MAKERS Act

House Bill

H.R. 812

119th Congress

MAKERS Act

In Committee

Introduced:Jan 28, 2025

Primary Sponsor

David Scott

Representative

Democratic

GA-13

Cosponsors

10

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Science, Technology, Communications

Summary

This bill directs the National Science Foundation to award grants for research on makerspaces at colleges and universities. Makerspaces are community workshops with tools and technology for learning, workforce training, and early-stage business ventures. Priority goes to community colleges, minority-serving institutions, and partnerships with workforce development organizations.

Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

SponsorDavid Scott (D-GA)

Introduced1/28/2025

StatusReferred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

ChamberHouse

Data from Congress.gov

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Vote Prediction

MAKERS Act

This bill directs the National Science Foundation to award grants for research on makerspaces at colleges and universities. Makerspaces are community workshops with tools and technology for learning, workforce training, and early-stage business ventures. Prior

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This bill directs the National Science Foundation to award grants for research on makerspaces at colleges and universities. Makerspaces are community workshops with tools and technology for learning, workforce training, and early-stage business ventures. Priority goes to community colleges, minority-serving institutions, and partnerships with workforce development organizations.

Bill Number: 812
Sponsor: David Scott (D-GA)
Introduced: 1/28/2025
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
Policy Area: Science, Technology, Communications

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: MAKERS Act
Bill Number: 812
Sponsor: David Scott (D-GA)
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
Introduced: 1/28/2025
Summary: This bill directs the National Science Foundation to award grants for research on makerspaces at colleges and universities. Makerspaces are community workshops with tools and technology for learning, workforce training, and early-stage business ventures. Priority goes to community colleges, minority

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill directs the National Science Foundation to award grants for research on makerspaces at colleges and universities. Makerspaces are community workshops with tools and technology for learning, workforce training, and early-stage business ventures. Priority goes to community colleges, minority-serving institutions, and partnerships with workforce development organizations.

Last updated: 1/5/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Making Advances Kinetic Education, Research, and Skills Act or the MAKERS ActThis bill requires the National Science Foundation (NSF) to award competitive grants to institutions of higher education to support research and development related to makerspaces. Under the bill, makerspaces are defined as community spaces that provide learners and entrepreneurs with tools, technology, and knowledge, and support educational opportunities for personal growth, workforce training, and early-stage business ventures.Grant funds may be used to support research on the effectiveness of makerspaces in engaging students and communities in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), among other functions.In awarding grants, the NSF must prioritize certain applicants, including (1) community colleges and minority-serving institutions; and (2) institutions that apply in partnership with workforce development entities, high-need local educational agencies, or independent nonprofit or academic makerspaces.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Creates NSF grants for makerspace research and development
Prioritizes community colleges and minority-serving institutions
Supports STEM education through hands-on learning
Encourages partnerships with workforce development entities
Studies effectiveness of makerspaces for student engagement

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

Colleges would receive federal support to study and develop makerspaces that provide hands-on STEM learning. Community colleges and underserved institutions get priority, potentially expanding access to these facilities. Students and entrepreneurs would benefit from more makerspace opportunities.