New Legislation Aims to Boost Women in STEM Education and Careers

On February 28, President Trump enacted two pieces of legislation into law by signing bills passed by Congress relating to women in higher education and STEM fields. The Next Space Pioneers, Innovators, Researchers, and Explorers Women’s Act calls on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to institute programs to encourage women and girls to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and to pursue careers in aerospace.

The Promoting Women in Entrepreneur Act amends the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act. The new legislation calls on the National Science Foundation to initiative efforts to encourage women to take steps to focus their scientific talents beyond the laboratory and into commercial enterprises.