PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Feb 8, 2006
21st Century National Defense Education Act or NDEA-21 - Directs the Secretary of Education to establish a grant program to promote science, technology, engineering, and math education (STEM fields) in kindergarten, elementary, and secondary schools. Authorizes the Secretary to establish a loan forgiveness program for students who have obtained undergraduate degrees in a STEM field and are employed full-time as elementary or secondary school teachers in a STEM field or by the federal government in a position that requires training or education in a STEM field.
Requires the Director of the National Science Foundation to establish (1) a program to promote professional development to ensure effective STEM instruction; (2) Centers of Excellence to develop STEM curricula; (3) a program to promote research experiences for undergraduates in a STEM field; (4) professional science Master's programs at institutions of higher education for national security and economic competitiveness; and (5) support programs for STEM students studying in foreign countries that have languages of critical strategic importance to the United States.
Establishes: (1) a national STEM Teaching Fellowship program to encourage teaching careers in STEM fields; (2) a STEM Revitalization Task Force to evaluate and promote STEM programs; and (3) a National STEM Advisor.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
Establishes: (1) the Office of Teaching Another Language to Kids within the Department of Education to improve foreign language education from kindergarten through 12th grade; (2) the National Foreign Language Coordinating Council in the Executive Office of the President; and (3) the position of National Foreign Language Advisor to find solutions to achieving national foreign language and cultural competency.
People & committees
Rep. Reyes, Silvestre [D-TX-16] · D–TX
Legislative record
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Referred to the Subcommittee on Education Reform.
Referred to the Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Research.
Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Science, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Science, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Science, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Mar 23, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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