Paul E. Tsongas Fellowship Act - Establishes Paul E. Tsongas Doctoral Fellowships for study and research in fields of science or engineering that relate to energy or the environment such as physics, mathematics, chemistry, biology, computer science, materials science, environmental science, behavioral science, and social sciences at institutions proposed by applicants for such fellowships.
Creates the Paul E. Tsongas Fellowship Board to: (1) establish general policies for the program and oversee its operation; (2) establish general criteria for awarding fellowships; (3) award fellowships; and (4) submit to the Congress at least once in every three-year period a report on any modifications in the program.
Authorizes appropriations.
[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[H.R. 2749 Introduced in House (IH)]
105th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2749
To establish doctoral fellowships designed to increase the pool of
scientists and engineers trained specifically to address the global
energy and environmental challenges of the 21st century.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 28, 1997
Mr. Kennedy of Massachusetts (for himself and Mr. Meehan) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish doctoral fellowships designed to increase the pool of
scientists and engineers trained specifically to address the global
energy and environmental challenges of the 21st century.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Paul E. Tsongas Fellowship Act''.
SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.
It is the purpose of this Act to encourage individuals of
exceptional achievement and promise, especially members of
traditionally underrepresented groups, to pursue careers in fields that
confront the global energy and environmental challenges of the 21st
century.
SEC. 3. DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS AUTHORIZED.
(a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary of Energy is authorized to
award doctoral fellowships, to be known as Paul E. Tsongas Doctoral
Fellowships, in accordance with the provisions of this Act for study
and research in fields of science or engineering that relate to energy
or the environment such as physics, mathematics, chemistry, biology,
computer science, materials science, environmental science, behavioral
science, and social sciences at institutions proposed by applicants for
such fellowships.
(b) Period of Award.--A fellowship under this section shall be
awarded for a period of three succeeding academic years, beginning with
the commencement of a program of doctoral study.
(c) Fellowship Portability.--Each Fellow shall be entitled to use
the fellowship in a graduate program at any accredited institution of
higher education in which the recipient may decide to enroll.
(d) Number of Fellowships.--As many fellowships as may be fully
funded according to this Act shall be awarded each year.
(e) Designation of Fellows.--Each individual awarded a fellowship
under this Act shall be known as a ``Paul E. Tsongas Fellow''
(hereinafter in this Act referred to as a ``Fellow'').
SEC. 4. ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION OF FELLOWS.
(a) Eligibility.--Only United States citizens are eligible to
receive awards under this Act.
(b) Fellowship Board.--
(1) Appointment.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
Director of the National Science Foundation, shall appoint a
Paul E. Tsongas Fellowship Board (hereinafter in this part
referred to as the ``Board'') consisting of 5 representatives
of the academic science and engineering communities who are
especially qualified to serve on the Board. The Secretary shall
assure that individuals appointed to the Board are broadly
knowledgeable about and have experience in graduate education
in relevant fields.
(2) Duties.--The Board shall--
(A) establish general policies for the program
established by this part and oversee its operation;
(B) establish general criteria for awarding
fellowships;
(C) award fellowships; and
(D) prepare and submit to the Congress at least
once in every 3-year period a report on any
modifications in the program that the Board determines
are appropriate.
(4) Term.--The term of office of each member of the Board
shall be 3 years, except that any member appointed to fill a
vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the term for which the
predecessor of the member was appointed. No member may serve
for a period in excess of 6 years.
(5) Initial meeting; vacancy.--The Secretary shall call the
first meeting of the Board, at which the first order of
business shall be the election of a Chairperson and a Vice
Chairperson, who shall serve until 1 year after the date of
their appointment. Thereafter each officer shall be elected for
a term of 2 years. In case a vacancy occurs in either office,
the Board shall elect an individual from among the members of
the Board to fill such vacancy.
(6) Quorum; additional meetings.--(A) A majority of the
members of the Board shall constitute a quorum.
(B) The Board shall meet at least once a year or more
frequently, as may be necessary, to carry out its
responsibilities.
(7) Compensation.--Members of the Board, while serving on
the business of the Board, shall be entitled to receive
compensation at rates fixed by the Secretary, but not exceeding
the rate of basic pay payable for level IV of the Executive
Schedule, including traveltime, and while so serving away from
their homes or regular places of business, they may be allowed
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as
authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States Code, for
persons in Government service employed intermittently.
(c) Underrepresented Groups.--In designing selection criteria and
awarding fellowships, the Board shall--
(1) consider the need to prepare a larger number of women
and individuals from minority groups, especially from among
such groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in
the professional and academic fields referred to in section 2,
but nothing contained in this or any other provision of this
Act shall be interpreted to require the Secretary to grant any
preference or disparate treatment to the members of any
underrepresented group; and
(2) take into account the need to expand access by women
and minority groups to careers heretofore lacking adequate
representation of women and minority groups.
SEC. 5. PAYMENTS, STIPENDS, TUITION, AND EDUCATION AWARDS.
(a) Amount of Award.--
(1) Stipends.--The Secretary shall pay to each individual
awarded a fellowship under this Act a stipend in the amount of
$15,000, $16,500, and $18,000 during the first, second, and
third years of study, respectively.
(2) Tuition.--The Secretary shall pay to the appropriate
institution an amount adequate to cover the tuition, fees, and
health insurance of each individual awarded a fellowship under
this Act.
(3) Administrative and travel allowance.--The Secretary
shall pay to each host institution an annual $5,000 allowance
for the purpose of covering--
(A) administrative expenses;
(B) travel expenses associated with Fellow
participation in academic seminars or conferences
approved by the host institution; and
(C) round-trip travel expenses associated with
Fellow participation in the internship required by
section 6 of this Act.
SEC. 6. REQUIREMENT.
Each Fellow shall participate in a 3-month internship related to
the dissertation topic of the Fellow at a national laboratory or
equivalent industrial laboratory as approved by the host institution.
SEC. 7. FELLOWSHIP CONDITIONS.
(a) Academic Progress Required.--No student shall receive support
pursuant to an award under this Act--
(1) except during periods in which such student is
maintaining satisfactory progress in, and devoting essentially
full time to, study or research in the field in which such
fellowship was awarded, or
(2) if the student is engaging in gainful employment other
than part-time employment involved in teaching, research, or
similar activities determined by the institution to be in
support of the student's progress toward a degree.
(b) Reports From Recipients.--The Secretary is authorized to
require reports containing such information in such form and filed at
such times as the Secretary determines necessary from any person
awarded a fellowship under the provisions of this Act. The reports
shall be accompanied by a certificate from an appropriate official at
the institution of higher education, or other research center, stating
that such individual is fulfilling the requirements of this section.
(c) Failure To Earn Degree.--A recipient of a fellowship under this
Act found by the Secretary to have failed in or abandoned the course of
study for which assistance was provided under this Act may be required,
at the discretion of the Secretary, to repay a pro rata amount of such
fellowship assistance received, plus interest and, where applicable,
reasonable collection fees, on a schedule and at a rate of interest to
be prescribed by the Secretary by regulations issued pursuant to this
Act.
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated for this Act $5,000,000 for
fiscal year 1998 and such sums as may be necessary for the succeeding
fiscal years.
SEC. 9. APPLICATION OF GENERAL EDUCATIONAL PROVISIONS ACT.
Section 421 of the General Educational Provisions Act, pertaining
to the availability of funds, shall apply to this Act.
SEC. 10. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act--
(1) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Energy.
(2) The term ``host institution'' means an institution
where a Paul E. Tsongas Fellow is enrolled for the purpose of
pursuing doctoral studies for which support is provided under
this Act.
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Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Science.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Basic Research.
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