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.>>
This Act may be cited as the ``Promoting Women in Entrepreneurship Act''.
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.
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:
``(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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