42 U.S.C. § 7381a — Science education programs

Page 7120 TITLE 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE § 7381 SUBCHAPTER XIII—DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SCIENCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS Editorial Notes CODIFICATION This subchapter was enacted as part of part E (§§ 3161–3168) of title XXXI of div. C of the National De- fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991, known as the Department of Energy Science Education Enhance- ment Act, and not as part of the Department of Energy Organization Act which comprises this chapter. § 7381. Findings and purposes (a) Findings The Congress finds the following: (1) Scientific, technical, and engineering competence is essential to the Nation’s future well-being. (2) The scientific, technical, and engineering capability at the Federal laboratories is un- matched throughout the world. (3) Superb research, development, testing, and evaluation occur in Department of Energy research and development facilities. (4) Department of Energy research and de- velopment facilities will play an increasing role in assuring that the United States re- mains competitive in world markets. (5) Improvements in mathematics, science, and engineering education are needed des- perately to provide the trained and educated citizenry essential to the future competitive- ness of the United States. (6) The future health and vitality of the economy of the United States is predicated on the availability of an adequate supply of sci- entists, mathematicians, and engineers to pro- vide for growing needs and to replenish the workforce. (7) United States college and university en- rollment in science, mathematics, and engi- neering programs is sharply declining at un- dergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate lev- els. (8) The Federal Government is the largest United States employer of research scientists, mathematicians, and engineers, and the De- partment of Energy has a growing need for sci- entists, mathematicians, and engineers at a time when these enrollments are declining. (9) Women and minorities are grossly under- represented in science and mathematics fields, and this group represents more than 80 percent of the projected increase in the national work- force through the year 2000. (b) Purposes The purposes of this subchapter are— (1) to encourage the development and imple- mentation of science, mathematics, and engi- neering education programs at the Depart- ment of Energy and at its research and devel- opment facilities as part of a national effort to improve science, mathematics, and engineer- ing education; and (2) to provide more efficient coordination among science, mathematics, and engineering education programs. (Pub. L. 101–510, div. C, title XXXI, § 3162, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1840.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT This subchapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original ‘‘this part’’, meaning part E of title XXXI of div. C of Pub. L. 101–510, which is classified principally to this subchapter. For complete classification of part E to the Code, see Short Title note set out below and Tables. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries SHORT TITLE Pub. L. 101–510, div. C, title XXXI, § 3161, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1840, provided that: ‘‘This part [part E (§§ 3161–3168) of title XXXI of div. C of Pub. L. 101–510, enacting this subchapter and amending section 7112 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Department of Energy Science Education Enhancement Act’.’’ UNIVERSITY-BASED RESEARCH COLLABORATION PROGRAM Pub. L. 105–85, div. C, title XXXI, § 3155, Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 2044, which was formerly set out as a note under this section, was renumbered section 4814 of Pub. L. 107–314, the Bob Stump National Defense Authoriza- tion Act for Fiscal Year 2003, by Pub. L. 108–136, div. C, title XXXI, § 3141(k)(9)(A)–(C), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1785, and is classified to section 2795 of Title 50, War and National Defense. PART A—SCIENCE EDUCATION ENHANCEMENT Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Pub. L. 110–69, title V, § 5003(d)(1), Aug. 9, 2007, 121 Stat. 602, added heading. § 7381a. Science education programs (a) Programs The Secretary is authorized to establish pro- grams to enhance the quality of mathematics, science, and engineering education. Any such programs shall be operated at or through the support of Department research and develop- ment facilities, shall use the scientific resources of the Department, and shall be consistent with the overall Federal plan for education and human resources in science and technology de- veloped by the Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology. (b) Organization of science, engineering, and mathematics education programs (1) Director of Science, Engineering, and Math- ematics Education Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary, acting through the Under Sec- retary for Science (referred to in this sub- section as the ‘‘Under Secretary’’), shall ap- point a Director of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education (referred to in this subsection as the ‘‘Director’’) with the prin- cipal responsibility for administering science, engineering, and mathematics education pro- grams across all functions of the Department. (2) Qualifications The Director shall be an individual, who by reason of professional background and experi- ence, is specially qualified to advise the Under Secretary on all matters pertaining to science, engineering, and