S 1070 United States Senate · 119th Congress

National STEM Week Act

Summary

National STEM Week Act This bill requires the National Science and Technology Council's Committee on STEM to designate a week each calendar year as National STEM Week. (STEM refers to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.) During this established week, the committee must encourage educational institutions (i.e., elementary schools, secondary schools, and institutions of higher education) to participate in the week and also encourage families of students attending these educational institutions to participate in STEM activities. Additionally, the committee must encourage STEM industries to (1) engage with students enrolled in educational institutions by providing mentorship programs, site visits, and guest lectures; and (2) support STEM education initiatives at these educational institutions through funding, resources, and expertise. The committee must annually report to Congress on the activities conducted during the established week.

Issues: ✓ Education ✓ Technology

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

President

Introduced Mar 14, 2025 Last action Mar 3, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced in Senate → Engrossed in Senate · 5 edits · Feb 26, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was restructured from a standalone act into an amendment to the existing America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, integrating National STEM Week provisions into that law's framework. A 5-year sunset provision was added, limiting the authority to designate and carry out National STEM Week activities. The word 'diverse' was removed from the findings language describing the future workforce.

SCOPE

The bill changed from a free-standing act to an amendment of Section 101 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621), folding National STEM Week into existing statutory structure rather than creating new standalone sections.

The word 'diverse' was removed from Finding (2), changing 'a diverse and capable future workforce' to 'a capable future workforce.'

TIMELINE

A 5-year expiration (sunset) provision was added: the authority to designate a week as National STEM Week and carry out related programs and activities expires 5 years after enactment of the National STEM Week Act.

TECHNICAL

The definition of 'institution of higher education' was corrected to reference section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001) instead of section 102 (20 U.S.C. 1002).

REQUIREMENT

The standalone annual reporting requirement (previously Section 5) was folded into the existing COMPETES Act reporting structure as a new paragraph under subsection (d), requiring a description of National STEM Week activities including participation summary, impact analysis, and recommendations.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S716; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S716)

upper

Feb 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

upper

Feb 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-110.

upper

Oct 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

upper

Mar 14, 2025

Committee

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

upper

Mar 14, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in Senate

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor