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BILLS RELATED TO SCIENCE AND EDUCATION

PENDING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE1

Bills related to Science and Education pending before the Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare in the 2d session of the 85th Congress:

[S. J. Res. 48, 85th Cong., 1st sess.]

JOINT RESOLUTION Providing loans for training of teachers in certain studies Whereas there is a pronounced shortage in the United States of qualified teachers and scientific, engineering and medical personnel; and

Whereas there are many individuals who would undertake a course of training as teachers, or a course of scientific, engineering or medical study, if funds were available for such purposes; and

Whereas it is essential in the public interest to encourage the training of adequate numbers of persons in the fields of teaching, science, engineering and medicine to meet our immediate and prospective needs: Therefore be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in order to provide for an adequate number of qualified teachers and scientific, engineering and medical personnel, the Commissioner of Education (hereinafter referred to as the "Commissioner") is authorized and directed to make loans, as provided in this Act, from the fund established pursuant to section 5, to individuals who desire training as teachers, or who wish to undertake a course of scientific, engineering or medical study. SEC. 2. (a) Any person who is a citizen of the United States, and who has successfully completed a high-school course, or its equivalent, shall, upon application therefor approved by the Commissioner, be eligible for a loan under this Act in an amount not to exceed $750 in any one year, or a total of $5,000.

(b) An application for a loan under this Act shall be in such form and contain such information as may be prescribed by the Commissioner and shall contain (1) a statement by the applicant of the course of study or training proposed to be undertaken by him; (2) a statement by the applicant that the loan applied for is necessary to such undertaking, and that, if granted, the proceeds thereof will be used to defray the costs of tuition, fees, books, supplies, board, lodging, and other necessary expenses incident to such study or training; and (3) a certification by an educational or training institution that it has found the applicant qualified for such course of study or training and that it is willing to admit him for such purpose.

SEC. 3. Such loans shall be made without security, except that the borrower shall execute a promissory note payable to the United States. Such note shall mature fifteen years after the date of the loan, and shall bear interest at a rate equal to the average annual interest rates, as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, on all interest-bearing obligations of the United States of comparable maturities forming a part of the public debt on the date of such loan. If the applicant is a minor, such note shall bear the endorsement of his parent or guardian.

SEC. 4. No loan shall be made to any person for any period during which he is receiving education or training under title II of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944.

SEC. 5. There is hereby authorized to be appropriated the sum of $250,000,000, which shall constitute a revolving fund to be available for the purpose of making loans under this Act.

SEC. 6. (a) The Commissioner is authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.

1 (See table of contents for listing of other science-education bills printed in the text of the hearings.)

(b) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize the Commissioner to exercise any influence upon the choice by an applicant for a loan under this Act of a course of training or study, or of the educational or training institution at which such course is to be pursued, or to authorize the Commissioner to exercise any supervision or control over any such institution.

(c) The provisions of this Act shall be administered without discrimination against any person on account of his race, color, or creed.

[S. 191, 85th Cong., 1st sess.]

A BILL To provide for loans to individuals for the purpose of enabling them to obtain a college or university education

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Commissioner of Education (here inafter referred to as the "Commissioner") is authorized and directed to make loans. as provided in this Act, from the fund established pursuant to section 5 to individuals desiring to obtain vocational, technical, academic, or professional education beyond the high-school level.

SEC. 2. (a) Any person who is a citizen of the United States, and who has successfully completed a high-school course, or its equivalent, shall, upon application therefor approved by the Commissioner, be eligible for a loan under this Act in an amount not to exceed $1,000.

(b) An application for a loan under this Act shall be in such form and contain such information as may be prescribed by the Commissioner and shall contain (1) a statement by the applicant that he has not theretofore received a loan under this Act; (2) a statement of the course of study or training proposed to be undertaken by the applicant; (3) a statement by the applicant that the loan applied for is necessary to such undertaking, and that, if granted, the proceeds thereof will be used to defray the costs of tuition, fees, books, supplies, board, lodging, and other necessary expenses incident to such study or training; and (4) a certification by an educational or training institution that it has found the applicant qualified for such course of study and that it is willing to admit him for such purpose.

SEC. 3. Such loans shall be made without security, except that the borrower shall execute a promissory note payable to the United States. Such note shall mature fifteen years after the date of the loan, and shall bear interest at the rate of 1 per centum per annum. If the applicant is a minor, such note shall bear the endorsement of his parent or guardian.

SEC. 4. No loan shall be made to any person for any period during which he is receiving education or training under title II of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944.

