Bill > S2757

This bill, known as the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2014, aims to boost innovation and improve the United States' global competitiveness by investing in research and development (R&D) and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. Key provisions include authorizing appropriations for agencies like the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) for fiscal years 2015 through 2019, establishing a 5-year STEM education strategic plan with public input, and streamlining administrative burdens for federally sponsored research. The bill also supports NASA's education programs, promotes foundational engineering capabilities, and enhances NOAA's education initiatives. It revises rules for prize competitions to encourage innovation, establishes a National Nanotechnology Initiative to foster advancements in that field, and supports the development of advanced manufacturing through a national strategic plan. Furthermore, it addresses workforce studies, promotes optics and photonics innovations, and aims to broaden participation in STEM fields by supporting underrepresented groups through various programs and scholarships, including the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. The bill also encourages early undergraduate research opportunities, supports informal STEM education, and promotes commercialization grants and the NSF's Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program to translate research into marketable products. Finally, it reauthorizes and strengthens the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) to assist states historically underserved by R&D funding and includes provisions for assessing national K-12 science and engineering proficiency.