mathematics education at the Department. Page 7121 TITLE 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE § 7381b (3) Duties The Director shall— (A) oversee all science, engineering, and mathematics education programs of the De- partment; (B) represent the Department as the prin- cipal interagency liaison for all science, en- gineering, and mathematics education pro- grams, unless otherwise represented by the Secretary or the Under Secretary; (C) prepare the annual budget and advise the Under Secretary on all budgetary issues for science, engineering, and mathematics education programs of the Department; (D) increase, to the maximum extent prac- ticable, the participation and advancement of women and underrepresented minorities at every level of science, technology, engi- neering, and mathematics education; and (E) perform other such matters relating to science, engineering, and mathematics edu- cation as are required by the Secretary or the Under Secretary. (4) Staff and other resources The Secretary shall assign to the Director such personnel and other resources as the Sec- retary considers necessary to permit the Di- rector to carry out the duties of the Director. (5) Assessment (A) In general The Secretary shall offer to enter into a contract with the National Academy of Sciences under which the National Acad- emy, not later than 5 years after, and not later than 10 years after, August 9, 2007, shall assess the performance of the science, engineering, and mathematics education programs of the Department. (B) Considerations An assessment under this paragraph shall be conducted taking into consideration, where applicable, the effect of science, engi- neering, and mathematics education pro- grams of the Department on student aca- demic achievement in science and mathe- matics. (6) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this sub- section. (c) Relationship to other Department activities The programs described in subsection (a) shall supplement and be coordinated with current ac- tivities of the Department, but shall not sup- plant them. (d) Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Edu- cation Fund The Secretary shall establish a Science, Engi- neering, and Mathematics Education Fund, using not less than 0.3 percent of the amount made available to the Department for research, development, demonstration, and commercial application for each fiscal year, to carry out sec- tions 7381b, 7381c, and 7381c–1 of this title. (e) Annual plan for allocation of education fund- ing The Secretary shall submit to Congress as part of the annual budget submission for a fiscal year a report describing the manner in which the Department has complied with subsection (d) for the prior fiscal year and the manner in which the Department proposes to comply with subsection (d) during the following fiscal year, including— (1) the total amount of funding for research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities for the corresponding fiscal year; (2) the amounts set aside for the Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Fund under subsection (d) from funding for re- search activities, development activities, dem- onstration activities, and commercial applica- tion activities for the corresponding fiscal year; and (3) a description of how the funds set aside under subsection (d) were allocated for the prior fiscal year and will be allocated for the following fiscal year. (f) Programs for students from under-rep- resented groups In carrying out a program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to activi- ties that are designed to encourage students from under-represented groups to pursue sci- entific and technical careers. (Pub. L. 101–510, div. C, title XXXI, § 3164, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1841; Pub. L. 109–58, title XI, §§ 1102(a), 1105(a), Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 938, 939; Pub. L. 110–69, title V, § 5003(a), Aug. 9, 2007, 121 Stat. 601.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2007—Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 110–69, § 5003(a)(1), (2), added subsec. (b) and redesignated former subsec. (b) as (c). Former subsec. (c) redesignated (d). Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 110–69, § 5003(a)(3), added subsec. (d) and struck out former subsec. (d). Former text read as follows: ‘‘The Secretary shall use not less than 0.3 percent of the amount made available to the Depart- ment for research, development, demonstration, and commercial application for fiscal year 2006 and each fis- cal year thereafter to carry out activities authorized by this subchapter.’’ Pub. L. 110–69, § 5003(a)(1), redesignated subsec. (c) as (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (f). Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 110–69, § 5003(a)(3), added subsec. (e). Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 110–69, § 5003(a)(1), redesignated subsec. (d) as (f). 2005—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 109–58, § 1102(a), added sub- sec. (c). Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 109–58, § 1105(a), added subsec. (d). § 7381b. Laboratory cooperative science centers and other authorized education activities (a) Activities The Secretary is authorized to: (1) Support research appointments for col- lege and university science and engineering students, and for faculty-student teams, at De- partment research and development facilities. (2) Support research appointments for high school science teachers at Department re- search and development facilities. (3) Support research apprenticeship appoint- ments at Department research and develop-