[116th Congress Public Law 115]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 105]]
SUPPORTING VETERANS IN STEM
CAREERS ACT
[[Page 134 STAT. 106]]
Public Law 116-115
116th Congress
An Act
To promote veteran involvement in STEM education, computer science, and
scientific research, and for other purposes. <<NOTE: Feb. 11,
2020 - [S. 153]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Supporting
Veterans in STEM Careers Act.>>
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 42 USC 1861 note.>> SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers
Act''.
SEC. 2. <<NOTE: 42 USC 1862t note.>> DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
the National Science Foundation.
(2) Foundation.--The term ``Foundation'' means the National
Science Foundation.
(3) STEM.--The term ``STEM'' has the meaning given the term
in section 2 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010
(42 U.S.C. 6621 note).
(4) Veteran.--The term ``veteran'' has the meaning given the
term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
SEC. 3. SUPPORTING VETERANS IN STEM EDUCATION AND COMPUTER
SCIENCE.
(a) <<NOTE: 42 USC 1862t.>> Supporting Veteran Involvement in
Scientific Research and STEM Education.--The Director shall, through the
research and education activities of the Foundation, encourage veterans
to study and pursue careers in STEM and computer science, in
coordination with other Federal agencies that serve veterans.
(b) <<NOTE: Deadline. 42 USC 1862t.>> Veteran Outreach Plan.--Not
later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Director 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 the Foundation can
enhance its outreach efforts to veterans. Such plan shall--
(1) report on the Foundation's existing outreach activities;
(2) identify the best method for the Foundation to leverage
existing authorities and programs to facilitate and support
veterans in STEM careers and studies, including teaching
programs; and
(3) include options for how the Foundation could track
veteran participation in research and education programs of the
Foundation, and describe any barriers to collecting such
information.
[[Page 134 STAT. 107]]
(c) <<NOTE: 42 USC 1862t.>> National Science Board Indicators
Report.--The National Science Board shall provide in its annual report
on indicators of the state of science and engineering in the United
States any available and relevant data on veterans in science and
engineering careers or education programs.
(d) Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program Update.--Section 10 of
the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C.
1862n-1) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(5)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) higher education programs that serve or
support veterans.'';
(2) in subsection (b)(2)(F)--
(A) by striking ``and students'' and inserting ``,
students''; and
(B) by inserting ``, and veterans'' before the
period at the end;
(3) in subsection (c)(2), by inserting ``and veterans''
before the period at the end; and
(4) in subsection (d)(2), by inserting ``and veterans''
before the period at the end.
(e) National Science Foundation Teaching Fellowships and Master
Teaching Fellowships Update.--Section 10A(d) of the National Science
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-1a(d)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (3)(F)--
(A) by striking ``and individuals'' and inserting
``, individuals''; and
(B) by inserting ``, and veterans'' before the
period at the end; and
(2) in paragraph (4)(B), by inserting ``and veterans''
before the period at the end.
(f) National Science Foundation Computer and Network Security
Capacity Building Grants Update.--Section 5(a) of the Cyber Security
Research and Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7404(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``and students who are
veterans'' after ``these fields''; and
(2) in paragraph (3)--
(A) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (J) as
subparagraph (K); and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (I) the
following:
``(J) creating opportunities for veterans to
transition to careers in computer and network security;
and''.
(g) Graduate Traineeships in Computer and Network Security Research
Update.--Section 5(c)(6)(C) of the Cyber Security Research and
Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7404(c)(6)(C)) is amended by inserting ``or
veterans'' after ``disciplines''.
(h) <<NOTE: 42 USC 1862t.>> Veterans and Military Families STEM
Education Interagency Working Group.--
[[Page 134 STAT. 108]]
(1) <<NOTE: Establishment.>> In general.--The Director of
the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall establish, or
designate, an interagency working group to improve veteran and
military spouse equity and representation in STEM fields.
(2) Duties <<NOTE: Strategic plan.>> of interagency working
group.--An interagency working group established under paragraph
(1) shall develop and facilitate the implementation by
participating agencies of a strategic plan, which shall--
(A) specify and prioritize short- and long-term
objectives;
(B) specify the common metrics that will be used by
Federal agencies to assess progress toward achieving
such objectives;
(C) identify barriers veterans face in reentering
the workforce, including a lack of formal STEM
education, career guidance, and the process of
transferring military credits and skills to college
credits;
(D) identify barriers military spouses face in
establishing careers in STEM fields;
(E) describe the approaches that each participating
agency will take to address administratively the
barriers described in subparagraphs (C) and (D); and
(F) identify any barriers that require Federal or
State legislative or regulatory changes in order to be
addressed.
(3) Report.--The Director of the Office of Science and
Technology Policy shall--
(A) <<NOTE: Deadline.>> not later than 1 year after
the date of enactment of this Act, submit to Congress
the strategic plan required under paragraph (2); and
(B) include in the annual report required by section
101(d) of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of
2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621(d)) a description of any progress
made in carrying out the activities described in
paragraph (2) of this subsection.
(4) Sunset.--An interagency working group established under
paragraph (1) shall terminate on the date that is 3 years after
the date that it is established.
SEC. 4. COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES STUDY AND REPORT
ON BARRIERS FACED BY STUDENT VETERANS PURSUING
DEGREES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING,
OR MATH.
(a) <<NOTE: Deadline.>> Study.--Not later than August 1, 2022, the
Comptroller General of the United States shall complete a study on
academic success rates of student veterans pursuing covered degrees and
barriers faced by such students in pursuing such degrees.
(b) <<NOTE: Assessments.>> Elements.--The study required by
subsection (a) shall include the following:
(1) Assessment of available information on the percentage or
number of student veterans pursuing a covered degree with
educational assistance furnished under chapter 33 of title 38,
United States Code.
(2) Assessment of available information on the percentage or
number of such students who pursue a covered degree and do not
obtain such degree in four or fewer academic years.
[[Page 134 STAT. 109]]
(3) Identification of the reasons that such students do not
obtain such degree in four or fewer academic years and whether
such reasons are barriers to obtaining such degrees.
(4) <<NOTE: Recommenda- tions.>> Development of
recommendations for legislative or administrative action to
better align the educational assistance furnished under chapter
33 of title 38, United States Code, with the needs of such
students and address the reasons identified under paragraph (3).
(c) Report.--Not later than August 1, 2022, the Comptroller General
shall submit to Congress a report on the findings of the Comptroller
General with respect to the study completed under subsection (a), along
with recommendations for such legislative or administrative action as
the Comptroller General considers appropriate.
(d) Definition of Covered Degree.--In this section, the term
``covered degree'' means a standard, undergraduate college degree in a
field listed under section 3320(b)(4)(A)(i) of title 38, United States
Code.
Approved February 11, 2020.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 153 (H.R. 425):
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SENATE REPORTS: No. 116-164 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
Vol. 165 (2019): Dec. 18, considered and passed Senate.
Vol. 166 (2020): Jan. 27, considered and passed House.
DAILY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS (2020):
Feb. 11, Presidential remarks.
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