Jennifer McClellan (D-VA)
Improving Mentorship in STEM Higher Education Act
A Democratic bill with 6 Democratic cosponsors · See all 6 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Improving Mentorship in STEM Higher Education Act. It directs the Director of the National Science Foundation to carry out a mentorship demonstration program. The program aims to improve mentorship practices and provide resources for faculty, graduate researchers, and postdoctoral researchers. The bill also updates misconduct reporting requirements to include institutional and agency reporting processes regarding harassment, discrimination, and other forms of professional or scientific misconduct. Finally, it authorizes $5,000,000 to be appropriated to carry out the mentorship demonstration program for fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
Yes· 3 of 26
- Scored +7
Would students be better off under this?
Directly improves mentorship, skill-building, and resources for graduate and postdoctoral researchers.
- Scored +6
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?
Directly benefits graduate and postdoctoral researchers by improving mentorship and professional development.
- Scored +6
Does this put more money into public schools?
Authorizes $5,000,000 for a mentorship demonstration program and resources in STEM higher education.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Better Mentorship Resources: Under section 2(a), adding section 10313(a)(6)(A), the Director may make awards to improve mentorship practices and provide resources for faculty, graduate researchers, and postdoctoral researchers. This helps build mentoring skills, promote evidence-based mentorship, research methodologies, train in cultural competencies, and fund outreach.
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Special Consideration for Diverse Schools: Under section 2(a), adding section 10313(a)(6)(C), special consideration for awards is given to minority-serving institutions, historically Black colleges and universities, Tribal Colleges or Universities, rural-serving institutions, emerging research institutions, and consortia including them. This ensures these specific groups and schools have a fair shot at funding.
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Accountability Through Reporting: Under section 2(a), adding section 10313(a)(6)(D), the Director must submit a report within 5 years assessing the program's effectiveness and outlining a plan to sustain it if it works. This holds officials accountable by requiring them to measure and report back on whether the taxpayer-funded program actually works.
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Misconduct Protections: Under section 2(b), the bill adds institutional and agency reporting processes with respect to harassment, discrimination, and other forms of professional or scientific misconduct to the America COMPETES Act. This explicitly addresses professional misconduct to help protect individuals in these environments.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- The provided text does not contain any specific provisions outlining negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would students be better off under this? — Directly improves mentorship, skill-building, and resources for graduate and postdoctoral researchers. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Directly benefits graduate and postdoctoral researchers by improving mentorship and professional development. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Provides special funding consideration to historically Black colleges and universities. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Provides special consideration to minority-serving institutions. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Provides special funding consideration to Tribal Colleges or Universities. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Specifically directs special consideration and resources to rural-serving institutions of higher education. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — Benefits minority-serving institutions that educate diverse populations of students. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Benefits faculty members and mid-career academic researchers through enhanced mentoring resources. Would women be better off under this? — Strengthens institutional reporting processes regarding harassment and discrimination, aiding gender equity in STEM. Would LGBTQ people be better off under this? — Enhances protections against discrimination and professional misconduct in academic settings. Would immigrants be better off under this? — Supports inclusive mentorship and cultural competency training in higher education. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Supports institutions serving economically diverse and historically underrepresented student populations. Would men be better off under this? — Improves general academic mentorship and misconduct protections for all researchers. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Supports academic professionals and students pursuing careers in STEM fields. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Applies broadly to universities located in urban areas. Would white Americans be better off under this? — Provides general improvements to academic mentorship across participating institutions.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into public schools? — Authorizes $5,000,000 for a mentorship demonstration program and resources in STEM higher education. Does this put more money into scientific research? — Directs the National Science Foundation to enhance mentorship practices and research methodologies. Does this make college cost less? — Provides grants and resources directly to higher education institutions to aid students and faculty.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — Provides special funding consideration to minority-serving institutions and historically Black colleges and universities. Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated? — Enhances reporting and protections regarding harassment and discrimination in scientific environments.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — Includes targeted support for rural-serving institutions of higher education.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Requires a comprehensive report assessing the effectiveness of the mentorship program after five years. Does this give the federal government more power? — Expands federal oversight and reporting requirements for scientific misconduct through the NSF.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — Invests modest federal funding into STEM education and workforce development. Is this likely to create jobs? — Supports research and academic mentorship positions within higher education institutions.
- 10/26/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/20/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/8/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Valerie FousheeDemocrat · North Carolina
Shomari FiguresDemocrat · Alabama
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Deborah RossDemocrat · North Carolina
Marilyn StricklandDemocrat · Washington
Paul TonkoDemocrat · New York