June 17, 2025
Ms. Rivas (for herself, Mr. Fields, Ms. Sewell, Mr. Thanedar, Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania, Mr. Sorensen, and Ms. McBride) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
To require the Director of the National Science Foundation to establish a program to award grants for certain STEM apprenticeship programs, require an interagency task force to submit a report regarding certain programs of the Federal Government focused primarily on career development and training in STEM, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the STEM Pathways for the Future Act
.
Sec. 2. Grant program to establish certain STEM apprenticeship programs; Interagency Task Force
(a) Grant program To establish certain STEM apprenticeship programs
The National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (Public Law 107–368) is amended by inserting after section 8 the following new section:
8A. Grant program to establish certain STEM apprenticeship programs
(a) In general
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Director shall establish a program to award grants on a competitive basis to eligible recipients to establish STEM apprenticeship programs that are not carried out by four-year institutions of higher education (in this section referred to as the
Program).(b) Application
An eligible recipient that seeks a grant under the Program shall submit to the Director an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director may require.
(c) Awards
In awarding grants under the Program, the Director shall give preference to priority recipients over eligible recipients that are not priority recipients.
(d) Permissible use of funds
As determined appropriate by the Director, a recipient of a grant awarded under the Program may obligate or expend grants funds for the following activities:
(1)
Recruiting participants to a STEM apprenticeship program established under the Program.
(2)
Planning and technical assistance to improve such apprenticeship program.
(3)
Incorporating emerging technology into such apprenticeship program.
(4)
Entering such apprenticeship program into a consortium with, or establishing an advisory board for such apprenticeship program that is composed of, one or more private sector entities in STEM.
(5)
Any other activity as the Director may determine.
(e) Impermissible use of funds
A recipient of a grant awarded under the Program may not obligate or expend grant funds for recruitment, inducement, or associated financial or tangible incentives that might be offered to relocate an existing business from a geographic area to another geographic area.
(f) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Eligible recipient
The term eligible recipient means any of the following:
(A)
A State.
(B)
An Indian Tribe (as such term is defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)).
(C)
A city or other political subdivision of such State or Indian Tribe.
(D)
A public-private partnership focused primarily on career development and training in STEM.
(E)
A priority recipient.
(F)
A consortium of any of the entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (E).
(2) Priority recipient
The term priority recipient means any of the following:
(A)
An entity that carries out an apprenticeship program registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the
National Apprenticeship Act; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.)(B)
A community college.
(C)
A minority-serving institution (as such term is defined in section 10002 of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 18901)).
(D)
Any other entity as the Director may determine.
(E)
A consortium that includes an entity described in subparagraphs (A) through (D).
(3) STEM
The term STEM means the study or practice of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
(b) Interagency Task Force
(1) Composition
There is established an interagency task force (in this subsection referred to as the Task Force
) composed of eight members as follows:
(A)
The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(B)
The Director of the National Science Foundation.
(C)
The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
(D)
The Secretary of Commerce.
(E)
The Secretary of Education.
(F)
The Secretary of Energy.
(G)
The Secretary of Health and Human Services.
(H)
The Secretary of Labor.
(2) Report
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Task Force shall submit to Congress a report that includes information relating to an identification of each program of the Federal Government that satisfies the following requirements:
(A)
Is focused primarily on career development and training in STEM.
(B)
Is carried out through any of the following:
(i)
An apprenticeship program registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the National Apprenticeship Act
; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.).
(ii)
A community college (as such term is defined in section 4 of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n note)).
(iii)
A minority-serving institution (as such term is defined in section 10002 of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 18901)).
(3) Termination
The Task Force shall terminate upon submission of the report under paragraph (2).