[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 60 (Monday, May 16, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 16, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                      THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN SCIENCE

                                 ______


                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 16, 1994

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to inform Members about an important 
hearing today in the House Energy Subcommittee which I cochaired with 
Chairwoman Marilyn Lloyd. The hearing focused on the role of women in 
science.
  The hearing was unprecedented because it was the first time a 
subcommittee under Science, Space, and Technology received testimony 
from an all-female panel. I commend Chairwoman Lloyd's leadership to 
include more women at these hearings.
  Also participating in the hearing were eight young women who sat in 
Members' seats and listened to testimony. These young women asked 
insightful, probing questions of the witnesses and voiced their 
apprehensions and aspirations about careers in science. I encourage 
these young women to follow through with their dreams to pursue careers 
in the sciences.
  The questions asked at today's hearing were important because they 
provided substance to the criticism that women are underrepresented in 
scientific fields.
  While women in general are underrepresented in the sciences, their 
representation on our country's most prestigious scientific bodies is 
even worse. In the 1990's the National Academy of Science inducted an 
average of 6 women in each new class of 60. This rate must improve if 
young women are to be provided with model scientists to emulate.
  The same message came through loud and clear from the eight women 
scientists who testified before the subcommittee today. They offered 
words of encouragement to the young women to overcome obstacles to 
careers in these fields.
  I thank them for their efforts and thank Chairwoman Lloyd for her 20 
years of leadership in this area. Our young women need to hear again 
and again that they can and should aspire to successful careers in 
science and we in the Congress will help make their dreams come true.

                          ____________________