Legislation (S. 2817) approved by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee on September 5 includes a provision designed to increase the number of students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Based on legislation (S. 1549) sponsored by Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), the provision would establish a program within the National Science Foundation (NSF) to provide grants to colleges and universities to increase the quantity and quality of graduates from science, technology, engineering, and mathematics degree programs. Colleges and universities would be able to receive grants for a number of projects such as mentor programs to increase the number of students, including women, typically underrepresented in the fields of science, math, engineering, and technology.
S. 2817 would reauthorize NSF programs and double funding for the agency over the next five years.
