US HB4979 | 2019-2020 | 116th Congress

Status

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: Engrossed on September 17 2020 - 50% progression, died in committee
Action: 2020-09-17 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Pending: Senate Health, Education, Labor, And Pensions Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Engrossed) [PDF]

Summary

Directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support research regarding STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, including computer science) education in rural schools. The NSF must award grants to institutions of higher education or nonprofit organizations for (1) research and development to advance innovative approaches to support and sustain high-quality STEM teaching in rural schools, (2) research and development of programming to identify the barriers rural students face in accessing high-quality STEM education, (3) development of innovative solutions to improve the participation and advancement of rural students in grades Pre-K through 12 in STEM studies, and (4) research on online STEM education courses for rural communities. The NSF may establish a pilot program of regional cohorts in rural areas to provide peer support, mentoring, and hands-on research experiences for rural STEM educators of students in grades Pre-K through 12 in order to build an ecosystem of cooperation among educators, researchers, academia, and local industry. The NSF shall enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences under which the National Academy agrees to evaluate aspects of STEM education and workforce development in rural areas. The Government Accountability Office shall conduct a study on the engagement of rural populations in federal STEM programs. Each of the federal agencies administering an Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program shall consider modifications to EPSCoR award structures to increase the capacity of rural communities to provide quality STEM education and STEM workforce development programming to students and teachers. The bill expands certain outreach activities of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program and MEP Centers to include secondary schools. The National Institute of Standards and Technology must award prizes to stimulate research and development of creative technologies in order to deploy affordable and reliable broadband connectivity to underserved rural communities. The Office of Science and Technology Policy must establish a broadband research and development working group to address national research challenges and opportunities for improving broadband access and adoption across the United States.

Tracking Information

Register now for our free OneVote public service or GAITS Pro trial account and you can begin tracking this and other legislation, all driven by the real-time data of the LegiScan API. Providing tools allowing you to research pending legislation, stay informed with email alerts, content feeds, and share dynamic reports. Use our new PolitiCorps to join with friends and collegaues to monitor & discuss bills through the process.

Monitor Legislation or view this same bill number from multiple sessions or take advantage of our national legislative search.

Title

Rural STEM Education Act

Sponsors


History

DateChamberAction
2020-09-17SenateReceived in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
2020-09-16HouseMotion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2020-09-16HouseOn motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4463-4466)
2020-09-16HouseDEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4979.
2020-09-16HouseConsidered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4463-4467)
2020-09-16HouseMs. Johnson (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
2020-02-13HousePlaced on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 319.
2020-02-13HouseReported (Amended) by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 116-397.
2019-11-14HouseOrdered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
2019-11-14HouseCommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
2019-11-05HouseReferred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
2019-11-05HouseIntroduced in House

Same As/Similar To

SB4972 (Related) 2020-12-08 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Subjects


US Congress State Sources


Bill Comments

feedback