,,ii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #eahg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #cj1 #bjbf,mr4 ,warner 7for himself and ,mr4 ,young7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,secretary of ,energy to establish a program to strengthen the domestic science and engineering workforce through partnerships among institutions of higher education1 ,national ,laboratories1 other ,federal science agencies1 and industry to support accelerated doctoral programs1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,promoting ,high-skilled ,doctoral ,talent ,act of #bjbf or the ,,phd ,talent ,act of #bjbf4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,a persistent shortfall in the number of domestic students entering and completing science1 technology1 engineering1 and mathematics doctoral programs impedes the capacity of the ,united ,states for global leadership in research excellence and technology innovation4 7#b7 ,artificial intelligence1 quantum information science1 advanced computing1 biotechnology1 advanced energy systems1 and other critical or emerging technologies are transforming scientific discovery and national competitiveness4 7#c7 ,a robust domestic science1 technology1 engineering1 and mathematics talent pipeline capable of preparing scientists and engineers with expertise both within their scientific discipline and in the application of artificial intelligence and advanced computational methods is critical for maintaining a strong workforce across the ,united ,states research and technology development ecosystem1 including the ,national ,laboratories1 other ,federal science agencies1 institutions of higher education1 and industry4 7#d7 ,the ,department of ,energy maintains a unique scientific enterprise1 including the ,national ,laboratories1 user facilities1 advanced computing infrastructure1 and partnerships with institutions of higher education and industry1 positioning the ,department of ,energy to strengthen the domestic science and engineering workforce of the ,united ,states4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,accelerated doctoral program ,the term accelerated doctoral program means a program offered by an institution of higher education that-- 7,a7 provides #a or more pathways through which a student may complete a doctoral degree in a critical or emerging technology area in an accelerated timeframe that is at least #a academic year shorter than the average timeframe ordinarily required to complete comparable doctoral programs at that institution of higher education1 while maintaining applicable standards of academic excellence1 research quality1 accreditation1 dissertation oversight1 and degree completion2 7,b7 may include an integrated baccalaureate-to-doctorate pathway that-- 7i7 enables students participating in the program1 while completing the baccalaureate degree portion of the program1 to complete graduate-level coursework that-- 7,i7 may be credited toward both the baccalaureate and graduate degree requirements1 consistent with applicable accreditation requirements2 7,,ii7 makes a student's progression into the doctoral degree portion of the program contingent upon successful completion of specified milestones and admission into a graduate program of study2 7,,iii7 upon a participating student's successful completion of the baccalaureate degree portion of the program and the student's acceptance and transition into the doctoral degree portion of the program1 provides funding to the student1 which may be through a variety of opportunities1 that covers not less than #c years of the doctoral portion of the program2 and 7,,iv7 enables a student who is not accepted into1 or does not complete1 the doctoral degree portion of the program to earn a baccalaureate degree or a master's degree1 based on the student's level of completion of the program2 and 7ii7 supports timely progression into the doctoral degree portion of the program2 and 7,c7 incorporates structured professional development for each student participating in the program that includes-- 7i7 evidence-based research mentorship practices2 7ii7 career development support2 7iii7 opportunities for engagement and real-world experience through research rotations2 and 7iv7 education1 training1 and research rotations designed to develop dual competency4 7#b7 ,critical or emerging technology area ,the term critical or emerging technology area means any of the following areas3 7,a7 ,advanced computing4 7,b7 ,advanced engineering materials4 7,c7 ,advanced gas turbine engine technologies4 7,d7 ,advanced and networked sensing and signature management4 7,e7 ,advanced manufacturing4 7,f7 ,artificial intelligence4 7,g7 ,biotechnologies4 7,h7 ,clean energy generation and storage4 7,i7 ,data privacy1 data security1 and cybersecurity technologies4 7,j7 ,directed energy4 7,k7 ,highly automated1 autonomous1 and uncrewed systems and robotics4 7,l7 ,human-machine interfaces4 7,m7 ,hypersonics4 7,n7 ,integrated