with their overall population (0.2 percent of all U.S. individuals). NHPI students received less than 0.2 percent of all bachelor’s degrees, and less than 0.1 percent of masters and doctoral degrees, awarded in STEM from 2020 through 2021. (13) According to research published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), undergraduate students identifying as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Queer (LGBQ) were 7 percent less likely to be retained in STEM programs compared with their heterosexual counterparts, despite the fact that LGBQ students are 10 percent more likely to participate in undergraduate research experiences, which is a significant contributor to STEM retention absent other factors such as sexual or gender identity, than their heterosexual counterparts. (14) According to research published by the American Society for Cell Biology, transgender and gender nonconforming undergraduate students, who represent 1 in 14 adults in the United States aged 18–24, are 10 percent less likely to remain in STEM majors than their cisgender counterparts. (15) Research published by the AAAS also indicates that 22 percent of LGBTQ professionals had thought about leaving their STEM job, compared with 15 percent of non-LGBTQ STEM professionals. Moreover, 12 percent of LGBTQ professionals planned to leave their STEM profession within the next 5 years, compared with 8 percent of non-LGBTQ professionals. (16) Finally, according to the NSF, persons with a disability are underrepresented in the general workforce (4 percent) compared with their representation in the general U.S. population (9 percent), and even less represented in the STEM workforce (3 percent). (b) Program authorized The Director of the National Science Foundation shall award grants to eligible entities, on a competitive basis, to enable such eligible entities to carry out the activities described in subsection (d), in order to increase the participation of women, persons underrepresented in science and engineering, and persons with