Bioeconomy Research and Development Act of 2021

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. SABLAN. Madam Speaker, the America COMPETES Act makes landmark investments to ensure our people, research, innovation, and manufacturing remain competitive globally. The legislation includes several of my bills supporting these goals: by providing Marianas students pathways to well-paying jobs through access to STEM courses and apprenticeships, by ensuring math and science teachers in the Marianas are recognized at the national level along with their peers in education, and by protecting the ocean life that has always been so important to the people and culture of the Marianas.

To be specific the America COMPETES Act includes my bill, the Outlying Areas Apprenticeship Expansion Act, which provides $2.8 million to establish an apprenticeship program. Our school systems already equip students with the skills employers seek. Now we need to build a connection between that classroom learning and the real-world workplace. Apprenticeships provide that link. And with our economy still struggling to recover due to the pandemic, that link is needed now more than ever.

We also need to recognize the teachers who are giving those students the skills they need. My bill, the STEM Educator Awards Equity Act, has also been incorporated in the COMPETES Act and expands the annual Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching so a teacher in each of America's insular areas can be recognized. Selected teachers receive $10,000 from the National Science Foundation and participate in expert-led training and collaboration opportunities in Washington. Currently, teachers from the Marianas, Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands must compete against each other for two awards. This defeats the purpose of the program, which is to inspire excellence and provide a role model in every area of our nation.

Lastly, the America COMPETES Act protects our environment, which is the foundation of economic activity. The bill addresses the sharp decline in shark populations by banning the commercial trade in shark fins. This matches the ban in my legislation, H.R. 2811, which has 240 cosponsors in the House of Representatives, and which follows the lead already established by law in the Marianas and U.S. state governments. The COMPETES Act will also protect the Marianas' coral reefs through increased funding for conservation activities. These provisions support our tourism economy by maintaining the natural beauty of our islands to showcase to visitors from around the world.

With historic investments in job training, STEM education and the environment, the America COMPETES Act supports communities in the Marianas and around America in this time of economic challenge. I ask my colleagues to support the America COMPETES Act.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source