[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 158 (Monday, November 10, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2317]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN IN SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND TECHNOLOGY 
                            DEVELOPMENT ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Sunday, November 9, 1997

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, in an effort to support women in our 
changing economy, I am introducing the Commission on the Advancement of 
Women in Science, Engineering, and Technology Development Act. Women 
account for more than 45 percent of the U.S. labor force; yet in the 
fields of science, engineering, and technology, they are 
underrepresented and face barriers in recruitment, retention, and 
advancement.
  According to the Department of Labor, only 8.7 percent of electrical 
engineers are women. That's lower than the percentage of female clergy, 
11 percent. Among technology jobs, computer programming attracts the 
most women; 29 percent are female.
  High-technology companies are part of the fastest-growing U.S. 
industry, which dominates both domestic and world markets. Yet these 
companies are battling a very serious shortage of skilled high-
technology professionals. If the lack of women hinders the growth of 
this industry, then it will hold back the Nation's economy.
  Statistics show that the percentage of degrees awarded to women in 
science at the bachelors, masters, and doctoral level is higher than 
the percentage of women actually pursuing careers in science. Women 
make up about a third of science students, but only a fifth of science 
professionals. Consequently, women are still a great, untapped source 
of creative science thinking as the United States moves into the next 
century. Science needs to increase its percentage of women 
professionals.
  The American Medical Association reports that the number of women 
physicians has quadrupled in the last 20 years. While women are 
becoming more commonplace in the medical profession, they still are 
nudged away from technology, from attitudes at colleges and 
universities to the cultural drawbacks in computer companies.
  While we, as a nation, are growing more aware of problems that beset 
women in the fields of science, engineering, and technology, few 
policies have been implemented to combat the problems women are facing 
in these occupations. Now, more than ever, we need a broad research 
project to consolidate information and identify intervention models 
that work.
  The Advancement of Women in Science, Engineering, and Technology 
Development Act would set up a commission to study the barriers that 
women face in these fields. The commission would identify and examine 
the number of women in science, engineering, and technology and the 
specific occupations where they are underrepresented. The commission 
also would describe the practices and policies of employers relating to 
the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women scientists and 
engineers. The commission then would determine if these practices and 
policies are comparable to their male counterparts, and issue 
recommendations to government, academia, and private industry based on 
successful programs.
  In addition, the bill directs the National Science Foundation [NSF] 
to conduct a study of the educational opportunities available to women 
who want to enter the fields of science, engineering, and technology. 
The NSF then must report its findings within 1 year and issue 
recommendations to Congress on how to improve educational opportunities 
for women who wish to enter the fields of science, engineering, and 
technology.
  Mr. Speaker, the Advancement of Women in Science, Engineering, and 
Technology would be a first step in countering the roadblocks for women 
in our rapidly evolving high-technology society. This bill would help 
women break through the ``Glass Ceiling'' and the ``Silicon Ceiling'' 
in the fields of science, engineering, and technology, and would bring 
our Nation closer to creating a highly effective high-technology 
economy for the 21st century.

                          ____________________