US Codex
Bill
Notes

Title IV — Research

H.R. 1981 · 115th Congress · Apr 6, 2017 · Lineage

IV Research

Sec. 401 National Science Foundation study on science and technology student retention

(a)
Study— The National Science Foundation shall conduct a study on the causes of the high dropout rates of women and minority students enrolled in programs of education leading to degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and the effects of such dropout rates on the cost of education for such students and the shortage of workers qualified for jobs in science and technology.
(b)
Report— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the National Science Foundation shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under subsection (a) together with any recommendations of the National Science Foundation.

Sec. 402 Challenge Grants

(a)
In general— The Secretary of Homeland Security shall make grants to the Center of Distinction for Academic Computing and Information Security Assurance, which shall be known as “Challenge Grants”. The recipient of a grant under this section shall use the grant to form a partnership with section 230A of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by section 101 to assist in improving the computing programs of such colleges and universities and meeting the requirements to become a Center of Distinction for Academic Computing and Information Security. The Secretary shall ensure that the institutions that receive assistance under this subsection are the institutions as defined under section 371 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q).
(b)
Report— The Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the outcomes of the partnerships funded by grants under this section and shall include in such report the recommendations of the Secretary regarding improving the access of the population served by the institutions of higher education described in subsection (a).

Sec. 403 E-Security Fellows Program

(a)
Establishment of program— Subtitle C of title II of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 121 et seq.) is further amended by adding at the end the following:

“230D. E-Security Fellows Program

“(a) Establishment

“(1) In general—The Secretary shall establish a fellowship program in accordance with this section for the purpose of bringing State, local, tribal, and private sector officials to participate in the work of the National Cybersecurity Division in order to become familiar with the Department’s stated cybersecurity missions and capabilities, including but not limited to—

“(A) developing partnerships with other Federal agencies, State, local, and tribal governments, and the private sector; and

“(B) fostering training and certification.

“(2) Program name—The program under this section shall be known as the “E-Security Fellows Program”.

“(b) Eligibility—In order to be eligible for selection as a fellow under the program, an individual must—

“(1) have computer and information security-related responsibilities; and

“(2) be eligible to possess an appropriate national security clearance.

“(c) Limitations—The Secretary—

“(1) may conduct up to 2 iterations of the program each year, each of which shall be 180 days in duration; and

“(2) shall ensure that the number of fellows selected for each iteration does not impede the activities of the Division.

“(d) Condition—As a condition of selecting an individual as a fellow under the program, the Secretary shall require that the individual’s employer agree to continue to pay the individual’s salary and benefits during the period of the fellowship.

“(e) Stipend—During the period of the fellowship of an individual under the program, the Secretary shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, provide to the individual a stipend to cover the individual’s reasonable living expenses during the period of the fellowship.”

(b)
Clerical amendment— The table of contents in section 1(b) of such Act is further amended by adding at the end of the items relating to such subtitle the following: