42 U.S.C. 1885b

§ 1885b

TITLE 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE

Page 4292

under this Act. The National Science Foundation shall
act as a central repository for such information and
shall make such information available to the public,
including making such information available through
the Internet.
‘‘SEC. 11. REVIEW OF INFORMATION PROVIDED BY
THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION AND
OTHER AGENCIES.
‘‘(a) PROVISION OF INFORMATION.—At the request of
the Commission, the National Science Foundation and
any other Federal department or agency shall provide
to the Commission any information determined necessary by the Commission to carry out its duties under
this Act, including—
‘‘(1) data on academic degrees awarded to women,
minorities, and individuals with disabilities in
science, engineering, and technology development,
and workforce representation and the retention of
women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities
in the fields of science, engineering, and technology
development; and
‘‘(2) information gathered by the National Science
Foundation in the process of compiling its biennial
report on Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering.
‘‘(b) REVIEW OF INFORMATION.—The Commission shall
review any information provided under subsection (a)
and shall include in the report required under section
8—
‘‘(1) recommendations on how to correct any deficiencies in the collection of the types of information
described in that subsection, and in the analysis of
such data, which might impede the characterization
of the factors which affect the attraction and retention of women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities in the fields of science, engineering, and
technology development; and
‘‘(2) an assessment of the biennial report of the National Science Foundation on Women, Minorities,
and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering, and recommendations on how that report
could be improved.
‘‘SEC. 12. DEFINITION OF STATE.
‘‘In this Act, the term ‘State’ includes the several
States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and any other territory or possession of the
United States.
‘‘SEC. 13. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out
this Act—
‘‘(1) $400,000 for fiscal year 1999; and
‘‘(2) $400,000 for fiscal year 2000.’’

participating agencies with the Committee on Equal
Opportunities in Science and Engineering established
by section 36 of the National Science Foundation Authorization and Science and Technology Equal Opportunities Act [now the National Science Foundation
Authorization and Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act] (42 U.S.C. 1885c), after the termination of the task force established by this section.
‘‘(b) For purposes of this section, the term ‘participating agency’ means—
‘‘(1) the National Science Foundation;
‘‘(2) the Department of Health and Human Services;
‘‘(3) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
‘‘(4) the Environmental Protection Agency;
‘‘(5) the Department of Agriculture;
‘‘(6) the Department of Defense;
‘‘(7) the Department of Education;
‘‘(8) the Department of Energy;
‘‘(9) the Department of Commerce; and
‘‘(10) the Department of the Interior.
‘‘(c)(1) The task force on women, minorities, and the
handicapped in science and technology shall be composed of individuals appointed by participating agencies pursuant to this subsection.
‘‘(2) The head of each participating agency shall appoint two individuals to serve as members of the task
force. If an appointed member is unable to serve for the
duration of the task force, the head of the participating
agency who appointed that member shall appoint another individual to fill the vacancy.
‘‘(3) Task force members may be appointed from private business, academia, professional associations, or
nonprofit foundations.
‘‘(d) The task force shall prepare and submit a report
on its findings and recommendations to the President,
the Congress, and the head of each participating agency
not later than December 31, 1989.
‘‘(e) The Office of Science and Technology Policy
shall call the first meeting of the task force not later
than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act
[Aug. 21, 1986], shall ensure that each participating
agency has appointed two members, and shall assist the
task force to meet its objectives.
‘‘(f)(1) Members of the task force not otherwise employed by the Federal Government shall be reimbursed
for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses
incurred by them in carrying out the duties of the task
force.
‘‘(2) The Director of the National Science Foundation
shall make provision for administrative support of the
task force, and may enter into agreements with the
heads of other participating agencies to facilitate the
work of the task force.
‘‘(g) The task force shall terminate on January 31,
1990.’’

TASK FORCE ON WOMEN, MINORITIES, AND THE
HANDICAPPED IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

§ 1885b. Participation in science and engineering
of minorities and persons with disabilities

Pub. L. 99–383, § 8, Aug. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 815, provided
that:
‘‘(a) It is the purpose of this section to establish a
task force on women, minorities, and the handicapped
in science and technology to—
‘‘(1) examine the current status of women, minorities, and the handicapped in science and engineering
positions in the Federal Government and in federally
assisted research programs;
‘‘(2) coordinate existing Federal programs designed
to promote the employment of women, minorities,
and the handicapped in such positions;
‘‘(3) suggest cooperative interagency programs for
promoting such employment;
‘‘(4) identify exemplary State, local, or private sector programs designed to promote such employment;
and
‘‘(5) develop a long-range plan to advance opportunities for women, minorities, and the handicapped in
Federal scientific and technical positions in federally
assisted research, and to coordinate the activities of

(a) The Foundation is authorized (1) to undertake or support a comprehensive science and engineering education program to increase the
participation of minorities in science and engineering, and (2) to support activities to initiate
research at minority institutions.
(b) The Foundation is authorized to undertake
or support programs and activities to encourage
the participation of persons with disabilities in
the science and engineering professions.
(Pub. L. 96–516, § 34, Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 3012;
Pub. L. 99–159, title I, § 111(b)(7), Nov. 22, 1985, 99
Stat. 892; Pub. L. 105–207, title II, § 202(d)(1), July
29, 1998, 112 Stat. 874.)
CODIFICATION
Section was enacted as part of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act, and not as part of the

Page 4293

TITLE 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE

National Science Foundation Act of 1950 which comprises this chapter.
AMENDMENTS
1998—Pub. L. 105–207, § 202(d)(1)(A), substituted section catchline for former section catchline.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105–207, § 202(d)(1)(B), added subsec. (b) and struck out former subsec. (b), which read as
follows: ‘‘By September 30, 1981, the Director, with the
advice and assistance of the Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science and Technology established in
section 1885c of this title, shall prepare and transmit to
the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the
Senate and the Committee on Science and Technology
of the House of Representatives a report proposing a
comprehensive and continuing program at the Foundation to promote the full participation of minorities in
science and engineering. Such report shall contain
budgetary and legislative recommendations for the carrying out of such program by the Foundation.’’
1985—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–159, § 111(b)(7), substituted ‘‘science and engineering education’’ for
‘‘science education’’ and ‘‘engineering’’ for ‘‘technology’’.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–159, § 111(b)(7)(B), substituted
‘‘engineering’’ for ‘‘technology’’.

