42 U.S.C. § 1869c — Low-income scholarship program

(1) Establishment. The Director^* of the National Science Foundation, called the “Director” here, must award scholarships to low-income individuals pursuing associate, undergraduate, or graduate degrees in mathematics, engineering, computer science, or cybersecurity.

(2) Eligibility.

(A) In general. An applicant—

(i) must be a United States citizen, United States national as defined in 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a), refugee admitted under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence;

(ii) must submit an application when, how, and with the information the Director requires; and

(iii) must certify an intent to use the scholarship to enroll or remain enrolled at an institution of higher education^* as defined in 20 U.S.C. § 1001(a), pursuing an associate, undergraduate, or graduate degree in mathematics, engineering, computer science, cybersecurity, or another technology or science program the Director designates.

(B) Ability. The Director must award scholarships solely on ability. If applicants have substantially equal ability and there are not enough scholarships for all, the Director must award them in a way that tends to distribute recipients’ permanent residences widely across the United States.

(3) Limitation. The Director determines the scholarship amount and may renew a scholarship for up to 5 years.

(4) Funding. The Director may carry out this section only with funds made available under 8 U.S.C. § 1356(s)(3). No more than 50 percent may be used for undergraduate curriculum development, professional and workforce development, and advancing technological education. Funds for those programs may be used for purposes other than scholarships.

(5) Federal Register. No later than 60 days after December 8, 2004, the Director must publish in the Federal Register a list of eligible programs of study. This section does not define “low-income.”