STEM Opportunities Act

Bill: 117-hr-204
Sponsor: Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30]
Introduced: 2021-01-05 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Adoption and foster care
Census and government statistics
Child care and development
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Disability and paralysis
Education of the disadvantaged
Education programs funding
Educational technology and distance education
Elementary and secondary education
Government information and archives
Higher education
Indian social and development programs
Minority education
Minority employment
National Science Foundation
Office of Science and Technology Policy
Performance measurement
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Rural conditions and development
Science and engineering education
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Women's education
Women's employment

Summary:
action_date: 2021-01-05
text: 

STEM Opportunities Act

 
This bill provides for guidance, data collection, and grants for groups historically underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education at institutions of higher education (IHEs) and at federal science agencies. 
 
 Specifically, the bill requires the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to provide specified guidance related to such groups to federal science agencies and IHEs.
 
Each federal science agency must collect comprehensive demographic data on recipients of merit-reviewed research and development grants given to IHEs and federal laboratories supported by that agency.
 
 Each agency must also implement recommendations from the OSTP report titled 
Reducing the Impact of Bias in the STEM Workforce
. In addition, each agency must carry out a pilot program and implement evidence-based policies and practices to minimize the effect of implicit bias in the grant review process.
 
The National Science Foundation (NSF) must carry out and publish a survey to collect data on the demographics of STEM faculty, by broad fields of STEM, at different types of IHEs.
 
The NSF must also carry out a variety of grant programs, including grants for increasing (1) the recruitment, retention, and advancement of individuals from underrepresented minority groups in STEM careers; (2) the recruitment and retention of minority students who are underrepresented in STEM fields; and (3) student participation in computer science and computational thinking education programs at tribal colleges and universities.

action_date: 2021-05-18
text: 

STEM Opportunities Act

 
This bill provides for guidance, data collection, and grants for groups historically underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education at institutions of higher education (IHEs) and at federal science agencies. 
 
 Specifically, the bill requires the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to provide specified guidance related to such groups to federal science agencies and IHEs.
 
Each federal science agency must collect comprehensive demographic data on recipients of merit-reviewed research and development grants given to IHEs and federal laboratories supported by that agency.
 
 Each agency must also implement recommendations from the OSTP report titled 
Reducing the Impact of Bias in the STEM Workforce
. In addition, each agency must carry out a pilot program and implement evidence-based policies and practices to minimize the effect of implicit bias in the grant review process. 
 
The National Science Foundation (NSF) must carry out and publish a survey to collect data on the demographics of STEM faculty, by broad fields of STEM, at different types of IHEs.
 
The NSF must also carry out a variety of grant programs, including grants for increasing (1) the recruitment, retention, and advancement of individuals from underrepresented minority groups in STEM careers; (2) the recruitment and retention of minority students who are underrepresented in STEM fields; and (3) student participation in computer science and computational thinking education programs at tribal colleges and universities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-19
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2021-05-18
text: Pursuant to section 5 of H. Res. 403, and the motion offered by Mr. Hoyer, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 144, as amended; H.R. 204, as amended; H.R. 210, as amended; H.R. 240; H.R. 707, as amended; H.R. 711, as amended; H.R. 1157, as amended; H.R. 1447, as amended; H.R. 1510, as amended; H.R. 1711, as amended; H.R. 2027; H.R. 2167, as amended; H.R. 2441; H.R. 2494; H.R. 2533; H.R. 2655, as amended; H.R. 2695, H.R. 2704; H.R. 2788; H.R. 2878, as amended; and H.R. 3008. (consideration: CR H2482-2520; text: CR H2482-2487)
action_date: 2021-05-18
text: Passed/agreed to in House: Pursuant to section 5 of H. Res. 403, and the motion offered by Mr. Hoyer, the following bills passed under suspension of the rules: H.R. 144, as amended; H.R. 204, as amended; H.R. 210, as amended; H.R. 240; H.R. 707, as amended; H.R. 711, as amended; H.R. 1157, as amended; H.R. 1447, as amended; H.R. 1510, as amended; H.R. 1711, as amended; H.R. 2027; H.R. 2167, as amended; H.R. 2441; H.R. 2494; H.R. 2533; H.R. 2655, as amended; H.R. 2695, H.R. 2704; H.R. 2788; H.R. 2878, as amended; and H.R. 3008.(consideration: CR H2482-2520; text: CR H2482-2487)
action_date: 2021-05-18
text: Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 403, proceedings on H.R. 204 are considered vacated.
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 204.
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2392-2398; text: CR H2392-2397)
action_date: 2021-05-17
text: Ms. Bonamici moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2021-01-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
action_date: 2021-01-05
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E5)
action_date: 2021-01-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-01-05
text: Introduced in House