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S. 737 · 116th Congress

Building Blocks of STEM Act

Law · 116-102 · Dec 24, 2019
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IntroducedPassed one chamberPassed both chambersBecame law (gold)Resolution agreed to (full, dark)Failed or vetoed (gray)

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Became law without a recorded vote. It passed by voice vote or unanimous consent, which don't record how each member voted.

JRD RosenSponsor
8 cosponsors · 4 D, 4 R
MBR Blackburn SCR Capito CCD Cortez Masto DFR Fischer BSD Schatz RBD Blumenthal JHR Hoeven RWD Wyden

5 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.

  1. Senate Introduced Mar 11, 2019
  2. Senate Passed Sep 26, 2019
  3. House Passed Dec 9, 2019
  4. President To the President Dec 19, 2019
  5. President Signed Dec 24, 2019
  6. Law Dec 24, 2019

This bill modifies National Science Foundation (NSF) grant programs that support STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, including computer science) education.

What it does: CRS summary · Public Law · Dec 24, 2019

Building Blocks of STEM Act

This bill modifies National Science Foundation (NSF) grant programs that support STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, including computer science) education.

(Sec. 3) The bill instructs the NSF, when awarding grants under the Discovery Research PreK-12 program, to improve the focus of research and development on elementary and prekindergarten education.

(Sec. 4) The bill specifies that NSF grants to increase the participation of underrepresented populations in STEM fields may be used for research into various subjects regarding female students in prekindergarten through elementary school, including

  • the role of teachers and caregivers in encouraging or discouraging participation by such students in STEM activities, and
  • the types of STEM activities that encourage greater participation by such students.

(Sec. 5) The bill specifies that NSF grants to research computer science education and computational thinking may be used to support development and implementation of various tools and models for teaching and learning, including

  • developing and offering female-inclusive computer science enrichment programs, and
  • acquainting female students in prekindergarten through elementary school with careers in computer science.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov

About this bill and sources

Official title: Building Blocks of STEM Act

Latest action (Dec 24, 2019): Became Public Law No: 116-102.

Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications · Origin: Senate · Introduced: Mar 11, 2019

Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)

  1. Senate Introduced Mar 11, 2019
  2. Senate Passed Sep 26, 2019
  3. House Passed Dec 9, 2019
  4. President To the President Dec 19, 2019
  5. President Signed Dec 24, 2019
  6. Law Dec 24, 2019

No recorded floor vote found.