[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 249 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 249

                  Supporting K-12 geography education.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 4, 2011

    Mr. Ruppersberger submitted the following resolution; which was 
        referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
                  Supporting K-12 geography education.

Whereas Congress is scheduled to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act (ESEA), commonly known as ``No Child Left Behind'', for 
        the first time in almost a decade;
Whereas geography is one of ten ``core academic subjects'' identified in the 
        ESEA for which specific funding allocations and implementing programs 
        are proposed to further its teaching at the K-12 level;
Whereas geography education is central to preparing students to be informed 
        citizens of the United States and economically competitive in a rapidly 
        globalizing world;
Whereas geotechnologies, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), GPS, 
        photogrammetry, surveying, mapping, and remote sensing, have been 
        identified by the U.S. Department of Labor as one of the three most 
        important emerging and evolving fields, with job opportunities growing 
        and diversifying rapidly, creating substantial workforce growth as these 
        technologies prove their value in ever more areas; and
Whereas employers in all sectors, including private companies, government 
        agencies, and nongovernmental organizations have indicated that there is 
        a pressing need for more students graduating today with the geographic 
        science and geospatial skills needed to support a rapidly growing field: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) urges the Administration to include geography and 
        geospatial education in its Science, Technology, Engineering, 
        and Mathematics (STEM) and Elementary and Secondary Education 
        Act (ESEA) Blueprint for Reform proposals;
            (2) urges Congress to include authorizations and 
        appropriations for geography education consistent with other 
        core academic subjects for K-12, as part of a reauthorized 
        ESEA; and
            (3) urges Congress to enhance geography teacher training by 
        passing legislation such as the Teaching Geography is 
        Fundamental Act.
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