communication and networking technologies4 7,o7 ,positioning1 navigation1 and timing technologies4 7,p7 ,quantum information and enabling technologies4 7,q7 ,semiconductors and microelectronics4 7,r7 ,space technologies and systems4 7,s7 ,any additional area of study that the ,secretary1 based on existing ,federal workforce data and after consultation with the heads of relevant ,federal science and other agencies1 determines-- 7i7 is important to the national security1 economic competitiveness1 scientific leadership1 or energy security of the ,united ,states2 and 7ii7 has a demonstrated need for additional domestic workers with doctoral-level expertise4 7#c7 ,dual competency ,the term dual competency means the demonstrated competency of a student in-- 7,a7 the student's primary science1 technology1 engineering1 or mathematics discipline2 and 7,b7 the application of artificial intelligence1 advanced computing1 data science1 machine learning1 or related computational methods to research in that discipline4 7#d7 ,eligible student ,the term eligible student means an individual who is-- 7,a7 a citizen or national of the ,united ,states2 or 7,b7 an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the ,united ,states4 7#e7 ,national ,laboratory ,the term ,national ,laboratory has the meaning given the term in section #b of the ,energy ,policy ,act of #bjje 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aehja74 7#f7 ,participating institution ,the term participating institution means an institution of higher education 7as defined in section #aja7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja7;a777 that enters into an agreement with the ,secretary to participate in the ,program4 7#g7 ,program ,the term ,program means the ,department of ,energy ,strategic ,scientific ,workforce ,pilot ,program established under section #d7;a74 7#h7 ,research rotation ,the term research rotation means a structured research experience at a ,national ,laboratory1 ,department of ,energy user facility1 other ,federal research facility1 or participating industry research facility4 7#i7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,energy1 acting through the ,under ,secretary for ,science4 #d4 ,department of ,energy ,strategic ,scientific ,workforce ,pilot ,program 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall establish a #e-year pilot program1 to be known as the ,department of ,energy ,strategic ,scientific ,workforce ,pilot ,program1 to strengthen the domestic science and engineering workforce through grants awarded on a competitive basis to participating institutions to enable the participating institutions to establish1 carry out1 or support-- 7#a7 accelerated doctoral programs2 7#b7 partnerships with ,national ,laboratories2 7#c7 partnerships with industry2 and 7#d7 other activities authorized under this section that directly support eligible students participating in accelerated doctoral programs supported under the ,program4 7b7 ,award determinations ,the ,secretary may make an award under the ,program only if the ,secretary determines1 based on existing ,federal workforce data1 information submitted by the applicant1 and consultation with relevant ,national ,laboratories1 ,federal agencies1 and industry partners1 that-- 7#a7 there is a demonstrated need for additional domestic workers with doctoral-level expertise in the critical or emerging technology area to be supported2 7#b7 the proposed program addresses an identified barrier to the recruitment1 enrollment1 retention1 or completion of domestic doctoral students2 7#c7 the award is reasonably likely to increase the number of domestic students completing doctoral degrees in that area2 7#d7 doctoral-level training is appropriate for the workforce need identified by the applicant2 and 7#e7 the proposed activities would not unnecessarily duplicate an existing ,federal program4 7c7 ,application ,a participating institution desiring a grant under the ,program shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7d7 ,support and assistance ,under the ,program1 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 provide technical assistance to help participating institutions-- 7,a7 design the curriculum for an accelerated doctoral program supported under the ,program2 and 7,b7 develop institutional processes to align course credit mechanisms1 financial aid1 and academic policies for students in accelerated doctoral programs supported under the ,program with relevant ,federal guidelines and program and institution accreditation requirements2 and 7#b7 identify best practices for supporting the sustainability of the accelerated doctoral programs supported under the ,program4 7e7 ,participating institutions ,as a condition of participation in the ,program1 each participating institution shall-- 7#a7 retain responsibility for admissions decisions1 academic supervision1 degree requirements1 dissertation oversight1 and the conferral of doctoral degrees2 7#b7 provide participating