H.R. 9177

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9177 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9177

To amend the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act 
to direct the Director of the National Science Foundation to carry out 
a mentorship demonstration program, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 8, 2026

Ms. McClellan (for herself, Mr. Tonko, Mrs. Foushee, Ms. Norton, and 
Ms. Ross) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act 
to direct the Director of the National Science Foundation to carry out 
a mentorship demonstration program, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Improving Mentorship in STEM Higher 
Education Act''.

SEC. 2. MENTORSHIP DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM; NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 
REPORTING.

(a) Demonstration Program.--Section 10313(a) of the Research and 
Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 18993) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(6) Demonstration program.--
``(A) In general.--The Director may make awards, 
including through existing programs, on a competitive 
basis to eligible entities to carry out projects 
designed to improve mentorship practices and provide 
resources for faculty, graduate researchers, and 
postdoctoral researchers at the eligible entity, 
including with respect to--
``(i) building and developing mentoring 
skills in such researchers and faculty;
``(ii) promoting evidence-based and 
institutionalized mentorship at the eligible 
entity;
``(iii) researching methodologies for 
improving mentorship;
``(iv) training such researchers and 
faculty in cultural competencies; and
``(v) funding outreach related to such 
projects.
``(B) Application.--An eligible entity desiring an 
award under this subsection shall submit to the 
Director an application at such time, in such form, and 
containing such information as the Director may 
require.
``(C) Special consideration.--In making awards 
under this subsection, the Director shall give special 
consideration to eligible entities that are--
``(i) minority-serving institutions;
``(ii) historically Black colleges and 
universities;
``(iii) Tribal Colleges or Universities;
``(iv) rural-serving institutions of higher 
education (as such term is defined in section 
861(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1161q(b)));
``(v) emerging research institutions; and
``(vi) consortia that include institutions 
described in clauses (i) through (v).
``(D) Report.--Not later than 5 years after the 
date of the enactment of this paragraph, the Director 
shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the Senate a report that includes--
``(i) an assessment, using qualitative or 
quantitative metrics as determined by the 
Director, of the effectiveness of the 
demonstration program carried out under this 
paragraph on increasing the quality of 
mentorship in STEM education; and
``(ii) if such assessment determines that 
such program is effective, a plan to sustain 
and permanently implement such program.
``(E) Eligible entity defined.--For purposes of 
this paragraph, the term `eligible entity' means--
``(i) an institution of higher education 
(as such term is defined in section 101 of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001));
``(ii) a nonprofit organization; and
``(iii) a consortium of entities described 
in clauses (i) and (ii).
``(F) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
paragraph $5,000,000, for fiscal years 2027 through 
2031.''.
(b) Misconduct Reporting Requirements.--Section 7009 of the America 
COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 1862o-1) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs 
(3) and (4), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
``(2) institutional and agency reporting processes with 
respect to harassment, discrimination, and other forms of 
professional or scientific misconduct;''.
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