NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY.

SEC. 621. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY. (a) Establishment of Academy.— The Secretary shall establish a National Academy of Science, Space, and Technology for the instruction and preparation of selected individuals for service in a science, mathematics, or engineering related capacity in the employ of the United States or a United States corporation. (b) Advisory Board.— (1) Membership.— The Secretary, after consultation with the Director, shall appoint an Advisory Board for the Academy consisting of a broadly representative group of scientists, engineers, educators, and businessmen representing high-technology industries. (2) Functions.— The Advisory Board shall— (A) develop criteria to be used in the selection of recipients of scholarships under this section; (B) select scholarship recipients from among nominations received under subsection (e); and (C) identify fields of science, mathematics, and engineering which will be given priority in awarding scholarships under this section. In making determinations under subparagraph (C), the Advisory Board shall take into consideration requirements of Government and industry for technical personnel in fields of science, mathematics, and engineering which are relevant to emerging industrial technologies of significant economic importance and in which shortages in the work force of the United States are projected. (c) Scholarships Authorized.— (1) The Academy shall establish a scholarship program for students to pursue the baccalaureate degree in fields of science, mathematics, or engineering who are willing to commit themselves to service described in subsection (n). (2) A student who satisfies the requirements of subsection (h)(1) may receive a scholarship for a period of 1 academic year of under-graduate study at a Member Institute. (3) A student who satisfies the requirements of subsection (h)(2) may receive additional scholarships, each awarded for a period of 1 academic year, in order to complete his or her undergraduate course of study to a maximum of 3 awards. (4) The individuals awarded scholarships under this section shall be referred to as the “Science, Space, and Technology Corps”. (5) An individual awarded a scholarship under this section may attend any institution of higher education that offers the baccalaureate degree in science, mathematics, or engineering. Such institutions shall be designated as Member Institutes of the Academy. (d) Nominations for Scholarship Awards.— Members and Delegates of the House of Representatives may each nominate 6 or more individuals, at least half of whom are female, for scholarships. (e) Selection for Initial Awards.— (1) The Board shall develop criteria for selection of nominees under this section. Such criteria104 STAT. 2908 shall provide for the selection of such nominees on the basis of academic merit and motivation to pursue a career in science, mathematics, or engineering. In addition, consideration may be given to the financial need of the individual, and to promoting participation by minorities and individuals with disabilities. (2) From among nominees received pursuant to subsection (d), the Board shall select for award of a scholarship one individual from each Congressional District. (f) Continuation Awards.— The Secretary shall award additional scholarships to recipients of initial awards under this section who the Secretary determines meet the requirements of subsection (h)(2). (g) Disbursal of Scholarship Proceeds.— Scholarship proceeds shall be disbursed on behalf of students who receive scholarships under this section to the institutions of higher education at which the students are enrolled. No scholarship proceeds shall be disbursed on behalf of a student unless the student is enrolled at an institution of higher education. (h) Eligibility.— (1) Initial eligibility.— Only individuals who are— (A) citizens or nationals of the United States, or who are aliens lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence; (B) majoring in the physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, or engineering; and (C) enrolled in an institution of higher education as a full-time undergraduate student (as determined by the institution of higher education), shall be eligible for awards under this section. (2) Requirements for continuation awards.— A student who has received a scholarship under this section may receive a continuation award under subsection (f) for a subsequent academic year of undergraduate education if the student— (A) maintains a high level of academic achievement, as determined in accordance with the regulations of the Secretary; (B) continues to major in one of the physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, or engineering; and (C) continues to be enrolled at an institution of higher education as a full-time undergraduate student (as determined by the institution). (i) Waiver of Full-Time Attendance Requirement.— The Secretary may waive the full-time attendance requirements in this section in unusual circumstances. (j) Failure to Meet Eligibility Requirements.— In the event that the student fails to meet the requirements of this section, the student’s eligibility to receive further scholarships (or scholarship proceeds) under this section shall be suspended in accordance with the regulations of the Secretary. (k) Reinstatement of Eligibility.— The Secretary shall determine circumstances under which eligibility of a scholarship recipient under this section may be reinstated if the recipient seeks to re-enter school after an interruption of schooling for personal reasons, including, but not limited to, pregnancy, child-rearing, and other family responsibilities. (l) Notification of Schools.— The Secretary shall notify all institutions of higher education in the United States annually of the availability of scholarships under this section. 104 STAT. 2909 (m) Scholarship Amount.— (1) Amount of award.— Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), the amount of a scholarship awarded under this section for any academic year shall be $5,000. (2) Relation to cost of attendance.— Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the amount of a scholarship awarded under this section shall be reduced by the amount that the scholarship exceeds the student’s cost of attendance, as defined in section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965. A scholarship awarded under this section shall not be reduced on the basis of the student’s receipt of other forms of Federal student financial assistance, but shall be taken into account in determining the eligibility of the student for those other forms of Federal student financial assistance. (3) Adjustments for insufficient appropriations.— In the event that funds available in a fiscal year are insufficient to fully fund all awards under this section, the amount paid to each student shall be reduced proportionately. (n) Service Requirement.— (1) Science, space, and technology scholarships.— Each recipient of an award under this section shall, as a condition of the receipt of such award, agree to complete four years of— (A) service in a physical, life, or computer science, mathematics, or engineering related capacity in the employ of the United States or any corporation or other entity, organized under the laws of the United States or of a State of the United States, at least 50 percent of which is owned by United States nationals, and which is engaged in scientific or engineering research or endeavor; (B) postgraduate education in physical, life, or computer science, mathematics, or engineering at an institution of higher education; or (C) a combination of service and education described under subparagraphs (A) and (B). (2) Repayment obligation.— As part of the agreement required under paragraph (1), each recipient shall agree, in the event of failure to complete the service obligation described in paragraph (1), to repay an amount equal to— (A) the total amount of awards received by such individual under this section; plus (B) the interest on such amounts which would be payable if at the time the amounts were received the amounts were loans bearing interest at the maximum legal prevailing rate, as determined by the Treasurer of the United States. Such repayment shall be made within 1 year after the recipient has ceased to perform the service obligation described in paragraph (1). (3) Exceptions.— The Secretary may provide for the partial or total waiver or suspension of any service obligation or payment by an individual under this section in the same manner as is permitted under section 558 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 with respect to scholarships under subpart 1 of part D of title V of the Higher Education Act of 1965, except that pregnancy, child-rearing, or comparable family responsibilities shall also be grounds for deferral. 104 STAT. 2910 (o) Authorization of Appropriations.— There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $2,200,000 for fiscal year 1991.