Does the National Science Foundation Need to Encourage Women Entrepreneurs in STEM Fields? (H.R. 255)

What is H.R. 255?

(Updated June 1, 2020)

This bill was enacted on February 28, 2017

This bill would expand the mission of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to include supporting women entrepreneurs in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. 

It also notes that women are underrepresented in those fields even if they attained a STEM degree, and that women with those academic backgrounds are often successful entrepreneurs.

Specifically, this bill would authorize the NSF to “encourage its entrepreneurial programs to recruit and support women to extend their focus beyond the laboratory and into the commercial world.”

Argument in favor

The National Science Foundation should support women entrepreneurs through its STEM programs, as women are underrepresented in those fields and STEM businesses can create high paying jobs.

Argument opposed

It’s unnecessary to try to encourage entrepreneurship by women in STEM fields. If women want to start businesses in an industry using those skills, they will, so the NSF doesn’t need to actively promote that.

Impact

Female entrepreneurs; and the National Science Foundation’s STEM programs.

Cost of H.R. 255

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-CT) introduced this bill to increase the role of women in STEM fields by encouraging entrepreneurship in the National Science Foundation’s programs:

“This bill takes a bipartisan approach to tackle a very real challenge that  women who are aspiring scientists and innovators face in the United States. he STEM fields play an increasingly important role in the U.S. economy, but women are still underrepresented in most STEM sectors. Making education and skills-training programs more accessible for women and other underrepresented groups is a key part of solving that problem, but it isn’t enough. This bill makes it clear that we can and should do more to support women when it comes to commercializing great ideas, starting small businesses, and creating jobs.”

When it was introduced in the last session of Congress, this legislation had the bipartisan support of five cosponsors in the House — including three Democrats and two Republicans. It passed the House on a 383-4 vote but ultimately stalled in the Senate.

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-CT) Press Release (Previous Version)
• News Times (Previous Version)
• Public (Previous Version)

Summary by Eric Revell
(Photo Credit: Argonne National Laboratory / Creative Commons)