Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 106 Part 3.djvu/503

 PUBLIC LAW 102-476~OCT. 23, 1992 106 STAT. 2297 Public Law 102-476 102d Congress An Act To establish a national advanced technician training program, utilizing the resources of the Nation's two-year associate-degree-granting colleges to expand the pool of skilled technicians in strategic advanced-technology fields, to increase the productivity of the Nation's industries, and to improve the competitiveness of the United States in international trade, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the "Scientific and Advanced-Technology Act of 1992". SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. (a) FINDINGS.— The Congress finds that— (1) the position of the United States in the world economy faces great challenges from highly trained foreign competition; (2) the workforce of the United States must be better prepared for the technologically advanced, competitive, global economy; (3) the improvement of our work force's productivity and our international economic position depend upon the strengthening of our educational efforts in science, mathematics, and technology, especially at the associate-degree level; (4) shortages of scientifically and technically trained workers in a wide variety of fields will best be addressed by collaboration among the Nation's associate-degree-granting colleges and private industry to produce skilled, advanced technicians; and (5) the National Science Foundation's traditional role in developing model curricula, disseminating instructional materials, enhancing faculty development, and stimulating partnerships between educational institutions and industry, makes an enlarged role for the Foundation in scientific and technical education and training particularly appropriate. (b) PuitPOSES.— It is the purpose of this Act to— (1) improve science and technical education at associatedegree-granting colleges; (2) improve secondary school and postsecondary curricula in mathematics and science; (3) improve the educational opportunities of postsecondary students by creating comprehensive articulation agreements and planning between 2-year and 4-year institutions; and (4) promote outreach to secondary schools to improve mathematics and science instruction. SEC. 3. SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION. (a) NATIONAL ADVANCED SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL EDUCA-riON PROGRAM.— The Director of the National Science Foundation (hereafter in this Act referred to as the "Director") shall award grants Oct. 23, 1992 [S. 1146] Scientific and Advanced- Technology Act of 1992. 42 USC 1861 note. 42 USC 1862h. Grants. 42 USC 1862i.

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