SEC. 5. There is hereby authorized to be appropriated the sum of $250,000,000, which shall constitute a revolving fund to be available for the purpose of making loans under this Act.

SEC. 6. (a) The Commissioner is authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.

(b) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize the Commissioner to exercise any influence upon the choice by an applicant for a loan under this Act of a course of training or study or of the educational or training institution at which such course is to be pursued, or to authorize the Commissioner to exercise any supervision or control over any such institution.

(c) The provisions of this Act shall be administered without discrimination against any person on account of his race, color, or creed.

[S. 1021, 85th Cong., 1st sess.]

A BILL To amend the National Science Foundation Act to authorize the award of certain scholarships

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 is hereby amended by redesignating the present section 10 as subsection 10 (a) and by adding a new subsection (b) as follows:

"(b) The Foundation is authorized to award, within the limits of funds made available specifically for such purpose pursuant to section 16 of this Act, scholar

ships of $500 each for the successful completion of an examination in high school mathematics. The examination shall test the general knowledge of mathematics of those about to matriculate into college. In addition the Foundation is authorized to award, without the limits of funds made available, specifically for such purpose pursuant to section 16 of this Act, further scholarships of $500 each to be given to those persons who, having received a scholarship under this subsection at the time of matriculation into college, successfully complete an examination in calculus at the end of the first year of college. In giving the examinations required under this subsection the Foundation is authorized to make use of the services of persons normally engaged in giving nationwide examinations at the college entrance or college level, and may enter into contracts with such persons for their services, without regard to the provisions of section 3709 of the Revised Statutes, as amended."

[S. 1237, 85th Cong., 1st sess.]

A BILL To provide for national scholarships for college and university undergraduate

study

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SHORT TITLE

SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the "National Scholarship Act of 1957".

FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF PURPOSE

SEC. 2. The Congress hereby finds and declares that the national interest and the national security of the United States require the fullest development of the talent of its young men and women; and that to this end it is essential to reduce to a minimum the loss of such talent that results from the inability of many highly qualified young men and women, because of lack of means, to attend institutions of higher education. It is therefore the purpose of this Act to assist young men and women of limited means to further their education by establishing a program of national scholarships.

DEFINITIONS

SEC. 3. As used in this Act

(a) The term "State" means a State, Alaska, the Canal Zone, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands; and

(b) The term "institution of higher education" means an educational institution in any State which (A) offers and conducts an educational program extending at least two academic years beyond the secondary level, and (B) is designated by the Council, with the advice of appropriate accrediting agencies, to be an institution of higher education for the purposes of this Act.

NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP COUNCIL

SEC. 4. (a) In order to carry out the purposes of this Act, there is hereby established in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare a National Scholarship Council (hereinafter referred to as the "Council") consisting of the United States Commissioner of Education (hereinafter referred to as the "Commissioner"), as chairman, and twelve members who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Each appointed member of the Council shall hold office for a term of four years, except that any member appointed to fill an unexpired term shall be appointed only for the remainder of such term, and except that of the members first appointed, three shall hold office for terms of three years, three shall hold office for terms of two years, and three shall hold office for terms of one year, as designated by the President at the time of appointment.

(b) Persons appointed to the Council shall, while serving on business of the Council, receive compensation at rates fixed by the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, but not to exceed $50 per day, and shall also be entitled to receive an allowance for actual and necessary travel and subsistence expenses while so serving away from their places of residence.

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RULES AND REGULATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION

SEC. 5. The Council shall establish such rules and regulations as may be neces sary to carry out the purposes of this Act. All actions of the Council shall be by majority vote of the members thereof. Administration of the program authorized by this Act except where specifically delegated to the Council shall be the responsibility of the Commissioner, subject to the rules and regulations established by the Council.

STATE PLANS

SEC. 6. (a) Any State desiring to participate in the national scholarship program provided for in this Act may do so by establishing a State commission on national scholarships and by submitting through such commission a State plan for carrying out the purposes of this Act, which

(1) is in accordance with State law and the provisions of this Act and rules and regulations established hereunder;

(2) includes

(A) provisions for the administration of the plan by such commission, (B) provisions for the determination of eligibility to compete for national scholarships and for the selection of individuals to be awarded such scholarships in accordance with section 9,

(C) provisions for the determination of the amount of each scholarship award in accordance with section 11, and

(D) provisions for the making of such reports, in such form and containing such information as the Council or the Commissioner shall from time to time reasonably require for the purposes of this Act, and for compliance with such provisions as the Council may from time to time find reasonably necessary to assure the correctness and verification of such reports; and

(3) is approved by the Council.