students with an academically rigorous doctoral education designed to reduce unnecessary time-to-degree while maintaining standards of academic excellence and research quality2 7#c7 provide education and training to develop dual competency2 7#d7 provide faculty mentorship1 academic advising1 and research support2 7#e7 facilitate research rotations1 as appropriate2 7#f7 ensure that each student whose tuition1 required fees1 stipend1 fellowship1 research expenses1 research rotation1 or other individual costs are paid in whole or in part with funds under the ,program is an eligible student2 7#g7 provide direct financial assistance under the ,program only to eligible students participating in1 or selected to participate in1 accelerated doctoral programs supported under the ,program2 and 7#h7 ensure that funds provided under the ,program supplement and do not supplant ,federal1 ,state1 institutional1 philanthropic1 or private funds otherwise available for doctoral education or research4 7f7 ,partnership authority 7#a7 ,in general ,in carrying out the ,program1 the ,secretary may enter into grants1 cooperative agreements1 memoranda of understanding1 or other agreements with-- 7,a7 participating institutions2 7,b7 ,national ,laboratories2 7,c7 industry2 7,d7 nonprofit organizations2 7,e7 ,states2 and 7,f7 such other entities as the ,secretary determines to be appropriate4 7#b7 ,financial and in-kind contributions ,the ,secretary may encourage and accept financial or in-kind contributions to support activities carried out under the ,program from-- 7,a7 ,states2 7,b7 institutions of higher education2 7,c7 industry2 and 7,d7 philanthropic organizations4 7g7 ,pilot fellowship programs 7#a7 ,in general ,in order to facilitate the establishment or expansion of the ,program1 the ,secretary may establish and administer #a or more pilot fellowship programs to strengthen the domestic science and engineering workforce in critical or emerging technology areas in which there is a demonstrated need for additional domestic workers with doctoral-level expertise1 as determined by the ,secretary under subsection 7b74 7#b7 ,activities ,a pilot fellowship program established under this subsection may-- 7,a7 support eligible students participating in1 or selected to participate in1 accelerated doctoral programs at participating institutions2 7,b7 provide financial assistance-- 7i7 directly to eligible students described in subparagraph 7,a72 or 7ii7 through participating institutions for the purpose of providing direct financial support to eligible students described in that subparagraph2 7,c7 support the development of dual competency2 7,d7 facilitate research rotations2 7,e7 support mentorship and professional development2 and 7,f7 include such other activities as the ,secretary determines appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section1 subject to the condition that those activities-- 7i7 directly support eligible students described in subparagraph 7,a72 and 7ii7 do not unnecessarily duplicate an existing ,federal fellowship or graduate research program4 7#c7 ,eligibility ,financial assistance or any other direct assistance pursuant to a pilot fellowship program under this subsection shall be awarded only to eligible students described in paragraph 7#b77;,a74 7#d7 ,institutional administration ,a participating institution may receive funds under this subsection only-- 7,a7 to administer assistance on behalf of an eligible student described in paragraph 7#b77;,a72 or 7,b7 to carry out an activity described in paragraph 7#b7 that directly supports an eligible student described in paragraph 7#b77;,a74 7#e7 ,preservation of existing support ,a participating institution may not reduce financial support that otherwise would have been provided to a student because the student receives a fellowship under this subsection4 7h7 ,reports ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report regarding the ,program1 including longitudinal tracking of the students participating in accelerated doctoral programs supported under the ,program to identify trends and analyze developments in such programs across the ,united ,states4 7i7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this ,act #bej1jjj1jjj for the period of fiscal years #bjbh through #bjcb1 to remain available until expended4 7j7 ,sunset 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may not make a new award under the ,program after the date that is #e years after the date on which the first award under the ,program is made4 7#b7 ,continued payments ,the ,secretary may continue payments after the date described in paragraph 7#a7 only-- 7,a7 to fulfill commitments made to eligible students before that date2 and 7,b7 to complete required evaluations and reports4 7#c7 ,congressional authorization required ,the ,program may not be continued beyond the date described in paragraph 7#a7 or expanded beyond the scope authorized by this ,act without prior authorization by ,congress4