II
Calendar No. 198
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 735
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 11, 2021
Mr. Wicker (for himself, Ms. Cantwell, Ms. Rosen, Ms. Collins, Mr. Peters, and Mrs. Blackburn) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
December 16, 2021
Reported by Ms. Cantwell, with an amendment
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic
A BILL
To amend the Scientific and Advanced-Technology Act of 1992 to further support advanced technological manufacturing, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Advanced Technological Manufacturing Act
.
Harnessing our Nation’s research potential
Establishment
The Director of the National Science Foundation shall conduct multiple pilot programs within the Foundation to expand the number of institutions of higher education (including such institutions that are community colleges), and other eligible entities that the Director determines appropriate, that are able to successfully compete for National Science Foundation grants.
Components
Each pilot program described in subsection (a) shall include at least 1 of the following elements:
A mentorship program.
Grant writing technical assistance.
Targeted outreach.
Programmatic support or solutions for institutions or entities that do not have an experienced grant management office.
An increase in the number of grant reviewers from institutions of higher education that have not traditionally received funds from the National Science Foundation.
An increase of the term and funding, for a period of 3 years or less, as appropriate, to a principal investigator that is a first-time grant awardee, when paired with regular mentoring on the administrative aspects of grant management.
Limitation
As appropriate, each pilot program described in subsection (a) shall work to reduce administrative burdens.
Agency-Wide programs
Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Science Foundation shall—
review the results of the pilot programs described in subsection (a); and
develop agency-wide best practices from the pilot programs for implementation across the Foundation, in order to fulfill the requirement under section 3(e) of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1862(e)).
Institution of higher education
In this section, the term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
Advanced scientific and technical manufacturing
Findings and purpose
Section 2 of the Scientific and Advanced-Technology Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 1862h) is amended—
in subsection (a)—
in paragraph (3), by striking science, mathematics, and technology
and inserting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics or STEM
;
in paragraph (4), by inserting educated and
before trained
; and
in paragraph (5), by striking scientific and technical education and training
and inserting STEM education and training
; and
in subsection (b)—
in paragraph (2), by striking mathematics and science
and inserting STEM fields
; and
in paragraph (4), by striking mathematics and science instruction
and inserting STEM instruction
.
Modernizing references to STEM
Section 3 of the Scientific and Advanced-Technology Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 1862i) is amended—
in the section heading, by striking Scientific and technical education
and inserting STEM education
;
in subsection (a)—
in the subsection heading, by striking scientific and technical education
and inserting STEM education
;
in the matter preceding paragraph (1)—
by inserting and education to prepare the skilled technical workforce to meet workforce demands
before , and to improve
;
by striking core education courses in science and mathematics
and inserting core education courses in STEM fields
;
by inserting veterans and individuals engaged in
before work in the home
; and
by inserting and on building a pathway from secondary schools, to associate-degree-granting institutions, to careers that require technical training
before , and shall be designed
;
in paragraph (1)—
by inserting and study
after development
; and
by striking core science and mathematics courses
and inserting core STEM courses
;
in paragraph (2), by striking science, mathematics, and advanced-technology fields
and inserting STEM and advanced-technology fields
;
in paragraph (3)(A), by inserting to support the advanced-technology industries that drive the competitiveness of the United States in the global economy
before the semicolon at the end;
in paragraph (4), by striking scientific and advanced-technology fields
and inserting STEM and advanced-technology fields
; and
in paragraph (5), by striking advanced scientific and technical education
and inserting advanced STEM and advanced-technology
;
in subsection (b)—
by striking the subsection heading and inserting the following: Centers of scientific and technical education.—
;
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking not to exceed 10 in number
and inserting in advanced-technology fields
;
in paragraph (2), by striking education in mathematics and science
and inserting STEM education
; and
in the flush matter following paragraph (2), by striking in the geographic region served by the center
;
in subsection (c)—
in paragraph (1)—
in subparagraph (A)—
in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking to encourage
and all that follows through such means as—
and inserting to encourage the development of career and educational pathways with multiple entry and exit points leading to credentials and degrees, and to assist students pursuing pathways in STEM fields to transition from associate-degree-granting colleges to bachelor-degree-granting institutions, through such means as—
;
in clause (i), by striking to ensure
and inserting to develop articulation agreements that ensure
; and
in clause (ii), by striking courses at the bachelor-degree-granting institution
and inserting the career and educational pathways supported by the articulation agreements
;
in subparagraph (B)—
in clause (i), by inserting veterans and individuals engaged in
before work in the home
;
in clause (iii)—
by striking bachelor's-degree-granting institutions
and inserting institutions or work sites
; and
by inserting or industry internships
after summer programs
; and
by striking the flush text following clause (iv); and
by striking subparagraph (C);
in paragraph (2)—
by striking mathematics and science programs
and inserting STEM programs
;
by inserting and, as appropriate, elementary schools,
after with secondary schools
;
by striking mathematics and science education
and inserting STEM education
;
by striking secondary school students
and inserting students at these schools
;
by striking science and advanced-technology fields
and inserting STEM and advanced-technology fields
; and
by striking agreements with local educational agencies
and inserting articulation agreements or dual credit courses with local secondary schools, or other means as the Director determines appropriate,
; and
in paragraph (3)—
by striking subparagraph (B);
by striking shall—
and all that follows through establish a
and inserting shall establish a
;
by striking the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
and inserting STEM fields
; and
by striking ; and
and inserting , including jobs at Federal and academic laboratories.
