---
kind: "range"
citation: "42 U.S.C. §§ 1885–1885d"
title: "42"
from: "1885"
to: "1885d"
count: 5
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/1885..1885d"
---

# §1885. Congressional statement of findings and declaration of policy respecting equal opportunities in science and engineering

- (a) The Congress finds that it is in the national interest to promote the full use of human resources in science and engineering and to insure the full development and use of the scientific and engineering talents and skills of men and women, equally, of all ethnic, racial, and economic backgrounds, including [persons](/usc/42/1320a–7k.md?p=d-4-C-i) with disabilities.
- (b) The Congress declares it is the policy of the [United States](/usc/42/1873.md?p=g) to encourage men and women, equally, of all ethnic, racial, and economic backgrounds, including [persons](/usc/42/1320a–7k.md?p=d-4-C-i) with disabilities, to acquire skills in science, engineering, and mathematics, to have equal opportunity in education, [training](/usc/42/285e–2.md?p=b-2), and employment in scientific and engineering fields, and thereby to promote scientific and engineering literacy and the full use of the human resources of the Nation in science and engineering. To this end, the Congress declares that the highest quality science and engineering over the long-term requires substantial support, from currently available research and educational [funds](/usc/42/12854.md?p=3), for increased participation in science and engineering by women, [minorities](/usc/42/299a–1.md?p=d-2), and [persons](/usc/42/1320a–7k.md?p=d-4-C-i) with disabilities. The Congress further declares that the impact on women, [minorities](/usc/42/299a–1.md?p=d-2), and [persons](/usc/42/1320a–7k.md?p=d-4-C-i) with disabilities which is produced by advances in science and engineering must be included as essential factors in national and international science, engineering, and economic policies.

# §1885a. Women in science and engineering; support of activities by Foundation for promotion, etc.


The [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3) is authorized to—

- (1) support activities designed to—
  - (A) increase the participation of women in courses of study at the undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels leading to degrees in scientific and engineering fields;
  - (B) encourage women to consider and prepare for careers in science and engineering; or
  - (C) provide traineeship and [fellowship](/usc/42/1862n–1.md?p=i-3) opportunities for women in science and engineering;
- (2) support [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) in science, engineering, and mathematics in elementary and secondary [schools](/usc/42/6372.md?p=1) so as to stimulate the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and information by female students and to increase female student awareness of career opportunities requiring scientific and engineering skills;
- (3) support activities in continuing education in science and engineering which provide opportunities for women who—
  - (A) are in the work force, or
  - (B) who are not in the work force because their careers have been interrupted,

  to acquire new knowledge, techniques, and skills in scientific and engineering fields;

- (4) undertake a comprehensive research [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) designed to increase public understanding of (A) the potential contribution of women in science and engineering and (B) the means to facilitate the participation and advancement of women in scientific and engineering careers;
- (5) establish a visiting women scientists and engineers [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4);
- (6) support activities designed to improve the availability and quality of public information concerning the importance of the participation of women in careers in science and engineering;
- (7) support activities of [museums](/usc/42/7142d.md?p=1) and science centers which demonstrate potential to interest and involve women in science and engineering;
- (8) make grants, to be known as the National Research Opportunity Grants, to women scientists and engineers who (A) have received their doctorates within five years prior to the date of the award or (B) have received their doctorates, have had their careers interrupted, and are re-entering the work force within five years after such interruption;
- (9) make grants to women eligible under [paragraph (8)](#8) to assist such women in planning and developing a research [project](/usc/42/11360.md?p=20) eligible for support under such paragraph;
- (10) provide support to individuals or academic institutions for full-time or part-time visiting professorships for women in science and engineering;
- (11) support [demonstration project](/usc/42/16281.md?p=d-2) activities of individuals, [public agencies](/usc/42/11851.md?p=8), and [private entities](/usc/42/12181.md?p=6) designed to encourage the employment and advancement of women in science and engineering; and
- (12) encourage its entrepreneurial [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) to recruit and support women to extend their focus beyond the [laboratory](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=10) and into the commercial world.

