Inspiring the Next Space Pioneers, Innovators, Researchers, and Explorers (INSPIRE) Women Act

Bill: 114-hr-4755
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Comstock, Barbara [R-VA-10]
Introduced: 2016-03-16
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Elementary and secondary education

Science and engineering education

Space flight and exploration

Women's education

Women's employment
Latest action: action_date: 2016-09-26
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 644.

Summaries:
action_date: 2016-03-16
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Inspiring the Next Space Pioneers, Innovators, Researchers, and Explorers (INSPIRE) Women Act</b></p> <p>This bill directs the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to encourage women and girls to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), pursue careers in aerospace, and further advance the nation's space science and exploration efforts through support of the following initiatives: </p> <ul> <li>NASA GIRLS and NASA BOYS;</li> <li>Aspire to Inspire; and </li> <li>Summer Institute in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Research. </li> </ul> <p>NASA shall submit to Congress a specified plan on how NASA can best facilitate and support both current and retired astronauts, scientists, engineers, and innovators, including early career female astronauts, scientists, engineers, and innovators, to engage with K-12 female STEM students and inspire the next generation of women to consider participating in STEM fields and to pursue careers in aerospace. </p>

action_date: 2016-03-22
action_desc: Passed House without amendment
text: <p>(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)</p> <p><b>Inspiring the Next Space Pioneers, Innovators, Researchers, and Explorers (INSPIRE) Women Act</b></p> <p>(Sec. 3) This bill directs the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to encourage women and girls to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), pursue careers in aerospace, and further advance the nation's space science and exploration efforts through support of the following initiatives: </p> <ul> <li>NASA GIRLS and NASA BOYS;</li> <li>Aspire to Inspire; and </li> <li>Summer Institute in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Research. </li> </ul> <p>(Sec. 4) NASA shall submit to Congress a specified plan on how NASA can best facilitate and support both current and retired astronauts, scientists, engineers, and innovators, including early career female astronauts, scientists, engineers, and innovators, to engage with K-12 female STEM students and inspire the next generation of women to consider participating in STEM fields and to pursue careers in aerospace. </p>

action_date: 2016-09-26
action_desc: Reported to Senate without amendment
text: <p>(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House passed version is repeated here.)</p> <p><b>Inspiring the Next Space Pioneers, Innovators, Researchers, and Explorers (INSPIRE) Women Act</b></p> <p>(Sec. 3) This bill directs the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to encourage women and girls to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), pursue careers in aerospace, and further advance the nation's space science and exploration efforts through support of the following initiatives: </p> <ul> <li>NASA GIRLS and NASA BOYS;</li> <li>Aspire to Inspire; and </li> <li>Summer Institute in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Research. </li> </ul> <p>(Sec. 4) NASA shall submit to Congress a specified plan on how NASA can best facilitate and support both current and retired astronauts, scientists, engineers, and innovators, including early career female astronauts, scientists, engineers, and innovators, to engage with K-12 female STEM students and inspire the next generation of women to consider participating in STEM fields and to pursue careers in aerospace. </p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4755 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 16, 2016 Mrs. Comstock (for herself, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas , Mr. Smith of Texas , and Ms. Clark of Massachusetts ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology A BILL To inspire women to enter the aerospace field, including science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, through mentorship and outreach.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Inspiring the Next Space Pioneers, Innovators, Researchers, and Explorers (INSPIRE) Women Act . 2. Findings The Congress finds that— (1) NASA GIRLS and NASA BOYS are virtual mentoring programs using commercially available video chat programs to pair National Aeronautics and Space Administration mentors with young students anywhere in the country. NASA GIRLS and NASA BOYS give young students the opportunity to interact and learn from real engineers, scientists, and technologists. (2) The Aspire to Inspire (A2I) program engages young girls to present science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) career opportunities through the real lives and jobs of early career women at NASA. (3) The Summer Institute in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Research (SISTER) program at the Goddard Space Flight Center is designed to increase awareness of, and provide an opportunity for, female middle school students to be exposed to and explore nontraditional career fields with Goddard Space Flight Center women engineers, mathematicians, scientists, technicians, and researchers. 3. Supporting women’s involvement in the fields of aerospace and space exploration The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall encourage women and girls to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, pursue careers in aerospace, and further advance the Nation’s space science and exploration efforts through support of the following initiatives: (1) NASA GIRLS and NASA BOYS. (2) Aspire to Inspire. (3) Summer Institute in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Research. 4. Plan Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a plan for how NASA can best facilitate and support both current and retired astronauts, scientists, engineers, and innovators, including early career female astronauts, scientists, engineers, and innovators, to engage with K–12 female STEM students and inspire the next generation of women to consider participating in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and to pursue careers in aerospace. This plan shall— (1) report on existing activities with current and retired NASA astronauts, scientists, engineers, and innovators; (2) identify how NASA could best leverage existing authorities to facilitate and support current and retired astronaut, scientist, engineer, and innovator participation in NASA outreach efforts; (3) propose and describe a program specific to retired astronauts, scientists, engineers, and innovators; and (4) identify any additional authorities necessary to institute such a program.

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4755 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To inspire women to enter the aerospace field, including science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, through mentorship and outreach.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Inspiring the Next Space Pioneers, Innovators, Researchers, and Explorers (INSPIRE) Women Act . 2. Findings The Congress finds that— (1) NASA GIRLS and NASA BOYS are virtual mentoring programs using commercially available video chat programs to pair National Aeronautics and Space Administration mentors with young students anywhere in the country. NASA GIRLS and NASA BOYS give young students the opportunity to interact and learn from real engineers, scientists, and technologists. (2) The Aspire to Inspire (A2I) program engages young girls to present science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) career opportunities through the real lives and jobs of early career women at NASA. (3) The Summer Institute in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Research (SISTER) program at the Goddard Space Flight Center is designed to increase awareness of, and provide an opportunity for, female middle school students to be exposed to and explore nontraditional career fields with Goddard Space Flight Center women engineers, mathematicians, scientists, technicians, and researchers. 3. Supporting women’s involvement in the fields of aerospace and space exploration The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall encourage women and girls to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, pursue careers in aerospace, and further advance the Nation’s space science and exploration efforts through support of the following initiatives: (1) NASA GIRLS and NASA BOYS. (2) Aspire to Inspire. (3) Summer Institute in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Research. 4. Plan Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a plan for how NASA can best facilitate and support both current and retired astronauts, scientists, engineers, and innovators, including early career female astronauts, scientists, engineers, and innovators, to engage with K–12 female STEM students and inspire the next generation of women to consider participating in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and to pursue careers in aerospace. This plan shall— (1) report on existing activities with current and retired NASA astronauts, scientists, engineers, and innovators; (2) identify how NASA could best leverage existing authorities to facilitate and support current and retired astronaut, scientist, engineer, and innovator participation in NASA outreach efforts; (3) propose and describe a program specific to retired astronauts, scientists, engineers, and innovators; and (4) identify any additional authorities necessary to institute such a program.

Passed the House of Representatives March 22, 2016. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: IIB 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4755 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 4, 2016 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation AN ACT To inspire women to enter the aerospace field, including science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, through mentorship and outreach.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Inspiring the Next Space Pioneers, Innovators, Researchers, and Explorers (INSPIRE) Women Act . 2. Findings The Congress finds that— (1) NASA GIRLS and NASA BOYS are virtual mentoring programs using commercially available video chat programs to pair National Aeronautics and Space Administration mentors with young students anywhere in the country. NASA GIRLS and NASA BOYS give young students the opportunity to interact and learn from real engineers, scientists, and technologists. (2) The Aspire to Inspire (A2I) program engages young girls to present science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) career opportunities through the real lives and jobs of early career women at NASA. (3) The Summer Institute in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Research (SISTER) program at the Goddard Space Flight Center is designed to increase awareness of, and provide an opportunity for, female middle school students to be exposed to and explore nontraditional career fields with Goddard Space Flight Center women engineers, mathematicians, scientists, technicians, and researchers. 3. Supporting women’s involvement in the fields of aerospace and space exploration The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall encourage women and girls to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, pursue careers in aerospace, and further advance the Nation’s space science and exploration efforts through support of the following initiatives: (1) NASA GIRLS and NASA BOYS. (2) Aspire to Inspire. (3) Summer Institute in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Research. 4. Plan Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a plan for how NASA can best facilitate and support both current and retired astronauts, scientists, engineers, and innovators, including early career female astronauts, scientists, engineers, and innovators, to engage with K–12 female STEM students and inspire the next generation of women to consider participating in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and to pursue careers in aerospace. This plan shall— (1) report on existing activities with current and retired NASA astronauts, scientists, engineers, and innovators; (2) identify how NASA could best leverage existing authorities to facilitate and support current and retired astronaut, scientist, engineer, and innovator participation in NASA outreach efforts; (3) propose and describe a program specific to retired astronauts, scientists, engineers, and innovators; and (4) identify any additional authorities necessary to institute such a program.

Passed the House of Representatives March 22, 2016. Karen L. Haas, Clerk

tv_txt: II Calendar No. 644 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4755 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 4, 2016 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation September 26, 2016 Reported by Mr. Thune , without amendment AN ACT To inspire women to enter the aerospace field, including science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, through mentorship and outreach.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Inspiring the Next Space Pioneers, Innovators, Researchers, and Explorers (INSPIRE) Women Act . 2. Findings The Congress finds that— (1) NASA GIRLS and NASA BOYS are virtual mentoring programs using commercially available video chat programs to pair National Aeronautics and Space Administration mentors with young students anywhere in the country. NASA GIRLS and NASA BOYS give young students the opportunity to interact and learn from real engineers, scientists, and technologists. (2) The Aspire to Inspire (A2I) program engages young girls to present science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) career opportunities through the real lives and jobs of early career women at NASA. (3) The Summer Institute in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Research (SISTER) program at the Goddard Space Flight Center is designed to increase awareness of, and provide an opportunity for, female middle school students to be exposed to and explore nontraditional career fields with Goddard Space Flight Center women engineers, mathematicians, scientists, technicians, and researchers. 3. Supporting women’s involvement in the fields of aerospace and space exploration The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall encourage women and girls to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, pursue careers in aerospace, and further advance the Nation’s space science and exploration efforts through support of the following initiatives: (1) NASA GIRLS and NASA BOYS. (2) Aspire to Inspire. (3) Summer Institute in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Research. 4. Plan Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a plan for how NASA can best facilitate and support both current and retired astronauts, scientists, engineers, and innovators, including early career female astronauts, scientists, engineers, and innovators, to engage with K–12 female STEM students and inspire the next generation of women to consider participating in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and to pursue careers in aerospace. This plan shall— (1) report on existing activities with current and retired NASA astronauts, scientists, engineers, and innovators; (2) identify how NASA could best leverage existing authorities to facilitate and support current and retired astronaut, scientist, engineer, and innovator participation in NASA outreach efforts; (3) propose and describe a program specific to retired astronauts, scientists, engineers, and innovators; and (4) identify any additional authorities necessary to institute such a program.

September 26, 2016 Reported without amendment