Trump signs Canada-inspired bills to promote women entrepreneurship

US president Donald Trump has signed two bipartisan bills to encourage women to pursue careers in science. The bills — Promoting Women in Entrepreneurships Act and Inspiring the Next Space Pioneers, Innovators, Researchers and Explorers (INSPIRE) Women Act — closely follow the creation of the Canada−United States Council for Advancement of Women Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders initiative. That was announced at the February 13 roundtable discussion in Washington led by Trump and prime minister Justin Trudeau and aimed at leveling the playing field for women entrepreneurs and pursuing cross-border business opportunities. The idea for a roundtable focused on women scientists and entrepreneurs was hatched by Katie Telford, Trudeau’s chief of staff. The Promoting Women in Entrepreneurship Act authorizes the National Science Foundation to use its entrepreneurial programs to “recruit and support women to extend their focus beyond the laboratory and into the commercial world”. The INSPIRE Women Act is administered the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and encourages women to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and pursue careers that advance US aerospace, space science and exploration.