;
in subsection (d)(2)—
in subparagraph (D), by striking and
after the semicolon;
in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
; and
by adding at the end the following:
as appropriate, applications that apply the best practices for STEM education and technical skills education through distance learning or in a simulated work environment, as determined by research described in subsection (f).
;
in subsection (g), by striking the second sentence;
in subsection (h)(1)—
in subparagraph (A), by striking 2022
and inserting 2026
;
in subparagraph (B), by striking 2022
and inserting 2026
; and
in subparagraph (C)—
by striking up to $2,500,000
and inserting not less than $3,000,000
; and
by striking 2022
and inserting 2026
; and
in subsection (j)—
by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
the term advanced-technology includes technological fields such as advanced manufacturing, agricultural-, biological- and chemical-technologies, energy and environmental technologies, engineering technologies, information technologies, micro and nano-technologies, cybersecurity technologies, geospatial technologies, and new, emerging technology areas;
;
by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
the term associate-degree-granting college means an institution of higher education (as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002)) that offers a 2-year associate-degree program or 2-year certificate program;
;
in paragraph (3), by striking as determined under section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965
and inserting as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002)
;
in paragraph (4), by striking separate bachelor-degree-granting institutions
and inserting other entities
;
by striking paragraph (7);
by redesignating paragraphs (8) and (9) as paragraphs (7) and (8), respectively;
in paragraph (7), as redesignated by subparagraph (F), by striking and
after the semicolon;
in paragraph (8), as redesignated by subparagraph (F)—
by striking mathematics, science, engineering, or technology
and inserting science, technology, engineering, or mathematics
; and
by striking computer science.
and inserting computer science and cybersecurity; and
; and
by adding at the end the following:
the term skilled technical workforce means workers—
in occupations that use significant levels of science and engineering expertise and technical knowledge; and
whose level of educational attainment is less than a bachelor degree.
.
Harnessing our Nation’s research potential
Establishment
The Director of the National Science Foundation shall conduct multiple pilot programs within the Foundation to expand the number of institutions of higher education (including such institutions that are community colleges), and other eligible entities that the Director determines appropriate, that are able to successfully compete for National Science Foundation grants.
Components
Each pilot program described in subsection (a) shall include at least 1 of the following elements:
A mentorship program.
Grant writing technical assistance.
Targeted outreach, including to a minority-serving institution (including a historically Black college or university, a Tribal College or University, or a Hispanic-serving institution) as described in any of paragraphs (1) through (7) of section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).
Programmatic support or solutions for institutions or entities that do not have an experienced grant management office.
An increase in the number of grant reviewers from institutions of higher education that have not traditionally received funds from the National Science Foundation.
An increase of the term and funding, for a period of 3 years or less, as appropriate, to a principal investigator that is a first-time grant awardee, when paired with regular mentoring on the administrative aspects of grant management.
Limitation
As appropriate, each pilot program described in subsection (a) shall work to reduce administrative burdens.
Agency-wide programs
Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Science Foundation shall—
review the results of the pilot programs described in subsection (a); and
develop agency-wide best practices from the pilot programs for implementation across the Foundation, in order to fulfill the requirement under section 3(e) of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1862(e)).
Institution of higher education
In this section, the term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
Advanced scientific and technical manufacturing
Findings and purpose
Section 2 of the Scientific and Advanced-Technology Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 1862h) is amended—
in subsection (a)—
in paragraph (3), by striking science, mathematics, and technology
and inserting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics or STEM
;
in paragraph (4), by inserting educated and
before trained
; and
in paragraph (5), by striking scientific and technical education and training
and inserting STEM education and training
; and
in subsection (b)—
in paragraph (2), by striking mathematics and science
and inserting STEM fields
; and
in paragraph (4), by striking mathematics and science instruction
and inserting STEM instruction
.
