HR 4979 116th Congress House Science, Technology, Communications Academic performance and assessments Advanced technology and technological innovations Advisory bodies Computers and information technology Congressional oversight Education of the disadvantaged Educational technology and distance education Elementary and secondary education Employment and training programs Government studies and investigations Higher education Internet and video services Internet, web applications, social media Manufacturing Performance measurement Research administration and funding Rural conditions and development Science and engineering education Teaching, teachers, curricula

Rural STEM Education Act

Introduced: November 5, 2019 Introduced by: Lucas, Frank D. Republican · Oklahoma See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 13 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Sep 17, 2020

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Sep 16, 2020

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4463-4467)

Sep 16, 2020

Ms. Johnson (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

Sep 16, 2020

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Sep 16, 2020

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4463-4466)

Sep 16, 2020

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

Sep 16, 2020

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4979.

Feb 13, 2020

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 319.

Feb 13, 2020

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 116-397.

Nov 14, 2019

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Nov 14, 2019

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Nov 5, 2019

Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Nov 5, 2019

Introduced in House

Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Rural STEM Education Act

This bill directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support research regarding STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, including computer science) education in rural schools.

(Sec. 3) 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, and (3) development of innovative solutions to improve the participation and advancement of rural students in grades Pre-K through 12 in STEM studies.

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.

(Sec. 4) The NSF shall award competitive grants to institutions of higher education or nonprofit organizations (or a consortium thereof, which may include a private sector partner) to conduct research on online STEM education courses for rural communities.

(Sec. 5) 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.

(Sec. 6) The Government Accountability Office shall conduct a study on the engagement of rural populations in federal STEM programs.

(Sec. 7) 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.

(Sec. 8) 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.

(Sec. 9) 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.

What's happening now September 17, 2020

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Committees of jurisdiction 2