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S 2428 IS

110th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 2428

To direct the Secretary of Education to establish and maintain a public website through which individuals may find a complete database of available scholarships, fellowships, and other programs of financial assistance in the study of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

December 6, 2007

Mr. REID (for Mr. OBAMA (for himself, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. DURBIN, and Mr. COLEMAN)) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of Education to establish and maintain a public website through which individuals may find a complete database of available scholarships, fellowships, and other programs of financial assistance in the study of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

    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 `National STEM Scholarship Database Act'.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL DATABASE ON FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR STUDY OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS.

    (a) Establishment and Maintenance of Database-

      (1) DATABASE- The Secretary of Education shall establish and maintain, on the public website of the Department of Education, a database consisting of information on scholarships, fellowships, and other programs of financial assistance available from public and private sources for the study of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics at the post-secondary and post-baccalaureate levels.

      (2) PRESENTATION OF INFORMATION- The information maintained on the database established under this section shall be displayed on the website in the following manner:

        (A) Separate information shall be provided for each of the fields of study referred to in paragraph (1) and for post-secondary and post-baccalaureate programs of financial assistance.

        (B) The database shall provide specific information on any programs of financial assistance which are targeted to individuals of a particular gender, ethnicity, or other demographic group.

        (C) If the sponsor of any program of financial assistance included on the database maintains a public website, the database shall provide hyperlinks to the website.

        (D) In addition to providing the hyperlink to the website of a sponsor of a program of financial assistance as required under subparagraph (C), the database shall provide general information that an interested person may use to contact the sponsor, including the sponsor's electronic mail address.

        (E) The database shall have a search capability which permits an individual to search for information on the basis of each category of the information provided and on the basis of combinations of categories of the information provided, including whether the scholarship is need- or merit-based and by relevant academic majors.

        (F) The database shall include a recommendation that students and families should carefully review all of the application requirements prior to applying for aid, and a disclaimer that the scholarships presented in the database are not provided or endorsed by the Department of Education or the Federal Government.

    (b) Dissemination of Information on Database- The Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary on an ongoing basis, including sending notices to secondary schools and institutions of higher education, to disseminate information on the database established and maintained under this Act and to encourage its use by interested parties.

    (c) Use of Vendor To Obtain Information- In carrying out this Act, the Secretary of Education shall enter into a contract with a private entity under which the entity shall furnish and regularly update all of the information required to be maintained on the database established under this section.

    (d) Encouraging the Provision of Information- In carrying out this Act, the Secretary of Education and the contracted entity shall consult with public and private sources of scholarships and make easily available a process for such entities to provide regular and updated information.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2008 through 2012.

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