---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 18994"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "18994"
heading: "STEM workforce data"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/18994"
units:
  - "Chapter 163 — Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation"
  - "Subchapter III — National Science Foundation for the Future"
  - "Part B — STEM Education"
---

# §18994. STEM workforce data

- (a) **Skilled technical workforce portfolio review—**
  - (1) **In general—** Not later than 1 year after August 9, 2022, the [Director](/usc/42/18921.md?p=1) shall conduct a full portfolio analysis of the [Foundation](/usc/42/18901.md?p=11)’s skilled technical workforce investments across all Directorates in the areas of education, research, infrastructure, data collection, and analysis.
  - (2) **Report—** Not later than 180 days after the date of the review under [paragraph (1)](#a-1) is complete, the [Director](/usc/42/18921.md?p=1) shall submit to Congress and make widely available to the public a summary report of the portfolio review.
- (b) **Survey data—**
  - (1) **Rotating topic modules—** To meet evolving needs for data on the [state](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) of the science and engineering workforce, the [Director](/usc/42/18921.md?p=1) shall assess, through coordination with other Federal statistical [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) and drawing on input from relevant stakeholders, the feasibility and benefits of incorporating questions or topic modules to existing National [Center](/usc/42/18901.md?p=17) for Science and Engineering Statistics surveys that would vary from cycle to cycle.
  - (2) **New data—** Not later than 1 year after August 9, 2022, the [Director](/usc/42/18921.md?p=1) shall submit to Congress and the Board the results of an assessment, carried out in coordination with other Federal [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) and with input from relevant stakeholders, of the feasibility and benefits of incorporating new questions or topic modules to existing National [Center](/usc/42/18901.md?p=17) for Science and Engineering Statistics surveys on—
    - (A) the skilled technical workforce;
    - (B) working conditions and work-life balance;
    - (C) harassment and discrimination;
    - (D) immigration and emigration; and
    - (E) any other topics at the discretion of the [Director](/usc/42/18921.md?p=1).
  - (3) **Longitudinal design—** The [Director](/usc/42/18921.md?p=1) shall continue and accelerate efforts to enhance the usefulness of National [Center](/usc/42/18901.md?p=17) for Science and Engineering Statistics survey data for longitudinal research and analysis.
  - (4) **Government Accountability Office review—** Not later than 1 year after August 9, 2022, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a report to Congress that—
    - (A) evaluates [Foundation](/usc/42/18901.md?p=11) processes for ensuring the data and analysis produced by the National [Center](/usc/42/18901.md?p=17) for Science and Engineering Statistics meets current and future needs; and
    - (B) includes such recommendations as the Comptroller General determines are appropriate to improve such processes.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title III, § 10314, Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1529.)