Building Blocks of STEM Act

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

11 March 2019

Last action

24 December 2019 · Became law

Status

Became Public Law No: 116-102.

Summary

Building Blocks of STEM Act This bill modifies National Science Foundation (NSF) grant programs that support STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, including computer science) education. The bill instructs the NSF, when awarding grants under the Discovery Research PreK-12 program, to improve the focus of research and development on early childhood education. The bill specifies that NSF grants to increase the participation of underrepresented populations in STEM fields may be used for research into various subjects regarding female students in prekindergarten through elementary school, including the role of teachers and caregivers in encouraging or discouraging participation by such students in STEM activities, and the types of STEM activities that encourage greater participation by such students. The bill specifies that NSF grants to research computer science education and computational thinking may be used to support development and implementation of various tools and models for teaching and learning, including developing and offering gender-inclusive computer science enrichment programs, and acquainting female students in prekindergarten through elementary school with careers in computer science.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

11 March 2019
Introduced
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Source: IntroReferral
11 March 2019
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Source: IntroReferral
15 May 2019
Reported
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Source: Committee
16 August 2019
Calendars
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 180.
Source: Calendars
16 August 2019
Reported
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker under authority of the order of the Senate of 08/01/2019 without amendment. With written report No. 116-78.
Source: Committee
16 August 2019
Reported
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker under authority of the order of the Senate of 08/01/2019 without amendment. With written report No. 116-78.
Source: Committee
26 September 2019
Floor
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S5760-5761)
Source: Floor
26 September 2019
Passed
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
Source: Floor
27 September 2019
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
1 October 2019
Floor
Held at the desk.
Source: Floor
1 October 2019
Floor
Received in the House.
Source: Floor
9 December 2019
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
9 December 2019
Passed
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H9362)
Source: Floor
9 December 2019
Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H9362)
Source: Floor
9 December 2019
Floor
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 737.
Source: Floor
9 December 2019
Floor
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9362-9363)
Source: Floor
9 December 2019
Floor
Ms. Johnson (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Source: Floor
19 December 2019
Floor
Presented to President.
Source: Floor
19 December 2019
President
Presented to President.
Source: President
24 December 2019
President
Signed by President.
Source: President
24 December 2019
Became law
Became Public Law No: 116-102.
Source: President
24 December 2019
Became law
Signed by President.
Source: BecameLaw

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Enrolled Bill · undated · Official file
Public Law · 25 December 2019 · Official file
Engrossed in Senate · 26 September 2019 · Official file
Reported to Senate · 16 August 2019 · Official file
Introduced in Senate · 11 March 2019 · Official file

Documents

15 official files

Enrolled Bill (text)
Enrolled Bill · EN
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Enrolled Bill (PDF)
Enrolled Bill · EN
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Public Law (text)
Public Law · EN · 25 December 2019
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Public Law (PDF)
Public Law · EN · 25 December 2019
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Public Law
summary · EN · 24 December 2019
Open at official source
Passed House
summary · EN · 9 December 2019
Open at official source
Engrossed in Senate (text)
Engrossed in Senate · EN · 26 September 2019
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Engrossed in Senate (PDF)
Engrossed in Senate · EN · 26 September 2019
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Passed Senate
summary · EN · 26 September 2019
Open at official source
Reported to Senate (text)
Reported to Senate · EN · 16 August 2019
View Download Open at official source
Reported to Senate (PDF)
Reported to Senate · EN · 16 August 2019
View Download Open at official source
Reported to Senate
summary · EN · 16 August 2019
Open at official source
Introduced in Senate (text)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 11 March 2019
View Download Open at official source
Introduced in Senate (PDF)
Introduced in Senate · EN · 11 March 2019
View Download Open at official source
Introduced in Senate
summary · EN · 11 March 2019
Open at official source

Related records

related to → Building Blocks of STEM Act

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.

Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/737
Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/116/s/737
us · 116-s-737 · source updated 5 December 2025