; (iii) emphasize the need to include faculty and students of such institutions in Department of Defense research activities; and (iv) ensuring such institutions and faculty and students of such institutions receive mentors when participating in Department programs. (6) In section 4201 of the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act, Congress reiterated the importance of prioritizing this relationship by authorizing more than $12 million above the President’s requests, including $2 million for minority women in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. (7) While women of color have made significant progress in graduating from college in the areas of study related to STEAM, they continue to be under-represented in the STEAM fields. (8) While underrepresented minority students overall face an opportunity gap in STEAM education, women of color face a larger achievement gap in science and engineering education. (9) In 2012, of bachelor’s degrees awarded in science and engineering majors— (A) women received 48.8 percent; (B) women of color received 15.7 percent; (C) Black individuals received 5.3 percent; (D) Hispanic individuals received 5.5 percent; (E) Native American or Alaska Native individuals received 0.3 percent