McClellan, Tonko Introduce Bill to Support the Next Generation of STEM Leaders

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) and Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20) introduced H.R. 9177, the Improving Mentorship in STEM Higher Education Act, to strengthen mentorship opportunities in higher education science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs.

Colleges and universities across the country seek to set up their STEM students for success, which then bolsters American research, innovation and leadership on the global stage. However, academic advisors often do not receive the training necessary to most effectively help their mentees with professional development and career advancement. Consequently, STEM students, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, risk not taking full advantage of the resources at their disposal to complete their degree and enter STEM fields.

The Improving Mentorship in STEM Higher Education Act addresses this by authorizing the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish a competitive demonstration program to strengthen mentorship practices at STEM higher education institutions. This bill also prioritizes support for Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), rural-serving institutions, emerging research institutions and partnerships that include these institutions.

“STEM students today represent the STEM workforce of tomorrow, who will conduct life-saving research and tackle the preeminent challenges of our time. If we hope to improve lives while staying competitive against global leaders like China, we must continue to foster positive STEM mentoring relationships to develop the skills needed for success,” said Congresswoman McClellan. “The Improving Mentorship in STEM Higher Education Act expands opportunities for STEM students while diversifying the workforce. I thank Congressman Tonko for his partnership on this pivotal issue and will continue to build a strong support system for STEM educators, students, mentors and mentees.”

“As one of only a handful of engineers in Congress, I know firsthand the importance of a STEM education and the opportunities it opens to a vast number of fields, from medicine and research to public service and manufacturing,” Congressman Tonko said. “That’s why I’m so pleased to join Congresswoman McClellan in leading the Improving Mentorship in STEM Higher Education Act. By equipping research advisors with resources to enhance mentorship practices, we foster individual growth, inspire our future STEM workforce, and strengthen our nation's capacity for innovation. I urge my colleagues to support this critical step toward cultivating a diverse STEM workforce that reflects and serves all Americans, and securing our continued leadership in the global scientific community.”

H.R. 9177 is endorsed by the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS), Association for Women in Science (AWIS), Framework for Accountability in Academic Research and Mentoring (FAARM) and National Postdoctoral Association (NPA)

“Strong mentorship is a central pillar of success in STEM graduate education, equipping students with the support they need to develop the skills, confidence and professional networks to lead in research and drive workforce innovation,” said Chevelle Newsome, President of CGS. “Federal investment in mentorship is an investment in America’s research future and will empower institutions to strengthen mentoring programs, support the adoption of evidence-based mentoring practices and establish clear and mutual expectations for faculty and students. When we get mentorship right, we get graduate education right, and we ensure that every student from every path succeeds in their graduate programs, cultivating the highly skilled STEM workforce this nation needs to meet state and national priorities.”

“AWIS is proud to endorse the Mentorship in STEM Higher Education Act and applauds Representatives McClellan and Tonko for introducing this vital legislation. The strength of America's scientific future depends on building a STEM ecosystem that reflects the full breadth of American talent and ingenuity. By supporting mentorship, this bill will help to build confidence, open doors that might otherwise remain closed, and foster a thriving scientific workforce,” said Meredith Gibson, Chief Executive Officer of AWIS.

“Good mentorship is essential to advanced scientific training, and a skilled high tech workforce is essential to maintain our nation’s economic edge," said Kaylynne Glover, Co-Founder and Communications Director of FAARM. “We’ve seen troubling signs of abuse and systemic workplace issues in graduate education for many years; only about half of doctoral students finish their degree. Research mentors have enormous power to shape the work environment in university research labs, both for better and for worse. The Improving Mentorship in STEM Higher Education Act takes important steps to address both sides of the problem, ensuring more STEM graduate students know where and how to report abuse and promoting ethical, effective, evidence-based mentorship. We applaud Congresswoman McClellan for continuing to lead the way on this issue.”

“The Improving Mentorship in STEM Higher Education Act is an important step toward healthier and more effective research training environments. By giving graduate students and postdocs the guidance and support they need to excel, stronger mentorship will help keep talented researchers in STEM and sustain U.S. scientific competitiveness,” said Bastien Aymon, External Affairs Chair of the MIT Graduate Student Council.

The Improving Mentorship in STEM Higher Education Act authorizes $5 million over five years (FY27–FY31) and requires NSF to report to Congress on the effectiveness of the program and recommendations for future continuation. It also supports efforts to:

• Improve mentorship training for faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers;
• Institutionalize evidence-based mentorship practices;
• Research effective mentorship models;
• Provide cultural competency training;
• Expand outreach and support activities; and
• Strengthen NSF misconduct reporting requirements related to harassment, discrimination and other professional or scientific misconduct to help facilitate safer and more inclusive research environments.

Read the full bill text and one-pager.