On April 26, the House approved, by voice vote, a resolution (H. Con. Res. 96) recognizing the significant achievements and contributions of African American women scientists, mathematicians, and inventors. The House Science Committee approved the resolution on March 17 (see The Source, 3/18/05). Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) sponsored the resolution.
According to H. Con. Res. 96, “African American women, once considered nontraditional participants in the United States scientific community, have become an indispensable part of the new technology society.” The resolution notes that of the 427,740 individuals who hold a science or engineering degree in the United States, 25 percent are women, and African American women comprise less than one percent of such individuals. The resolution states that in order “to improve the numbers of African American youth pursuing science, especially young women, it is crucial to provide scientific minds for them to look up to and emulate.” Finally, the resolution highlights a number of African American women “who have broken through many barriers to achieve greatness in science.”
Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL) explained that, “Today, African American women scientists hold positions at all levels of universities, government laboratories, and industry. They chair departments and scientific societies; and they serve on peer review committees, something that was unthinkable just 25 years ago…Yet today’s women and minorities could never have succeeded in the once nontraditional fields of science, engineering, and mathematics had it not been for the courage of their predecessors.” She added, “The women we are honoring…are more than pioneers. They are role models for a new generation of women who are just beginning to think about their life’s work and future ambitions and explore their many opportunities.” Rep. Biggert concluded, “By underscoring the importance of diversity and recognizing the significant scientific achievements of African American women, I hope we can inspire more young women, and men, to follow in the footsteps of those who pursued science with such passion and enthusiasm.”
Pointing to Census Bureau statistics that indicate a large decline in the science and engineering workforce by 2050, Rep. Johnson stated, “Clearly, it will be necessary to attract greater numbers of women and minorities to careers in science and engineering in order to avoid devastating consequences in the future. Efforts to increase the presence of Americans in science are incomplete unless they have a women’s component. Some progress has been made, but much remains to be accomplished. Women make up half the population, but only 24 percent of the science and engineering workforce. African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans as a group constitute 24 percent of the U.S. population, but only 7 percent of the total science and technology workforce.” Rep. Johnson said that the resolution “represents our most needed commitment to supporting the continued progress of women and minorities and, in particular, African American women in the sciences. Full participation by all of our diverse population in an endeavor this important will be our key to future success as a world leader in science and technology.”
