[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1213 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1213

 Recognizing the need to improve the participation and performance of 
America's students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics 
(STEM) fields, supporting the ideals of National Lab Day, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 24, 2010

    Ms. Fudge (for herself and Mr. Ehlers) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Science and 
                               Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the need to improve the participation and performance of 
America's students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics 
(STEM) fields, supporting the ideals of National Lab Day, and for other 
                               purposes.

Whereas in 2005 the National Academy of Sciences published a report entitled 
        ``Rising Above the Gathering Storm'', which estimated that in the United 
        States innovations generated by the Science, Technology, Engineering, 
        and Mathematics (STEM) fields account for nearly half of the growth in 
        gross domestic product;
Whereas in 2006 only 4.5 percent of college graduates in the United States 
        received a diploma in engineering, compared with 25.4 percent in South 
        Korea, 33.3 percent in China, and 39.1 percent in Singapore;
Whereas increasing the number of students pursuing careers in STEM fields is 
        vital to the global competitiveness of the United States;
Whereas many STEM occupations do not have representation of women and 
        underrepresented minorities proportional to these groups in the 
        population or their enrollment in higher education;
Whereas strengthening partnerships between the Federal and State governments, 
        the private sector, nonprofit organizations, professional societies, and 
        the education community will improve STEM education in our Nation's 
        schools;
Whereas the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that science and engineering 
        occupations are projected to grow by 21.4 percent from 2004 to 2014, 
        compared to a projected growth of 13 percent in all occupations during 
        the same time period;
Whereas an understanding of science and mathematics is necessary not only for 
        those who will enter STEM fields as majors but for all citizens to 
        understand scientific and technical issues that affect their lives;
Whereas scientific and technical skills are a requirement for an increasingly 
        wide range of occupations and hands-on inquiry-based learning in the 
        STEM fields is an essential element of a well-rounded education;
Whereas the President has launched an ``Educate to Innovate campaign'' which 
        aims to increase STEM literacy so that all students can learn deeply and 
        think critically in STEM, to move American students from the middle of 
        the pack to the top in the next decade, and to expand STEM education and 
        career opportunities for underrepresented groups, including women and 
        girls;
Whereas National Lab Day is a nationwide initiative to foster community-based 
        collaborations between educators and STEM professionals and other 
        volunteers across the country to support high-quality, hands-on, 
        discovery-based laboratory experiences for students;
Whereas more than 200 business, science and technology, and education 
        organizations have declared their support for National Lab Day; and
Whereas schools and educators across the country will celebrate the first 
        National Lab Day during the first week of May at a time of their own 
        choosing: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the ideals of National Lab Day;
            (2) calls upon the Office of Science and Technology Policy 
        and the National Science Foundation to continue fostering 
        partnerships such as those involved in National Lab Day; and
            (3) encourages scientists, volunteers, and educators to 
        participate in National Lab Day.
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