Calendar No. 339
119th CONGRESS 2d Session |
[Report No. 119–110]
To establish a National STEM Week to promote American innovation and enhance STEM education pathways for all students, including those in rural, urban, and underserved communities.
March 14, 2025
Ms. Ernst (for herself and Ms. Klobuchar) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
February 12, 2026
Reported by Mr. Cruz, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
To establish a National STEM Week to promote American innovation and enhance STEM education pathways for all students, including those in rural, urban, and underserved communities.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Congress finds the following:
(1) Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields are crucial to the economic competitiveness and innovative capacity of the United States.
(2) There exists a need to enhance access to quality STEM education across all demographics and regions to address disparities in STEM participation and to ensure a diverse and capable future workforce.
SEC. 3. Designation of National STEM Week.
The National Science and Technology Council Committee on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education (CoSTEM), in consultation with other relevant stakeholders, shall designate a week each calendar year as “National STEM Week”.
SEC. 4. Purposes of National STEM Week.
(a) Purposes.—The purposes of National STEM Week are, through the programs and activities described in subsection (b), to—
(1) highlight the importance of STEM education in educational institutions across the country;
(2) showcase diverse career pathways within STEM fields in both classroom settings and informal learning environments;
(3) encourage family engagement with STEM activities at home to foster a conducive learning environment;
(4) facilitate partnerships between educational institutions and industry leaders to provide students with real-world applications and mentorship opportunities in STEM fields; and
(5) support States and local communities in developing and promoting their own STEM Week activities and resources, tailored to their unique educational and industrial landscapes.
(b) Programs and activities.—During National STEM Week, the National Science and Technology Council Committee on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education (CoSTEM) shall carry out the following:
(1) EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES.—Encourage educational institutions to participate in National STEM Week.
(2) COMMUNITY AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT.—Encourage families of students attending the educational institutions participating in National STEM Week to participate in STEM activities.
(3) INDUSTRY INVOLVEMENT.—Encourage STEM industries to—
(A) engage with students enrolled in educational institutions by providing mentorship programs, site visits, and guest lectures; and
(B) support STEM education initiatives at such educational institutions through funding, resources, and expertise.
SEC. 5. Reporting and evaluation.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and on an annual basis thereafter, the National Science and Technology Council Committee on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (CoSTEM) shall submit to Congress a report detailing the activities conducted under National STEM Week, including—
In this Act:
(1) EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION.—The term “educational institution” means any elementary school, secondary school, and institution of higher education.
(2) ELEMENTARY SCHOOL; SECONDARY SCHOOL.—The terms “elementary school” and “secondary school” have the meanings given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(3) INDUSTRY LEADER.—The term “industry leader” means an individual in a leadership position within an industry partner who has the authority to make strategic decisions and allocate resources to support the purposes of National STEM Week.
(4) INDUSTRY PARTNER.—The term “industry partner” means a for-profit or nonprofit entity seeking to support the purposes of National STEM Week.
(5) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The term “institution of higher education” has the meaning given the term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002).
This Act may be cited as the “National STEM Week Act”.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields are crucial to the economic competitiveness and innovative capacity of the United States.
(2) There exists a need to enhance access to quality STEM education across all demographics and regions to address disparities in STEM participation and to ensure a capable future workforce.
SEC. 3. Designation of National STEM Week.
Section 101 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621) is amended—
(2) in subsection (d)—
(3) by adding at the end the following:
“(e) National STEM Week.—
“(1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection:
“(A) EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION.—The term ‘educational institution’ means any elementary school, secondary school, and institution of higher education.
“(B) ELEMENTARY SCHOOL; SECONDARY SCHOOL.—The terms ‘elementary school’ and ‘secondary school’ have the meanings given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
“(C) INDUSTRY LEADER.—The term ‘industry leader’ means an individual in a leadership position within an industry partner who has the authority to make strategic decisions and allocate resources to support the purposes of National STEM Week.
“(D) INDUSTRY PARTNER.—The term ‘industry partner’ means a for-profit or nonprofit entity seeking to support the purposes of National STEM Week.
“(E) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The term ‘institution of higher education’ has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
“(2) PURPOSES.—The purposes of National STEM Week are, through the programs and activities described in paragraph (3), to—
“(B) showcase diverse career pathways within STEM fields in both classroom settings and informal learning environments;
“(C) encourage family engagement with STEM activities at home to foster a conducive learning environment;
“(3) PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES.—During National STEM Week, the committee established under subsection (a) shall carry out the following:
“(A) EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES.—Encourage educational institutions to participate in National STEM Week.
“(B) COMMUNITY AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT.—Encourage families of students attending the educational institutions participating in National STEM Week to participate in STEM activities.
Calendar No. 339 | |||||
| |||||
[Report No. 119–110] | |||||
A BILL | |||||
To establish a National STEM Week to promote American innovation and enhance STEM education pathways for all students, including those in rural, urban, and underserved communities. | |||||
February 12, 2026 | |||||
Reported with an amendment |