42 U.S.C. § 7381 — Findings and purposes

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.