# §1885b. Participation in science and engineering of minorities and persons with disabilities

- (a) The [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3) is authorized (1) to undertake or support a comprehensive science and engineering education [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) to increase the participation of [minorities](/usc/42/299a–1.md?p=d-2) in science and engineering, and (2) to support activities to initiate research at [minority](/usc/42/299a–1.md?p=d-2) institutions.
- (b) The [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3) is authorized to undertake or support [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) and activities to encourage the participation of [persons](/usc/42/1320a–7k.md?p=d-4-C-i) with disabilities in the science and engineering professions.

# §1885c. Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science and Engineering

- (a) **Establishment; purposes—** There is established within the [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3) a Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science and Engineering (hereinafter referred to as the “Committee”). The Committee shall provide advice to the [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3) concerning (1) the implementation of the provisions of [sections 1885 to 1885d](/usc/42/1885..1885d.md) of this title and (2) other policies and activities of the [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3) to encourage full participation of women, [minorities](/usc/42/299a–1.md?p=d-2), and [persons](/usc/42/1320a–7k.md?p=d-4-C-i) with disabilities in scientific, engineering, and professional fields.
- (b) **Membership; Chairperson; term of members—** Each member of the Committee shall be appointed by the [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1). In addition, the Chairman of the National Science [Board](/usc/42/10261.md?p=2) may designate a member of the [Board](/usc/42/10261.md?p=2) as a member of the Committee. Members of the Committee shall be appointed to serve for a three-year term, and may be reappointed to serve one additional term of three years.
- (c) **Responsibilities of Committee—** The Committee shall be responsible for reviewing and evaluating all [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3) matters relating to opportunities for the participation in, and the advancement of, women, [minorities](/usc/42/299a–1.md?p=d-2), and [persons](/usc/42/1320a–7k.md?p=d-4-C-i) with disabilities in education, [training](/usc/42/285e–2.md?p=b-2), and science and engineering research [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4).
- (d) **Standing or ad hoc subcommittees—** The Committee may organize such standing or ad hoc subcommittees as the Committee finds appropriate.
- (e) **Biennial report—** Every 2 years, the Committee shall prepare and submit to the [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) a report on its activities during the previous 2 years and proposed activities for the next 2 years. The [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) shall submit to Congress the report, unaltered, together with such comments as the [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) considers appropriate, including—
  - (1) review data on the participation in [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3) activities of institutions serving populations that are underrepresented in STEM disciplines, including poor, rural, and tribal populations; and
  - (2) recommendations regarding how the [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3) could improve outreach and inclusion of these populations in [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3) activities.

# §1885d. Biennial reports

- (a) By January 30 of each odd-numbered year, the [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) shall simultaneously transmit a report to the Congress, the [Attorney General](/usc/42/14902.md?p=6), the [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) of the [Office](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=1) of Science and Technology Policy, the Chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity [Commission](/usc/42/2000ff.md?p=1), the [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1) of the [Office](/usc/42/3058f.md?p=1) of Personnel Management, the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of Labor, the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of Education, and the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of Health and Human Services.
- (b) The report required by [subsection (a)](#a) shall contain—
  - (1) an accounting and comparison, by sex, race, and ethnic group and by discipline, of the participation of women and men in scientific and engineering positions, including—
    - (A) the number of individuals in permanent and temporary and in full-time and part-time scientific and engineering positions by appropriate level or similar [category](/usc/42/1395w–4.md?p=j-1);
    - (B) the average salary of individuals in such scientific and engineering positions;
    - (C) the number and type of promotional opportunities realized by individuals in such scientific and engineering positions;
    - (D) the number of individuals serving as principal investigators in federally conducted or federally supported research and development; and
    - (E) the unemployment rate of individuals seeking scientific and engineering positions;
  - (2) an assessment, including quantitative and other data, of the proportion of women and [minorities](/usc/42/299a–1.md?p=d-2) studying scientific and engineering fields, including mathematics and computer skills, at all educational levels; and
  - (3) such other data, analyses, and evaluations as the [Director](/usc/42/5061.md?p=1), acting on the advice of the Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science and Engineering, determines appropriate to carry out the [Foundation](/usc/42/17351.md?p=3)’s functions as well as the policies and [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) of [sections 1885 to 1885d](/usc/42/1885..1885d.md) of this title.