21st Century Innovation Act of 2006

Bill: 109-hr-4906
Sponsor: Rep. Ford, Harold E., Jr. [D-TN-9]
Introduced: 2006-03-08 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Admission of nonimmigrants
Alien labor
Aliens
Alternative energy sources
Awards, medals, prizes
Building construction
College costs
Commemorations
Commerce
Commercialization
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Continuing education
Department of Energy
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Energy
Energy efficiency
Energy research
Energy security
Engineering
Engineers
Executive reorganization
Families
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to education
Federal aid to research
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Government trust funds
Graduate education
Higher education
Immigration
Imports
Infrastructure
Labor and Employment
Laboratories
Maintenance and repair
Married people
Mathematics
Performance measurement
Recruiting of employees
Research and development
Research and development facilities
Research centers
Research grants
Scholarships
School buildings
Scientific education
Scientific instruments and apparatus
Scientists
Secondary education
Skilled labor
Teacher education
Teacher supply and demand
Teachers
Technological innovations

Summary:
action_date: 2006-03-08
text: 
21st Century Innovation Act of 2006 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to award scholarships to students who: (1) are enrolled in undergraduate programs concurrently offering degrees in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics and elementary or secondary school teacher certification; and (2) agree to teach in such fields for at least five years. Awards matching grants to institutions of higher education to establish such programs.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to: (1) state and local educational agencies to establish summer institutes offering elementary and secondary school science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teachers continuing education, and to train them to provide advanced courses; and (2) institutions of higher education offering part-time master's degree programs to such middle and secondary school teachers.
 
Augments the funding available for the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers program at designated federal agencies.
 
Directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish programs awarding undergraduate and graduate scholarships in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics on the basis of criteria to be established by the Secretary, but addressing areas of national need identified by program advisory bodies.
 
Creates a Presidential Innovation Award, periodically conferring a medal upon individuals who develop unique scientific or engineering ideas serving the national interest.
 
Requires the Office of Science and Technology Policy to establish a National Coordination Office for Research Infrastructure which shall prioritize funding provided to the NSF and the Department of Energy (DOE) under this Act for the construction and maintenance of higher education and federal research facilities.
 
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize the extended stay of aliens who obtain the equivalent of a doctorate in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or other fields deemed important to the national interest, and seek or secure employment in such fields.
 
Establishes the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) within the DOE to award competitive energy research and development grants and contracts to institutions of higher education, companies, or consortia of such entities, which may include federal laboratories, to reduce our dependence on energy imports by 50% over the next 10 years. Provides for the recoupment and redeployment of such funding.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-05-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness.
action_date: 2006-03-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics.
action_date: 2006-03-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy.
action_date: 2006-03-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Research.
action_date: 2006-03-08
text: Referred to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2006-03-08
text: Referred to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2006-03-08
text: Referred to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2006-03-08
text: Referred to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2006-03-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2006-03-08
text: Introduced in House