(a) Congressional declaration of purpose 
It is the purpose of this subpart to continue the authority of the Department to operate the Minority Institutions Science Improvement Program created under section 1862 (a)(1) of title 42 and transferred to the Department by section 3444 (a)(1)1 of this title.

(b) Grant authority 
The Secretary shall, in accordance with the provisions of this subpart, carry out a program of making grants to institutions of higher education that are designed to effect long-range improvement in science and engineering education at predominantly minority institutions and to increase the participation of underrepresented ethnic minorities, particularly minority women, in scientific and technological careers.