Stem Opportunities Act

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 204, the STEM Opportunities Act of 2021. As a co-sponsor of this legislation with Chairwoman Johnson, I am pleased the House is taking it up for consideration today.

H.R. 204 continues the Science Committee's long history of bipartisan support for STEM education. The United States is in a race to remain the world's leader in science and technology. The only way we will win is by utilizing America's most valuable resource: Our people.

That means developing a diverse STEM-capable workforce at every education level and from every background.

The U.S. invests over $1 billion a year in Federal STEM education programs. But we have not made enough progress in growing a STEM- capable workforce. We need to address that. That is why one of the key provisions of H.R. 204 is a requirement for more comprehensive data collection and analysis on the students, researchers, and faculty receiving Federal science grants.

This data will help us identify and reduce the barriers that prevent underrepresented groups from entering and advancing in STEM. It will also help us measure the success of Federal STEM programs to better direct our investments.

The bill also includes a provision directing the NSF to support computer science education through the existing Tribal Colleges and Universities Program. Access to computer science resources and developing computer skills is critical in today's economy.

The STEM employment in the United States continues to grow faster than any other job category. Employers in all sectors, including agriculture, energy, healthcare, and defense are desperate for workers with STEM skills.

In order to meet this demand, we must develop talent across all possible groups. Our bill takes important steps to ensure that we are fully engaging America's entire talent pool and maintaining our global leadership in science and technology.

H.R. 204 overwhelmingly passed the House last Congress, and I look forward to getting the bill across the finish line this year.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to thank Chairwoman Johnson and her staff for working in a bipartisan fashion on this legislation and for incorporating our feedback and ideas. I look forward to continuing to work with her to advance STEM education efforts--this Congress--that will support, encourage, and develop the next generation of STEM workers.

Maintaining our global leadership in science and technology is critical to our economic and national security. We will not be able to lead without a STEM-capable workforce for the 21st century.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 204, and I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source