Research Excellence through STEM Inclusion Act
Bill: H.R.3809 | Sponsor: Rep. Bowman, Jamaal (D-NY)
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
Research Excellence through STEM Inclusion Act
This bill directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) to appoint a senior agency official within the Office of the Director of the NSF as a Chief Diversity Officer.
The Chief Diversity Officer shall direct the Office of Diversity and Inclusion of the NSF and report directly to the Director.
The Chief Diversity Officer shall be responsible for providing advice on policy, oversight, guidance, and coordination with respect to matters of the NSF related to diversity and inclusion, including ensuring the geographic diversity of the NSF's programs.

To direct the Director of the National Science Foundation to establish 
 a Chief Diversity Officer position and to develop a strategic plan to 
ensure participation in NSF activities by a diverse group of learners, 
                     researchers, and institutions.

    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 ``Research Excellence through STEM 
Inclusion Act''.

SEC. 2. CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER OF THE NSF.

    (a) Chief Diversity Officer.--
            (1) Appointment.--The Director shall appoint a senior 
        agency official within the Office of the Director as a Chief 
        Diversity Officer.
            (2) Qualifications.--The Chief Diversity Officer shall have 
        significant experience, within the Federal Government and the 
        science community, with diversity- and inclusion-related 
        matters, including--
                    (A) civil rights compliance;
                    (B) harassment policy, reviews, and investigations;
                    (C) equal employment opportunity; and
                    (D) disability policy.
            (3) Oversight.--The Chief Diversity Officer shall direct 
        the Office of Diversity and Inclusion of the Foundation and 
        report directly to the Director in the performance of the 
        duties of the Chief Diversity Officer under this section.
    (b) Duties.--The Chief Diversity Officer is responsible for 
providing advice on policy, oversight, guidance, and coordination with 
respect to matters of the Foundation related to diversity and 
inclusion, including ensuring the geographic diversity of the 
Foundation programs. Other duties may include--
            (1) establishing and maintaining a strategic plan that 
        publicly states a diversity definition, vision, and goals for 
        the Foundation;
            (2) defining a set of strategic metrics that are--
                    (A) directly linked to key organizational 
                priorities and goals;
                    (B) actionable; and
                    (C) actively used to implement the strategic plan 
                under paragraph (1);
            (3) advising in the establishment of a strategic plan for 
        diverse participation by individuals and institutions of higher 
        education, including community colleges, historically Black 
        colleges and universities, Tribal colleges or universities, 
        minority-serving institutions, institutions of higher education 
        with an established STEM capacity building program focused on 
        traditionally underrepresented populations in STEM, including 
        Native Hawaiians, Alaska Natives, and Indians, and institutions 
        from jurisdictions eligible to participate under section 113 of 
        the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1988 (42 
        U.S.C. 1862g);
            (4) advising in the establishment of a strategic plan for 
        outreach to, and recruiting from, untapped locations and 
        underrepresented populations;
            (5) advising on a diversity and inclusion strategy for the 
        Foundation's portfolio of PreK-12 STEM education focused 
        programs and activities, including goals for addressing 
        barriers to participation;
            (6) advising on the application of the Foundation's broader 
        impacts review criterion; and
            (7) performing such additional duties and exercise such 
        powers as the Director may prescribe.
    (c) Funding.--From any amounts appropriated for the Foundation for 
each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026, the Director shall allocate 
$5,000,000 to carry out this section for each such year.
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