H.R. 812

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To direct the Director of the National Science Foundation to award grants for, and support research on, the development of makerspaces, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · January 28, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. David Scott of Georgia · Committee: Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

Table of contents

• H.R. 812
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Findings
  • SEC. 3. Purpose
  • SEC. 4. Definitions
  • SEC. 5. Grant program for research and capacity building of makerspaces

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the or the .

SEC. 2. Findings

• Congress finds the following:
  • Maker communities can be found in both rural and urban communities throughout the Nation.
  • Making has been shown to engage and motivate children and adults in STEM disciplines.
  • Informal education and makerspaces promote skills that employers desire, such as technical skills, problem-solving skills, teamwork, and analytical skills.
  • Studies have shown that underrepresented populations often have better successes in informal and out-of-school STEM than in formal STEM programs.
  • Some studies have shown that makerspaces help to build not only technical hard skills but also collaboration and other soft skills that employers desire.

SEC. 3. Purpose

• The purpose of this Act is to encourage the formation and study of makerspaces to—
  • engage populations within community colleges and community environments in STEM programs;
  • develop desirable STEM technical and other skills, including collaboration; and
  • build a STEM-capable workforce.

SEC. 4. Definitions

• In this Act, the following definitions apply:
  • The term “historically Black college or university” has the meaning given the term “part B institution” under section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (). 20 U.S.C. 1061
  • The term means a community space that— makerspace
  • The term “minority-serving institution” means an institution listed in section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (). 20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)
  • The term has the meaning given the term in section 520 of the Housing Act of 1949 (). rural community rural area 42 U.S.C. 1490
  • The term means the subjects of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. STEM
  • The term means— workforce development component

SEC. 5. Grant program for research and capacity building of makerspaces

• (a) Establishment
  • The Director of the National Science Foundation shall award grants on a competitive basis to institutions of higher education, or consortia of such institutions, to support the research and development of makerspaces to assist in the formation of a STEM-capable workforce.
• (b) Use of funds
  • A grant awarded under this section may be used for—
    • research on the effectiveness of makerspaces in engaging students and the community in STEM skills and in teaching and learning, and the development, compilation, and dissemination of best practices on the use of makerspaces for STEM learning and workforce preparedness;
    • equipment to achieve the purpose under paragraph (1); and
    • any other activities the Director considers appropriate.
• (c) Priority
  • In selecting grant recipients under this section, the Director shall give priority to applicants that—
    • apply in partnership with one or more entities that are—
      • a workforce development component;
      • a high-need local education agency as described in section 9(b)(3) of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (); or 42 U.S.C. 1862n(b)(3)
      • an independent nonprofit or academic makerspace;
    • consist of one or more entities that are—
      • a community college; or
      • a historically Black college or university or other minority-serving institution of higher education; or
    • apply in partnership with or consist of an entity that is—
      • described in paragraph (1) or (2); and
      • operates within a rural community.
• (d) Limitation
  • Funds provided through a grant under this section may not be used for the construction of a physical building or facility to hold a makerspace unless the Director determines that such construction is necessary for reasons of safety or the use of relevant equipment.
• (e) Technical assistance
  • The Director may provide technical assistance to entities receiving a grant or entities seeking such a grant under this section.