National STEM Week Act

Download PDF
Bill ID: 119/s/1070
Last Updated: March 4, 2026

Sponsored by

Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]

ID: E000295

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Held at the desk.

March 3, 2026

Introduced

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.

🏛️

Committee Review

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed Senate

🏛️

House Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Joy, another bill that's going to "fix" the country's problems with a healthy dose of bureaucratic nonsense and empty promises. Let me put on my surgical gloves and dissect this mess.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The National STEM Week Act is a feel-good bill that aims to promote American innovation by designating a week each year as "National STEM Week." Its objectives are to enhance access to quality STEM education, stimulate interest in STEM subjects, and facilitate partnerships between educational institutions and industry leaders. How original.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill amends the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 by adding a new section that designates National STEM Week. It also establishes a committee to carry out programs and activities during this week, including educational activities, community engagement, and industry involvement. Because what we really need is another committee.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects: educational institutions, industry partners, communities, and families. Oh, and let's not forget the politicians who get to pat themselves on the back for "supporting STEM education."

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a classic case of "legislative theater." It creates a lot of noise but accomplishes little. The real impact will be on the politicians' résumés, which will now include "supported STEM education" as a bullet point. Meanwhile, the actual problems in our education system will remain unaddressed.

The diagnosis? This bill is suffering from a bad case of " Politician-itis," a disease characterized by an excessive desire for self-promotion and a complete lack of understanding of the underlying issues. The symptoms include empty promises, bureaucratic red tape, and a healthy dose of hypocrisy.

Treatment? A strong dose of reality and a willingness to tackle the real problems in our education system. But don't hold your breath; this bill will likely pass with flying colors, and we'll be back to square one, wondering why nothing ever changes.

In conclusion, the National STEM Week Act is a perfect example of how politicians love to treat symptoms rather than diseases. It's a Band-Aid on a bullet wound, a feel-good measure that accomplishes little but makes everyone involved feel good about themselves. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have better things to do than watch this legislative farce unfold.

Related Topics

Congressional Rules & Procedures Small Business & Entrepreneurship National Security & Intelligence Federal Budget & Appropriations Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Transportation & Infrastructure State & Local Government Affairs Government Operations & Accountability Civil Rights & Liberties
Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$406,600
29 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$7,700
Committees
$0
Individuals
$398,900

No PAC contributions found

1
SAC & FOX TRIBE OF MISSISSIPPI IN IOWA
2 transactions
$6,700
2
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
1 transaction
$1,000

No committee contributions found

1
ABEL, ANDREA MS.
1 transaction
$50,000
2
MCINERNEY, THOMAS E. MR.
1 transaction
$50,000
3
NICOLLS, BOB MR.
1 transaction
$25,000
4
GRAY, C. BOYDEN
1 transaction
$25,000
5
CATSIMATIDIS, JOHN A. MR.
1 transaction
$25,000
6
KOTICK, ROBERT MR.
1 transaction
$16,600
7
VINCZE, CHRISTOPHER
1 transaction
$15,800
8
FRANCE, BRIAN Z. MR.
1 transaction
$15,000
9
BAKER, BERNARD J. MR. III
1 transaction
$15,000
10
HEGYI, ALBERT P. MR.
1 transaction
$15,000
11
DAVISON, JAMES E. MR.
1 transaction
$15,000
12
BROIN, JEFF MR.
1 transaction
$15,000
13
SHERRILL, STEPHEN C. MR.
1 transaction
$15,000
14
GLEESON, JOHN W. MR.
1 transaction
$12,500
15
RAY-GLEESON, KAREN S. MRS.
1 transaction
$12,500
16
POPOLO, JOE
1 transaction
$11,800
17
PFAUTCH, ROY MR.
1 transaction
$11,600
18
GOLDMAN, MARC STANLEY
1 transaction
$10,000
19
SCHLOEMER, JAMES H. MR.
1 transaction
$10,000
20
SABIN, ANDREW MR.
1 transaction
$10,000
21
BERNSTEIN, JANE
1 transaction
$3,300
22
BERNSTEIN, RICHARD L.
1 transaction
$3,300
23
CHALMERS, DUNCAN
1 transaction
$3,300
24
GIRSKY, LAURIE
1 transaction
$3,300
25
GIRSKY, STEPHEN
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 1 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]

ID: K000367

Top Contributors

10

1
LEECH LAKE BAND OF OJIBWE
Organization CASS LAKE, MN
$3,300
Nov 5, 2024
2
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$3,300
Aug 25, 2023
3
CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA
Organization DURANT, OK
$2,500
Oct 7, 2024
4
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$2,300
Jul 17, 2023
5
ARISTOTLE INTERNATIONAL
CONDUIT TOTAL LISTED IN AGG. FIELD
Organization WASHINGTON, DC
$500
Jul 19, 2024
6
SMITH, BRADFORD
MICROSOFT CORPORATION ATTORNEY
Individual BELLEVUE, WA
$6,600
Mar 30, 2023
7
SMITH, BRADFORD
Individual BELLEVUE, WA
$6,600
Mar 30, 2023
8
BADEN, DREW
PROFESSOR UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
Individual BETHESDA, MD
$6,600
Feb 23, 2024
9
CAUCHY, CONSTANCE
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual MIDLAND, MI
$6,600
Jun 2, 2024
10
BADEN, DREW
Individual BETHESDA, MD
$6,600
Mar 11, 2024

Donor Network - Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

Loading...

Showing 33 nodes and 33 connections

Total contributions: $415,700

Top Donors - Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA]

Showing top 25 donors by contribution amount

2 Orgs27 Individuals