Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Promoting Women in Entrepreneurship Act”.
Promoting Women in Entrepreneurship Act
A BILL
To authorize the National Science Foundation to support entrepreneurial programs for women.
Sec. 2 Findings
The Congress finds that—
women make up almost 50 percent of the workforce, but less than 25 percent of the workforce in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions;
women are less likely to focus on the STEM disciplines in undergraduate and graduate study;
only 26 percent of women who do attain degrees in STEM fields work in STEM jobs;
there is an increasing demand for individuals with STEM degrees to extend their focus beyond the laboratory so they can be leaders in discovery commercialization;
studies have shown that technology and commercialization ventures are more successful when women are in top management positions; and
the National Science Foundation’s mission includes supporting women in STEM disciplines.
Sec. 3 Supporting women’s entrepreneurial programs
Section 33 of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a) is amended—
by striking “and” at the end of paragraph (10);
by striking the period at the end of paragraph (11) and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(12) support entrepreneurial programs that recruit and support women to extend their focus beyond the laboratory and into the commercial world.”