Grace Hopper Code for Us Act
This bill establishes a program through which the Department of Education must award grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs) to develop and implement courses of instruction related to critical legacy computer languages (e.g., COBOL, Assembly, and PL/I).
In addition, the Government Accountability Office must report on the critical legacy computer languages that (1) are used by the federal government, and (2) are not commonly taught in a course at an IHE.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4745 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4745
To establish a program to make grants to institutions of higher
education to provide courses relating to critical legacy computer
languages, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 28, 2021
Mr. Cartwright (for himself, Ms. Adams, Mr. Butterfield, Mrs. Hayes,
Mr. Khanna, and Mr. Soto) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Education and Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a program to make grants to institutions of higher
education to provide courses relating to critical legacy computer
languages, and for other purposes.
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 ``Grace Hopper Code for Us Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Authorizing committees.--The term ``authorizing
committees'' has the meaning given such term in section 103 of
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1003).
(2) Information system.--The term ``information system''
has the meaning given the term in section 3502(8) of title 44,
United States Code.
(3) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the
term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001(a)).
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Education.
(5) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given the
term in section 311 of title 5, United States Code.
SEC. 3. REPORT CONCERNING CRITICAL LEGACY COMPUTER LANGUAGES USED BY
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
(a) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit
to the authorizing committees a report identifying not fewer than 3
computer languages, in addition to COBOL, Assembly, and PL/I, and to be
known as ``critical legacy computer languages'', that are--
(1) used by, and necessary to support the needs and
national security of, the Federal Government; and
(2) computer languages not commonly taught in a course at
an institution of higher education.
(b) Publication.--The Comptroller General shall make the report
publicly available, including by publishing the report on the internet
website of the Government Accountability Office.
SEC. 4. GRACE HOPPER SUSTAINMENT AND MODERNIZATION GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--There is established a program to award grants
to institutions of higher education, to be known as the ``Grace Hopper
Sustainment and Modernization Grant Program (in this section referred
to as the `Program')'', to support the development and implementation
of courses of instruction regarding maintaining, developing, and
modernizing information systems utilizing critical legacy computer
languages identified in the report required under section 3.
(b) Grants.--
(1) In general.--During fiscal year 2022 and each of the 3
succeeding fiscal years, the Secretary annually shall award
grants to 5 institutions of higher education to carry out the
activities described in subsection (a).
(2) 2-year institution of higher education.--For each
fiscal year, at least 2 of the grants awarded under paragraph
(1) shall be awarded to 2-year institutions of higher education
that--
(A) award an associate's degree; or
(B) offer university-based continuing education
programs for information technology professionals.
(c) Priorities.--When awarding grants under the Program, the
Secretary will give priority to applications that--
(1) demonstrate a plan to continue their efforts to carry
out the activities described in subsection (a) after the end of
the grant period;
(2) demonstrate plans to recruit and include the
participation of women and other under-represented minority
groups;
(3) demonstrate plans to engage with local students in
grades 6 through 12 regarding career opportunities relating to
critical legacy languages;
(4) offer scholarship or other support, which may include
books and supplies (including hardware, software, and
connectivity), to students enrolled in projects supported by
the Program;
(5) incorporate perspectives into the challenges of
modernizing legacy information technology systems from
disciplines such as history, public policy, public
administration, political science, business administration,
management, economics, sociology, or other humanistic or social
science disciplines;
(6) address the extent to which the grant recipient intends
to utilize and support open source technology and best
practices in connection with the Program; and
(7) demonstrate the ability to make agreements to place
students in the projects funded by the grant in paid
internships or similar arrangements with Federal, State, local,
or private sector organizations where they can ensure that each
such student works with computer programmers in maintaining,
developing, or modernizing information systems utilizing
critical legacy computer languages, with a preference for such
placements lasting longer than 60 days.
(d) Special Rule Related to Geography.--Recipients of a grant under
the Program may not be located in the same State.
(e) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under the
Program, an institution of higher education shall submit to the
Secretary an application in such form, and containing such information,
as the Secretary may require.
(f) Grant Amount.--The amount of a grant under this section may not
exceed $5,000,000.
(g) Period of a Grant.--The period of a grant under this section
may not exceed 3 years.
(h) Reports.--
(1) Annual reports by institutions of higher education.--
Each institution of higher education that receives a grant
under the Program shall annually submit to the Secretary a
report on the activities pursued under the Program, including
to the extent practical, the employment outcomes of students
who complete the program (including earnings, job placement
type, and employment rate).
(2) Annual reports to congress.--The Secretary shall
annually submit to the authorizing committees a report relating
to the use of grants awarded under the Program. The Secretary
shall make each such report publicly available, including by
publishing each such report on the internet website of the
Department of Education.
(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated $100,000,000 to carry out this section.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
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