H.R. 1020: STEM Education Act of 2015
Before you vote › Federal bills
H.R. 1020: STEM Education Act of 2015
114th Congress · introduced 2015-02-20 · Education · Latest: Became Public Law No: 114-59.
federal
Follow this bill, step by step
- Where it came from: introduced 2015-02-20 · official record
- Who proposed it: Rep. Smith, Lamar [R-TX-21] · what a sponsor is
- What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 88 (2015): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, HR1020 (2015-02-25), Passed. See all
- Where it stands now: Became Public Law No: 114-59. (final step reached)
- If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.
Official title
STEM Education Act of 2015
Plain summary
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on September 24, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.) STEM Education Act of 2015 (Sec. 3) Requires the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to continue to award competitive, merit-reviewed grants to support: (1) research and development of innovative out-of-school STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) learning and emerging STEM learning environments; and (2) research that advances the field of informal STEM education. Requires supported activities to include research and development that improves understanding of learning and engagement in informal environments and design and testing of innovative STEM resources for such environments to improve STEM learning outcomes and increase engagement for elementary and secondary school students and teachers and the public. (Sec. 4) Amends the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 to allow award of NSF Master Teaching Fellowships to mathematics and science teachers who possess a bachelor's degree in their field (currently limited to those with a master's degree). Requires fellowship grants to be used, in the case of Master Teaching Fellowships for teachers with bachelor's degrees in their field who are working toward a master's degree, to: (1) offer academic courses leading to a master's degree and leadership training to prepare individuals to become master teachers, and (2) offer programs both during and after matriculation to enable fellows to become highly effective mathematics and science teachers and to exchange ideas with others in their fields. Limits fellowship support during such a master's degree program to one year, with a prorated amount in the case of enrollment in a part-time program. Includes elementary or secondary school computer science teachers as mathematics and science teachers for purposes of the program of teacher recruiting and training grants known as the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program.
Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.
What a vote does
A “Yea” vote
If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.
A “Nay” vote
If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.
PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).
What does this mean? (plain words)
AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text
No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.
Limited to a few requests an hour per person.
The strongest published arguments
Arguments for (supporters)
Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.
Arguments against (opponents)
Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.
Alternatives
Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.
How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes
Officials and money
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Lamar [R-TX-21] · 9 cosponsors
Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 1020, STEM Education Act of 2015 (2015-06-04)
Cosponsors on this site
John R. Moolenaar (R-MI)
Recorded votes
- House roll call 88 (2015): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, HR1020 (2015-02-25): Passed
Words on this page, explained (1)
- Authorization
- A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.
Sources
- Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)
- Congress.gov
- Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-114hr1020.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/114/hr>
Record fed-us-cong114-hr1020 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114