- an amendment by Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) that would require the director of math, science, and engineering education to establish a program and provide mentors for women and underrepresented minorities interested in careers in math, science, and engineering; and
- an amendment by Sen. Obama to expand the pipeline of individuals entering STEM fields to support the United States’ innovation and competitiveness efforts.The Senate rejected, 24-74, an amendment by Senator John Sununu (R-NH) that would have reduced funding for the education and human resources directorate at the National Science Foundation.
Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said, “This bill, S. 761, will help maintain and improve the competitive edge of the United States over the next century by increasing our investment in basic research, strengthening educational opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math at all educational levels, and encouraging young people to pursue careers in those fields.”
In offering his amendment, Sen. Obama said, “As our nation becomes more diverse, scientists, engineers, and technology professionals continue to be recruited from a narrowing segment of our population. If we were able to increase the participation of underrepresented groups, including women, to a level reflective of their representation in the population, we would diminish the workforce issues that restrict our economic progress and generate a pool of talent that could refresh our ability to innovate. If we do not tap the diversity of our nation as a competitive strength, we will diminish our capacity to innovate. Full participation by all segments of our populace would do more than just increase the number of workers in high technology fields; full participation would bring fresh perspectives and inventive solutions.”
House Passes Version of Math and Science Education Bill
On April 24, the House passed, 389-22, the 10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds Science and Math Scholarship Act (H.R. 362). The House Science and Technology Committee approved the bill by voice vote on March 28 (see The Source, 3/30/07).
The measure would authorize $1.5 billion over five years for continuing education of math and science teachers and for scholarships to encourage undergraduate students to pursue careers as math and science teachers. It also would provide grants to colleges and universities to increase the number of students who complete degrees in STEM disciplines.
The House adopted by voice vote the following amendments:
- an amendment by Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN) to establish the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship program at the National Science Foundation (NSF). The purpose of the scholarship would be to recruit and train science, math, and engineering professionals who want to become science and math teachers; and
- an amendment by Rep. Gordon that would require the NSF to award Noyce grants to a variety of types of colleges and universities including minority-serving institutions.Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) said of the bill, “The world has changed. China and India recognized this 20 years ago and changed their educational system. We did not change. We did not recognize what was happening, and so we have to play catch-up. This bill, which I strongly support, is a good bill which will help us to improve U.S. math, science, and engineering education at all levels; K-12, undergraduate and graduate. As most people in Congress know, I am a scientist. What you may not know is that over 40 years ago, I dedicated myself to trying to improve the science educational programs in the United States, basically from preschool through graduate school, because we were simply falling behind other countries in the areas of mathematics and science. I am not talking only about producing good engineers and enough engineers, or good scientists and enough scientists. That is very important, and we must do it. We are losing out on that as well. But what we certainly have to do is to prepare everyone for the workplace of today, and especially the workplace of tomorrow. This bill will help do that.”
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) said, “I rise today to enthusiastically express my support for H.R. 362, the 10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds Science and Math Scholarship Act. The purpose of this legislation is to improve our national corps of teachers in both math and science, both by recruiting new teachers and also by supporting the current ones. To build a world-class science and technology workforce, we need to have a world-class math and science education system, and H.R. 362 will help accomplish this goal…America must invest in this national teaching force, especially in rural and poor areas…To remain competitive in the 21st-century global economy, it is critical that we reform math and science education in America. All children, especially those in rural and in poor areas, should have the opportunity to become leaders, should be able to take our country to the next level.”
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