S. 1070

119 S1070 ES: National STEM Week Act
 U.S. Senate
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 119th CONGRESS  2d Session  S. 1070  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES  AN ACT
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.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   National STEM Week Act  .
2.
Findings
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.
(3)
Informal and formal learning environments, including afterschool programs and at-home activities, play significant roles in stimulating interest and proficiency in STEM subjects.
(4)
Collaborations between educational institutions, industry partners, and communities can effectively inspire and prepare students for careers in STEM.
3.
Designation of National STEM Week
Section 101 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 ( 42 U.S.C. 6621 ) is amended—
(1)
in subsection (b)—
(A)
in paragraph (9), by striking  and  after the semicolon;
(B)
in paragraph (10), by striking the period at the end and inserting  ; and ; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following:
(11)
in consultation with relevant stakeholders, designate a week each calendar year, until the expiration date provided in subsection (e), as  National STEM Week .
 ;
(2)
in subsection (d)—
(A)
in paragraph (9), by striking  and  after the semicolon;
(B)
in paragraph (10), by striking the period at the end and inserting  ; and ; and
(C)
by adding at the end the following:
(11)
a description of the activities conducted under National STEM Week, including—
(A)
a summary of nationwide participation and activities;
(B)
an analysis of the impact of these activities on improving STEM education and closing educational gaps; and
(C)
recommendations for improving future STEM Weeks based on feedback from participants and stakeholders.
 ; and
(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 ).
(F)
STEM
The term  STEM  means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
(G)
State
The term  State  means each of the 50 States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands.
(2)
Purposes
The purposes of National STEM Week are, through the programs and activities described in paragraph (3), to—
(A)
highlight the importance of STEM education in educational institutions across the country;
(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;
(D)
facilitate partnerships between educational institutions and industry leaders to provide students with real-world applications and mentorship opportunities in STEM fields; and
(E)
support States and local communities in developing and promoting their own STEM Week activities and resources, tailored to their unique educational and industrial landscapes.
(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.
(C)
Industry involvement
Encourage STEM industries to—
(i)
engage with students enrolled in educational institutions by providing mentorship programs, site visits, and guest lectures; and
(ii)
support STEM education initiatives at such educational institutions through funding, resources, and expertise.
(4)
Expiration
The authority to designate a week as National STEM Week and to carry out all programs and activities described in this subsection shall expire on the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of the  National STEM Week Act .
 .
    Passed the Senate February 26, 2026.    Secretary