
        Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end 
        the following new paragraph:
            ``(16) Qualified recipient of a smart grant.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified recipient of 
                a SMART grant' means any individual who is certified by 
                the designated local agency as a recipient of a SMART 
                Students Everywhere Grant pursuant to Section 401A of 
                the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-1) 
                during the 1-year period ending on the hiring date.
                    ``(B) Special rules for determining amount of 
                credit.--For purposes of applying this subpart to any 
                qualified recipient of a SMART grant--
                            ``(i) subsection (a) shall be applied by 
                        substituting `5 percent (10 percent in the case 
                        of any specified recipient of a SMART grant)' 
                        for `40 percent', and
                            ``(ii) subsection (b)(3) shall be applied 
                        by substituting `$50,000' for `$6,000' and all 
                        that follows in such subsection.
                    ``(C) Aggregate credit dollar limitation per 
                employer.--
                            ``(i) Limitation with respect to qualified 
                        recipients of a smart grant.--The aggregate 
                        credit determined under subsection (a) with 
                        respect to qualified recipients of a SMART 
                        grant (other than specified recipients of a 
                        SMART grant) shall not exceed $10,000 for any 
                        taxable year of the taxpayer.
                            ``(ii) Limitation with respect to specified 
                        recipients of a smart grant.--The aggregate 
                        credit determined under subsection (a) with 
                        respect to specified recipients of a SMART 
                        grant shall not exceed $20,000 for any taxable 
                        year of the taxpayer.
                    ``(D) Specified recipient of a smart grant.--For 
                purposes of this paragraph--
                            ``(i) In general.--The term `specified 
                        recipient of a SMART grant' means any qualified 
                        recipient of a SMART grant who is certified by 
                        the designated local agency as a veteran (as 
                        defined in paragraph (3)(B)), a minority, or 
                        employed in a designated county.
                            ``(ii) Designated county.--In this 
                        paragraph, the term `designated county' means a 
                        county that has a college graduation rate that 
                        is below the national average.
                            ``(iii) Minority.--In this paragraph, the 
                        term `minority' has the meaning given the term 
                        under section 365 of the Higher Education of 
                        1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067k).''.
            (3) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection 
        shall apply to individuals who begin work for the employer 
        after the date of the enactment of this section.

SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Elementary and secondary education act terms.--The 
        terms ``institution of higher education'', ``local educational 
        agency'', and ``State educational agency'' have the meaning 
        given the terms under section 8101 of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (2) Secondary and elementary school.--The terms ``secondary 
        school'' and ``elementary school'' have the meanings given the 
        terms under section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
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