S.744 Immigration bill - Sec. 4104: STEM EDUCATION AND TRAINING

    (a) Fee- Section 212(a)(5)(A) (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(5)(A)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

          `(v) FEE- An employer shall submit, along with an application for a certification under this subparagraph, a fee of $500 which shall be deposited in the STEM Education and Training Account established by section 286(s).'.

    (b) Use of Fee- Section 286(s) (8 U.S.C. 1356(s)) is amended to read as follows:

    `(s) STEM Education and Training Account-

      `(1) IN GENERAL- There is established in the general fund of the Treasury a separate account, which shall be known as the `STEM Education and Training Account'. Notwithstanding any other section of this title, there shall be deposited as offsetting receipts into the account all fees collected under section 212(a)(5)(A)(v).

      `(2) LOW-INCOME STEM SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM- Sixty percent of the amounts deposited into the STEM Education and Training Account shall remain available to the Director of the National Science Foundation until expended for scholarships described in section 414(d) of the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 1869c) for low-income students enrolled in a program of study leading to a degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.

      `(3) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM FOR K-12 SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION-

        `(A) IN GENERAL- Fifteen percent of the amounts deposited into the STEM Education and Training Account shall remain available to the Director of the National Science Foundation until expended to carry out a direct or matching grant program to support improvement in K-12 education, including through private-public partnerships.

        `(B) TYPES OF PROGRAMS COVERED- The Director shall award grants to such programs, including those which support the development and implementation of standards-based instructional materials models and related student assessments that enable K-12 students to acquire an understanding of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, as well as to develop critical thinking skills; provide systemic improvement in training K-12 teachers and education for students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, including by supporting efforts to promote gender-equality among students receiving such instruction; support the professional development of K-12 science, technology, engineering and mathematics teachers in the use of technology in the classroom; stimulate system-wide K-12 reform of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in rural, economically disadvantaged regions of the United States; provide externships and other opportunities for students to increase their appreciation and understanding of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (including summer institutes sponsored by an institution of higher education for students in grades 7-12 that provide instruction in such fields); involve partnerships of industry, educational institutions, and community organizations to address the educational needs of disadvantaged communities; provide college preparatory support to expose and prepare students for careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and provide for carrying out systemic reform activities under section 3(a)(1) of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1862(a)(1)).

      `(4) STEM CAPACITY BUILDING AT MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS-

        `(A) IN GENERAL- Twelve percent of the amounts deposited into the STEM Education and Training Account shall remain available to the Director of the National Science Foundation until expended to establish or expand programs to award grants on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis to enhance the quality of undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education at minority-serving institutions of higher education and to increase the retention and graduation rates of students pursuing degrees in such fields at such institutions.

        `(B) TYPES OF PROGRAMS COVERED- Grants awarded under this paragraph shall be awarded to--

          `(i) minority-serving institutions of higher education for--

            `(I) activities to improve courses and curriculum in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics;

            `(II) efforts to promote gender equality among students enrolled in such courses;

            `(III) faculty development;

            `(IV) stipends for undergraduate students participating in research; and

            `(V) other activities consistent with subparagraph (A), as determined by the Director; and

          `(ii) to other institutions of higher education to partner with the institutions described in clause (i) for--

            `(I) faculty and student development and exchange;

            `(II) research infrastructure development;

            `(III) joint research projects; and

            `(IV) identification and development of minority and low-income candidates for graduate studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics degree programs.

        `(C) INSTITUTIONS INCLUDED- In this paragraph, the term `minority-serving institutions of higher education' shall include--

          `(i) colleges eligible to receive funds under the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321-326a and 328), including Tuskegee University;

          `(ii) 1994 Institutions, as defined in section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 301 note); and

          `(iii) Hispanic-serving institutions, as defined in section 502(a)(5) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a(a)(5)).

      `(5) STEM JOB TRAINING- Ten percent of amounts deposited into the STEM Education and Training Account shall remain available to the Secretary of Labor until expended for--

        `(A) demonstration programs and projects described in section 414(c) of the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act of 1998; and

        `(B) training programs in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics for persons who have served honorably in the Armed Forces of the United States and have retired or are retiring from such service.

      `(6) USE OF FEES FOR DUTIES RELATING TO PETITIONS- One and one-half percent of the amounts deposited into the STEM Education and Training Account shall remain available to the Secretary of Homeland Security until expended to carry out duties under paragraphs (1) (E) or (F) of section 204(a) (related to petitions for immigrants described in section 203(b)) and under paragraphs (1) and (9) of section 214(c) (related to petitions made for nonimmigrants described in section 101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b)).

      `(7) USE OF FEES FOR APPLICATION PROCESSING AND ENFORCEMENT- One and one-half percent of the amounts deposited into the STEM Education and Training Account shall remain available to the Secretary of Labor until expended for decreasing the processing time for applications under section 212(a)(5)(A) and section 212(n)(1).'.

Subtitle B--H-1B Visa Fraud and Abuse Protections

CHAPTER 1--H-1B EMPLOYER APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

4104
STEM EDUCATION AND TRAINING