Public Law 115 - 6 - Promoting Women in Entrepreneurship Act

[115th Congress Public Law 6]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 131 STAT. 11]]

Public Law 115-6
115th Congress

                                 An Act


 
To authorize the National Science Foundation to support entrepreneurial 
       programs for women. <<NOTE: Feb. 28, 2017 -  [H.R. 255]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Promoting Women 
in Entrepreneurship Act. 42 USC 1861 note.>> 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Promoting Women in Entrepreneurship 
Act''.
SEC. 2. <<NOTE: 42 USC 1885a note.>>  FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) women make up almost 50 percent of the workforce, but 
        less than 25 percent of the workforce in science, technology, 
        engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions;
            (2) women are less likely to focus on the STEM disciplines 
        in undergraduate and graduate study;
            (3) only 26 percent of women who do attain degrees in STEM 
        fields work in STEM jobs;
            (4) there is an increasing demand for individuals with STEM 
        degrees to extend their focus beyond the laboratory so they can 
        be leaders in discovery commercialization;
            (5) studies have shown that technology and commercialization 
        ventures are successful when women are in top management 
        positions; and
            (6) the National Science Foundation's mission includes 
        supporting women in STEM disciplines.
SEC. 3. SUPPORTING WOMEN'S ENTREPRENEURIAL PROGRAMS.

    Section 33 of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1885a) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (10);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (11) and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

[[Page 131 STAT. 12]]

            ``(12) encourage its entrepreneurial programs to recruit and 
        support women to extend their focus beyond the laboratory and 
        into the commercial world.''.

    Approved February 28, 2017.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 255:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 163 (2017):
            Jan. 10, considered and passed House.
            Feb. 14, considered and passed Senate.
DAILY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS (2017):
            Feb. 28, Presidential remarks.

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