§ 1885c. Committee on Equal Opportunities in
Science and Engineering
(a) Establishment; purposes
There is established within the Foundation a
Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science
and Engineering (hereinafter referred to as the
‘‘Committee’’). The Committee shall provide advice to the Foundation concerning (1) the implementation of the provisions of sections 1885 to
1885d of this title and (2) other policies and activities of the Foundation to encourage full participation of women, minorities, and persons
with disabilities in scientific, engineering, and
professional fields.
(b) Membership; Chairperson; term of members
Each member of the Committee shall be appointed by the Director. In addition, the Chairman of the National Science Board may designate a member of the Board as a member of
the Committee. Members of the Committee
shall be appointed to serve for a three-year
term, and may be reappointed to serve one additional term of three years.
(c) Responsibilities of Committee
The Committee shall be responsible for reviewing and evaluating all Foundation matters
relating to opportunities for the participation
in, and the advancement of, women, minorities,
and persons with disabilities in education, training, and science and engineering research programs.
(d) Standing or ad hoc subcommittees
The Committee may organize such standing or
ad hoc subcommittees as the Committee finds
appropriate.
(e) Biennial report
Every two years, the Committee shall prepare
and transmit to the Director a report on its activities during the previous two years and proposed activities for the next two years. The Director shall transmit to Congress the report, unaltered, together with such comments as the Director deems appropriate.

§ 1885c

(Pub. L. 96–516, § 36, Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 3012;
Pub. L. 99–159, title I, § 111(b)(8), Nov. 22, 1985, 99
Stat. 893; Pub. L. 100–570, title I, § 105(c), Oct. 31,
1988, 102 Stat. 2868; Pub. L. 105–207, title II,
§ 202(d)(2), July 29, 1998, 112 Stat. 874.)
REFERENCES IN TEXT
Sections 1885 to 1885d of this title, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original ‘‘this Act’’, meaning sections 31 et seq. of Pub. L. 96–516, as amended, known as
the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act,
which enacted sections 1885 to 1885d of this title and
provisions set out as notes under sections 1861 and 1885
of this title. For complete classification of this Act to
the Code, see Short Title of 1980 Amendment note set
out under section 1861 of this title and Tables.
CODIFICATION
Section was enacted as part of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act, and not as part of the
National Science Foundation Act of 1950 which comprises this chapter.
AMENDMENTS
1998—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–207, § 202(d)(2)(A), substituted ‘‘minorities, and persons with disabilities in
scientific’’ for ‘‘minorities, and other groups currently
underrepresented in scientific’’.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105–207, § 202(d)(2)(B), struck out
‘‘with the concurrence of the National Science Board’’
after ‘‘the Director’’ and substituted ‘‘In addition, the
Chairman of the National Science Board may designate
a member of the Board as a member of the Committee.’’ for ‘‘The Chairperson of the National Science
Board Committee on Minorities and Women shall be an
ex officio member of the Committee.’’
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105–207, § 202(d)(2)(C), (D), added
subsec. (c) and struck out former subsec. (c) which read
as follows: ‘‘There shall be a subcommittee of the Committee which shall be known as the Subcommittee on
Women in Science and Engineering. The Subcommittee
on Women in Science and Engineering shall have responsibility for all Committee matters relating to (1)
the participation in and opportunities for the education, training, and research of women in science and
engineering and (2) the impact of science and engineering on women. The Subcommittee shall be composed of
all the women members of the Committee and such
other members of the Committee as the Committee
may designate.’’
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 105–207, § 202(d)(2)(F), struck out
‘‘additional’’ after ‘‘organize such’’.
Pub. L. 105–207, § 202(d)(2)(C), (E), redesignated subsec.
(e) as (d) and struck out former subsec. (d) which read
as follows: ‘‘There shall be a subcommittee of the Committee which shall be known as the Subcommittee on
Minorities in Science and Engineering. The Subcommittee on Minorities in Science and Engineering
shall have responsibility for all Committee matters relating to (1) the participation in and opportunities for
education, training, and research for minorities in
science and engineering and (2) the impact of science
and engineering on minorities. The Subcommittee shall
be composed of all minority members of the Committee
and such other members of the Committee as the Committee may designate.’’
Subsecs. (e), (f). Pub. L. 105–207, § 202(d)(2)(E), redesignated subsec. (f) as (e). Former subsec. (e) redesignated
(d).
1988—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 100–570 amended subsec. (f)
generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (f) read as follows: ‘‘Each year the Committee shall prepare and
transmit to the Director a report concerning its activities during the previous year and its proposed activities
for the next year. The Director shall transmit to Congress the report, unaltered, along with comments.’’
1985—Pub. L. 99–159, § 111(b)(8)(A), substituted ‘‘Engineering’’ for ‘‘Technology’’ in section catchline.