Comstock’s bipartisan STEM bill passes House with huge support

Bipartisan legislation by U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA) supporting expanded participation of women and other underrepresented individuals in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) passed the House on Dec. 18 by an overwhelming margin of 376 to 9.

“In order to have a vibrant STEM economy that provides opportunity and prosperity for all we must be the leader in STEM fields,” said Comstock, chairwoman of the Research and Technology Subcommittee of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

“To do that, we need to develop the talent of all Americans, especially our researchers and scientists who rely on the strength of their diversity as they work with one another to advance research and other scientific breakthroughs,” she added.

The Research and Education Effectiveness and Transparency Act, H.R. 4375, calls for the National Science Foundation (NSF) to report to Congress within 12 months after the bill is enacted on how effectively its research and education programs are at broadening STEM participation by women and other historically underrepresented groups.

“This report will help us focus resources on what works,” said Comstock, who introduced the bill on Nov. 13. “The diversity of our scientists and researchers is a key strength as they build on each other’s work to discover breakthroughs and create revolutionary research techniques.”

H.R. 4375 requires all federal science agencies to collect standardized information, including demographics, for each application for research and development grants to provide improved transparency on how taxpayer dollars are spent on research and scientists across the federal government, she explained.

Additionally, H.R. 4375 requires NSF information collection on student outcomes “using all available data,” including dropout rates, graduate program enrollment, internship and apprenticeship participation, and employment, according to the bill text. NSF would develop or identify performance standards for evaluating programs and identify any gaps in available data.

Following House passage of H.R. 4375, Comstock highlighted the legislation’s advantages for American taxpayers, noting that it “provides better information on how to make taxpayer-funded investments in STEM and research and development more effective, transparent and fair” by requiring the NSF to make this report on the issue for the first time.

U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), chairman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, signed on as an original cosponsor of H.R. 4375, which now moves to the Senate for consideration.