Women and Underrepresented Minorities in STEM Booster Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3124
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-30: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-05T22:49:17Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Women and Underrepresented Minorities in STEM Booster Act of 2025" aims to boost the involvement of women, racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities—groups historically underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)—in both STEM education and careers. It addresses disparities in degrees earned, job employment, and retention rates by funding targeted programs.
Key Provisions
- Findings Section: Outlines data from sources like the National Science Foundation (NSF), Census Bureau, and others showing underrepresentation. For example:
- Women earn fewer STEM degrees in fields like engineering (24%) compared to men and are more likely to leave STEM jobs.
- Black, Hispanic, Native American, certain Asian subgroups (e.g., Cambodian, Hmong), Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and LGBTQ+ individuals receive disproportionately few STEM degrees and hold fewer STEM jobs relative to their population share.
- People with disabilities make up 3% of the STEM workforce but 9% of the general population.
- Grant Program: The NSF Director will award competitive grants to eligible entities (e.g., educational institutions or nonprofits) to support activities increasing STEM participation among targeted groups.
- Authorized Activities include:
- Online workshops.
- Mentoring programs pairing STEM professionals with students.
- Internships for undergraduate and graduate students.
- Outreach to elementary and high school students to expose them to STEM.
- Efforts to recruit and retain underrepresented faculty.
- Other programs approved by the NSF.
- Application Process: Entities must submit applications as required by the NSF.
- Definitions:
- Minority: Includes American Indian/Alaska Native, Black (non-Hispanic), Hispanic/Latino, Asian (including underrepresented subgroups), Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, other ethnic groups underrepresented in STEM, and LGBTQ+ or gender-nonconforming individuals.
- Person with a Disability: Defined by the U.S. Census Bureau's survey on disability types.
- Underrepresented in Science and Engineering: Groups with far fewer scientists and engineers per 10,000 people compared to White non-Hispanics.
- Funding: Authorizes $15 million annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new grant program under the NSF, without directly amending prior laws. It builds on existing NSF efforts to promote diversity (e.g., through broader inclusion initiatives) but creates a dedicated funding stream focused on specific underrepresented groups, including expanded definitions that incorporate LGBTQ+ and gender-nonconforming individuals alongside traditional racial/ethnic categories.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The NSF will gain resources and administrative responsibilities to manage grants, potentially increasing its role in diversity initiatives. This could strain budgets if appropriations fall short but enhance federal support for STEM equity.
- Citizens: Underrepresented students and professionals may gain better access to education, mentoring, and jobs, leading to higher retention in STEM (e.g., addressing the 44-53% retention rate for women after 10 years). Broader workforce diversity could foster innovation, as diverse teams reportedly innovate more.
- International Relations: Indirectly positive for U.S. competitiveness in global STEM fields, helping maintain a skilled workforce against international rivals, though no direct foreign policy elements.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Underrepresented Groups: Women, racial/ethnic minorities (e.g., Black, Hispanic, Native American, certain Asian and Pacific Islander subgroups), LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities—who stand to benefit from increased opportunities.
- Educational Institutions: Universities, schools, and nonprofits eligible for grants to run programs, potentially improving faculty diversity and student outreach.
- STEM Professionals and Employers: Mentors, interns, and companies that could see a more diverse talent pool.
- Federal Government: Primarily the NSF, which implements the program.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill's broad definitions of "minority" and "underrepresented" align with federal anti-discrimination laws (e.g., Title IX for gender equity) but could invite scrutiny over how grants prioritize groups without violating equal protection principles. Competitive grants ensure merit-based awards, reducing risks of legal challenges.
- Constitutional: Promotes equal opportunity without quotas, fitting within Congress's spending power to advance public welfare (e.g., workforce diversity). No apparent conflicts with the Equal Protection Clause, as it targets voluntary programs for historically disadvantaged groups.
- Political: Likely to spark debate on affirmative action and identity-based policies, with supporters viewing it as essential for equity and critics potentially seeing it as divisive. It reflects bipartisan interest in STEM competitiveness but emphasizes social inclusion, which could influence future education funding bills.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]
Cosponsors (17)
Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27], Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16], Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-30: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- 2025-04-30: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-30: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Women and Underrepresented Minorities in STEM Booster Act of 2025 — issued 2025-04-30 — PDF (10 pages)