§7381c–3 Expanding Opportunities for Highly Skilled Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (stem) Professionals

Summary

The Secretary must grow the number of highly trained STEM workers for the Department and reach out to more schools and groups. Within 180 days after August 9, 2022, the Secretary must send a 10‑year education plan to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The plan will fund and expand programs run by the Office of Science at National Laboratories and user facilities. It can include paid internships, fellowships, short jobs, training, visiting student and faculty programs, sabbaticals, and research support. The plan must also include an outreach strategy to better advertise and recruit from community colleges, HBCUs, HSIs, Tribal colleges, other minority‑serving and emerging research institutions, and institutions in eligible areas. The Secretary must build research capacity at those emerging institutions, including partnerships with research‑intensive schools and directly funding proposals, fellowships, training, and research. A university‑led Traineeship Program must be set up to train underrepresented undergraduates and graduates for DOE‑relevant STEM jobs. The Secretary will set performance measures, collect data, and send a report on progress not later than 2 years after August 9, 2022, and every 2 years after that to the House Committees on Science, Space, and Technology and Education and Labor and to the Senate Committees on Energy and Natural Resources and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Definitions: community college (public schools awarding mainly associate degrees or Tribal colleges); dislocated worker (as defined in law on job loss); Hispanic‑serving institution; Historically Black College or University; institution in an eligible jurisdiction; minority‑serving institution; STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math); Tribal College or University.