(b) In the case of any State's plan which has been approved by the Council, if the Council, after reasonable notice and opportunity for hearing to the State commission administering such plan, finds (1) that the plan has been so changed that it no longer complies with the provisions of subsection (a), or (2) that in the administration of the plan there is a failure to comply substantially with such provisions, the Council shall notify such State commission that such State will not be regarded as eligible to participate in the administration of the program under this Act until the Council is satisfied that there is no longer any such failure to comply. Until such time the Council shall perform the functions of the State commission in such State.

ALLOCATION OF SCHOLARSHIPS

SEC. 7. (a) There are authorized to be awarded for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1957, not more than fifty thousand national scholarships, and for each fiscal year thereafter not more than fifty thousand national scholarships, to individuals selected under the provisions of this Act. Each participating State shall be authorized to award such proportion of such number of scholarships for any year as the number of secondary school graduates in such State bears to the total number of secondary school graduates in all States during the most recent school year for which reliable figures are available.

(b) Each State shall be allotted for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1957. and for each fiscal year thereafter, from amounts appropriated for such year for payments to individuals selected for national scholarships under the provisions of this Act, (1) an amount equal to $500 multiplied by the number of national scholarships authorized to be awarded by such State for such year under subsection (a) of this section plus (2) an amount equal to $500 multiplied by the number of persons awarded national scholarships by such State in previous years who will be eligible for payments under the provisions of section 12.

(c) In the event appropriations for any fiscal year for payments to individuals holding national scholarships are not sufficient to cover the allotments under subsection (b), the number of national scholarships authorized to each State to be awarded for such year under subsection (a) shall be reduced proportionately to the extent necessary so that such amounts appropirated are sufficient to cover such allotments.

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS

SEC. 8. Any individual desiring to compete for a national scholarship shall make application to the State commission on national scholarships for the State in which he is a resident. Such individual must meet standards of eligibility which are established by such State commission as part of its State plan.

AWARD OF NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS

SEC. 9. Each State commission shall select from eligible candidates those most highly qualified for the award of national scholarships. All such selections shall be made on the basis of merit only, as indicated by scholastic achievement and aptitude and academic promise. In the methods of selection, objective measures shall be used as far as possible. The State commission shall employ such selection methods as may be prescribed by the Council, or approved by it as part of the State plan, and such additional methods consistent with the requirements of this Act as it may deem appropriate, and shall designate the winners of national scholarships.

SELECTION OF COURSE OF STUDY AND DETERMINATION OF FINANCIAL NEED

SEC. 10. (a) Each national scholarship winner shall report to the State commission which selected him, at such time and in such manner as the commission may prescribe, the course of study which he proposes to pursue in an institution of higher education. He shall provide to the State commission at that time, and thereafter as requested, information on his need for financial assistance to undertake the course of study described. Such information shall include information which the Council may prescribe to be collected from all individuals holding national scholarships and such other information as the State commission may find to be necessary for the determination of the amount of financial aid to be awarded.

(b) National scholarship winners shall have freedom of choice in the course of study which they will pursue (including changing their courses of study) provided that such course leads to a baccalaureate degree in an institution of higher education.

DETERMINATION OF AMOUNT OF SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

SEC. 11. (a) Each State commission shall determine annually (and after any major course of study change) the amount to be awarded from such State allotment for that year to each individual selected by such commission for a national scholarship. Such determination shall be based upon the total cost to him of undertaking the proposed course of study, the financial resources of such individual taking into account what the individual can reasonably be expected to earn during each twelve-month period that he holds the scholarship, and the amount of financial assistance needed to enable the student to undertake the proposed course of study. All such determination shall be based upon objective measures at cost, resources, and need, which shall be prescribed by the Council and such additional measures not inconsistent therewith as the State commission shall may be useful or necessary to its determination. In no case shall the amount be more than $1,000 per academic year (as defined in regulations of the Council). The name of each national scholarship winner and the amount of his award for each year shall be certified to the Commissioner.

(b) A determination by a State commission, with respect to any individual awarded a national scholarship, that such individual has no need for financial assistance to pursue his course of study for any year shall not preclude such individual from retaining such scholarship during such year.

DURATION OF SCHOLARSHIP PAYMENTS

SEC. 12. The duration of scholarship payments granted under this Act shall be for a period of time not in excess of four academic years (as defined in regulations of the Council) or, subject to such regulations, such longer period as is normally required to complete the undergraduate curriculum which the recipient is pursuing; but in no event shall the duration extend beyond the completion by the recipient of the work for his first post-secondary school degree. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this subsection, scholarship payments shall be made only while (1) the recipient takes essentially a full-time program of edu

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