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Week Ending September 29, 2006

H.R.5106 To amend the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 to authorize grants for Partnerships for Access to Laboratory Science (PALS).

This bill will pump, in one year, nearly $10 billion of grants into secondary education institutions for the purpose of establishing partnerships for access to laboratory science to improve laboratories and provide instrumentation as part of a comprehensive program to enhance the quality of mathematics, science, engineering and technology instruction at the secondary school level.

Grants will be competitive and applicants will include higher education or community college, business or eligible non-profit organizations and may include a State educational agency, other public agency, national laboratory or community-based organization. The applicant will provide a plan that describes who the lab improvements are consistent with State math and science standards, describes how the improvement are part of a comprehensive program to enhance the quality of math, science, engineering and technology instruction and describes professional development and training activities for teachers and school personnel who will be working in the labs.

The funds can supplement existing programs and activities, provide lab instrumentation, purchase and rental or leasing of equipment, instrumentation and educational materials, maintenance, renovation and improvement of labs, professional development of teachers, training in lab safety and other relevant expenditures.

Federal share will not exceed 33%

Sponsor: Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX-15^th)

Vote: Passed House by voice vote September 27, 2006

Cost to the taxpayers: $9,839,262,000 for 2007.

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