Modernizing references to STEM
Section 3 of the Scientific and Advanced-Technology Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 1862i) is amended—
in the section heading, by striking Scientific and technical education
and inserting STEM education
;
in subsection (a)—
in the subsection heading, by striking scientific and technical education
and inserting STEM education
;
in the matter preceding paragraph (1)—
by inserting and education to prepare the skilled technical workforce to meet workforce demands
before , and to improve
;
by striking core education courses in science and mathematics
and inserting core education courses in STEM fields
;
by inserting veterans and individuals engaged in
before work in the home
; and
by inserting and on building a pathway from secondary schools, to associate-degree-granting institutions, to careers that require technical training
before , and shall be designed
;
in paragraph (1)—
by inserting and study
after development
; and
by striking core science and mathematics courses
and inserting core STEM courses
;
in paragraph (2), by striking science, mathematics, and advanced-technology fields
and inserting STEM and advanced-technology fields
;
in paragraph (3)(A), by inserting to support the advanced-technology industries that drive the competitiveness of the United States in the global economy
before the semicolon at the end;
in paragraph (4), by striking scientific and advanced-technology fields
and inserting STEM and advanced-technology fields
; and
in paragraph (5), by striking advanced scientific and technical education
and inserting advanced STEM and advanced-technology
;
in subsection (b)—
by striking the subsection heading and inserting the following: Centers of scientific and technical education.—
;
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking not to exceed 12 in number
and inserting in advanced-technology fields
;
in paragraph (2), by striking education in mathematics and science
and inserting STEM education
; and
in the flush matter following paragraph (2), by striking in the geographic region served by the center
;
in subsection (c)—
in paragraph (1)—
in subparagraph (A)—
in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking to encourage
and all that follows through such means as—
and inserting to encourage the development of career and educational pathways with multiple entry and exit points leading to credentials and degrees, and to assist students pursuing pathways in STEM fields to transition from associate-degree-granting colleges to bachelor-degree-granting institutions, through such means as—
;
in clause (i), by striking to ensure
and inserting to develop articulation agreements that ensure
; and
in clause (ii), by striking courses at the bachelor-degree-granting institution
and inserting the career and educational pathways supported by the articulation agreements
;
in subparagraph (B)—
in clause (i), by inserting veterans and individuals engaged in
before work in the home
;
in clause (iii)—
by striking bachelor's-degree-granting institutions
and inserting institutions or work sites
; and
by inserting or industry internships
after summer programs
; and
by striking the flush text following clause (iv); and
by striking subparagraph (C);
in paragraph (2)—
by striking mathematics and science programs
and inserting STEM programs
;
by inserting and, as appropriate, elementary schools,
after with secondary schools
;
by striking mathematics and science education
and inserting STEM education
;
by striking secondary school students
and inserting students at these schools
;
by striking science and advanced-technology fields
and inserting STEM and advanced-technology fields
; and
by striking agreements with local educational agencies
and inserting articulation agreements or dual credit courses with local secondary schools, or other means as the Director determines appropriate,
; and
in paragraph (3)—
by striking subparagraph (B);
by striking shall—
and all that follows through establish a
and inserting shall establish a
;
by striking the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
and inserting STEM fields
; and
by striking ; and
and inserting , including jobs at Federal and academic laboratories.
;
in subsection (d)(2)—
in subparagraph (D), by striking and
after the semicolon;
in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end and inserting; and
; and
by adding at the end the following:
as appropriate, applications that apply the best practices for STEM education and technical skills education through distance learning or in a simulated work environment, as determined by research described in subsection (f).
;
in subsection (g), by striking the second sentence;
in subsection (h)(1)—
in subparagraph (A), by striking 2022
and inserting 2026
;
in subparagraph (B), by striking 2022
and inserting 2026
; and
in subparagraph (C)—
by striking up to $2,500,000
and inserting not less than $3,000,000
; and
by striking 2022
and inserting 2026
; and
in subsection (j)—
by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
the term advanced-technology includes technological fields such as advanced manufacturing, agricultural-, biological- and chemical-technologies, energy and environmental technologies, engineering technologies, information technologies, micro and nano-technologies, cybersecurity technologies, geospatial technologies, and new, emerging technology areas;
;
by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
the term associate-degree-granting college means an institution of higher education (as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002)) that offers a 2-year associate-degree program or 2-year certificate program;
;
in paragraph (3), by striking as determined under section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965
and inserting as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002)
;
in paragraph (4), by striking separate bachelor-degree-granting institutions
and inserting other entities
;
by striking paragraph (7);
by redesignating paragraphs (8) and (9) as paragraphs (7) and (8), respectively;
in paragraph (7), as redesignated by subparagraph (F), by striking and
after the semicolon;
in paragraph (8), as redesignated by subparagraph (F)—
by striking mathematics, science, engineering, or technology
and inserting science, technology, engineering, or mathematics
; and
by striking computer science and cybersecurity.
and inserting computer science and cybersecurity; and
; and
by adding at the end the following:
the term skilled technical workforce means workers—
in occupations that use significant levels of science and engineering expertise and technical knowledge; and
whose level of educational attainment is less than a bachelor degree.
.
Authorization of appropriations
Section 5 of the Scientific and Advanced-Technology Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 1862j) is amended to read as follows:
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated, from sums otherwise authorized to be appropriated, to the Director for carrying out this Act, $150,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2027.
.
December 16, 2021
Reported with an amendment