Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a research pilot program for awarding grants to certain partnerships to improve education and training in support of applied sciences in renewable energy as part of a comprehensive program to enhance the quality of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics instruction at the secondary school and undergraduate levels of education. Describes what activities grants may be used for and the types of partnerships to which grants shall be awarded.
[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[H.R. 1492 Introduced in House (IH)]
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1492
To establish a pilot program to provide assistance for partnerships
supporting applied sciences in renewable energy.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 12, 2009
Mr. Patrick J. Murphy of Pennsylvania (for himself and Mr. Welch)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Education and Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a pilot program to provide assistance for partnerships
supporting applied sciences in renewable energy.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. APPLIED SCIENCES IN RENEWABLE ENERGY PILOT PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Energy shall establish a
research pilot program for award grants to partnerships to improve
education and training in support of applied sciences in the field of
renewable energy as part of a comprehensive program to enhance the
quality of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
instruction at the secondary school and undergraduate levels. Grants
under this section may be used for--
(1) professional development and training for teachers;
(2) purchase, rental, or leasing of equipment,
instrumentation, and other educational and training materials;
(3) improvement of facilities for providing education and
training experiences in applied sciences in the field of
renewable energy;
(4) development of instructional programs designed to
integrate education and training in applied sciences in
renewable energy with the practical application of that
education and training;
(5) recruitment and retention of new faculty;
(6) encouraging collaboration between faculty and industry
partners;
(7) supporting outreach efforts to recruit students; and
(8) assessment of the activities funded under this Act.
(b) Partnerships.--Grants awarded under subsection (a) shall be to
the institution described in paragraph (1), as part of a partnership
that--
(1) includes a 2-year degree granting institution of higher
education offering an associates degree in applied science in a
renewable energy field;
(2) includes a 4-year degree granting institution of higher
education;
(3) includes a business or eligible nonprofit organization
and labor organization; and
(4) may include a State educational agency, other public
agency, National Laboratory, or community-based organization.
(c) Preference.--The Secretary of Energy shall give preference to
awarding grants under this section for partnerships--
(1) whose proposal incorporates a technical preparation
program described in section 203(c) of the Carl D. Perkins
Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2373(c));
or
(2) who can demonstrate the likely long-term stability of
the program without continued Federal funding.
(d) Diversity of Subject Matter.--The Secretary of Energy shall
ensure that, to the extent possible, grants are provided under this Act
for partnerships representing a wide diversity of renewable energy
fields.
(e) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of activities
carried out using amounts from a grant under subsection (a) shall not
exceed 40 percent.
(f) Limitation.--No single grant under subsection (a) may be made
in an amount greater than $1,000,000 per year.
(g) Public Information.--The Secretary of Energy shall make
publicly available all curricula, planning documents, and other
materials related to a project supported by a grant made under this
Act.
(h) Project Reports.--The Secretary of Energy shall require grant
recipients under subsection (a) to submit a report to the Secretary,
not later than 3 years after receiving the grant, on the results of the
project supported by the grant. Each such report shall include an
assessment of which elements of the project supported with the grant
were successful and which were not, along with an identification and
analysis of improvements that could have made the project more
successful. The Secretary shall make all reports submitted under this
subsection available to the public.
(i) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term ``renewable
energy'' has the meaning given that term in section 609(a) (3) and (4)
of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 918c(a)
(3) and (4)).
SEC. 2. REPORT.
The Secretary of Energy shall evaluate the effectiveness of
activities carried out under this Act. A report documenting the results
of that evaluation shall be submitted to the Committee on Science and
Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate not later than 5 years
after the date of enactment of this Act. The report shall identify best
practices and materials developed and demonstrated by partnerships
awarded a grant.
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act--
(1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
(2) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and
(3) such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years
2012 and 2013.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line