“To support fusion education and related skilled technical workforce activities, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section defines 15 terms for purposes of the Act, including Director (i.e., Director of the National Science Foundation); EPSCoR institution (i.e., institutions in jurisdictions eligible under the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research); Hispanic-serving institution; historically Black college or university; institution of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965); junior or community college; labor organization (with expansions beyond the National Labor Relations Act definition); minority-serving institution; National Laboratory; nonprofit organization; PreK–12; Secretary (i.e., Secretary of Energy); skilled technical workforce; STEM; and Tribal College or University.
This section authorizes the National Science Foundation (NSF) Director, in coordination with the Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary, to award grants to institutions of higher education (including junior and community colleges), nonprofit organizations, labor organizations, or consortia for research, development, and activities to advance fusion-related education and workforce development—including support for a diverse workforce to meet industry, academic, National Laboratory, and government needs—at all levels of education. Awards may fund (1) industry-oriented curricula, modules, and stackable credentials with hands-on learning; (2) teacher training and professional development; (3) identification of critical fusion skills; (4) access to National Laboratories, facilities, and tools; (5) integration of fusion into STEM curricula; (6) faculty hiring and retention; (7) PreK–12 to higher education pathway programs; (8) informal PreK–12 learning such as competitions; (9) skilled technical workforce programs like internships; and (10) program evaluation; and the NSF Director must prioritize expanding student fusion research experiences through specified existing NSF programs (e.g., Research Experiences for Undergraduates, Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarships). This section further authorizes the DOE Secretary, acting through the Office of Science and in coordination with the NSF Director, to make similar awards to institutions of higher education, nonprofit and labor organizations, National Laboratories, or consortia to support fusion internships, fellowships, apprenticeships, project-based learning, and acquisition, development, renovation, and maintenance of fusion research equipment and facilities. (Thus, these activities aim to build the skilled workforce needed for commercial fusion energy deployment.)
This section directs the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), in consultation with the Secretary and other relevant federal agency heads, to award funds to a consortium led by an institution of higher education or nonprofit organization to establish the Fusion Skilled Technical Workforce and STEM Education Coordination Hub (Hub). The consortium must include at least four institutions of higher education, including at least one junior or community college, and may include National Laboratories, labor organizations, nonprofits, and private sector entities. (As background, the Hub addresses workforce shortages in the emerging fusion energy industry by coordinating federal programs, developing curricula and training materials, and promoting pathways into fusion-related STEM careers.) The Hub must (1) identify and address cross-cutting workforce challenges in fusion sciences, engineering, and industry as a national and regional clearinghouse for federal programs; and (2) facilitate dissemination of model curricula, best practices, and instructional materials to institutions of higher education and career and technical education entities. Hub activities may include testing and disseminating fusion-related materials via a public database and portal; facilitating internships, externships, and upskilling; coordinating with industry and nonprofits to enhance fusion education in STEM programs; recruiting underrepresented groups; developing educator training programs; collecting workforce data; conducting public outreach; promoting STEM coordination; partnering with other sectors (e.g., automotive, aviation); and identifying federal funding opportunities. The Hub must coordinate with NSF, the Department of Energy, Department of Education, Department of Labor, and other agencies; applications must describe contributions to Hub purposes, industry participation, collaboration, workforce development, and outreach to rural communities, women, and underrepresented groups. The Hub is authorized for five years, with reapplication possible for an additional five years following merit-based review, and NSF may terminate it for underperformance.
This section authorizes appropriations to carry out the Act as follows: (1) $20 million to the National Science Foundation for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030; and (2) $10 million to the Department of Energy for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.