H.R. 4048 — STEM Pathways for the Future Act

This section amends the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-368) to require the NSF Director, not later than one year after enactment, to establish a competitive grant program for eligible recipients to create STEM (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) apprenticeship programs not carried out by four-year institutions of higher education. Eligible recipients include states, Indian tribes (as defined in 25 U.S.C. 5304), cities or other political subdivisions, public-private partnerships focused on STEM career development and training, priority recipients, or consortia thereof; priority recipients—which receive award preference—include entities operating registered apprenticeship programs under the National Apprenticeship Act (29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.), community colleges, minority-serving institutions, other entities designated by the Director, or such consortia. Grant funds may support participant recruitment, program planning and technical assistance, incorporation of emerging technologies, formation of private sector consortia or advisory boards, or other Director-approved activities but may not fund business relocation incentives. This section also establishes an eight-member interagency task force comprising the EPA Administrator, NSF Director, OSTP Director, and Secretaries of Commerce, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, and Labor. Not later than one year after enactment, the task force must report to Congress identifying federal programs primarily focused on STEM career development and training delivered through registered apprenticeships, community colleges, or minority-serving institutions; the task force terminates upon report submission.