[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 24 (Tuesday, March 10, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S1700]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. FRIST (for himself and Mr. Rockefeller):
  S. 1739. A bill to establish a commission, under the aegis of the 
National Science Foundation, to review and propose recommendations for 
assuring United States leadership in science and mathematics; to the 
Committee on Labor and Human Resources.


   the national commission for science and mathematics leadership act

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I rise today to announce the establishment 
of the National Commission for Science and Mathematics Leadership. This 
effort is a direct result of the United States' devastating performance 
of 12th grade students on the recently released Third International 
Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), the most comprehensive and 
rigorous comparison of quantitative skills across nations. If we, as a 
nation, are going to continue to be global leaders in the new 
knowledge-based economy, we must first re-evaluate our current failures 
in our classrooms. I concur with Secretary Daley when he stated, 
``These results are entirely unacceptable.''
  TIMSS was designed to constructively assess the students' knowledge 
of mathematics and science needed to function effectively in society as 
adults. American 12th graders were outperformed in mathematics and 
science literacy by their counterparts in 12 of 20 countries, and only 
faired better than 2, Cypress and South Africa. In advanced mathematics 
and physics, no country performed more poorly. We simply cannot accept 
the conclusion of this study without considering its consequences on 
our entire educational system.
  The 4th grade TIMSS measurement indicated that the American students 
are well above the international average in mathematics and very near 
the top in achievement in science. However, the United States Is the 
only country in TIMSS whose students dropped in ranking from above 
average in mathematics at the fourth grade level to slightly below 
average performance at the eighth grade. And it only gets worse. Why 
does this drop-off occur? American students start out equal with or 
ahead in basic skills and steadily decline the longer they stay in 
school, compared with the students of our country's main trading 
partners.
  Our children cannot afford to be illiterate in mathematics and 
science. The rapidly changing American society demands skills requiring 
mathematics, science, and technology. Information Technology, perhaps 
the fastest growing sector of our economy with 90% of new jobs, relies 
on more than basic high school literacy in mathematics and science.
  The National Commission on Science and Mathematics Leadership is a 
first step toward improving our current educational system. It is a 
solid commitment from Congress to establish a core of national experts 
to review and propose recommendations for assuring leadership in 
science and mathematics training in the United States. Furthermore, 
using TIMSS as a comprehensive and valuable tool, the Commission, in 
coordination with the National Academy of Sciences, will analyze the 
results of this international study to better our schools, and more 
importantly, the future of our children.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleague 
Senator Frist in introducing legislation to authorize the National 
Science Foundation to form a commission to review and propose 
recommendations for assuring the United States leadership in science 
and mathematics. This bill would require the formation of a 12 member 
commission of experts in the field of science and mathematics 
education. The commission is charged with reviewing the recently 
released Third International Mathematics and Science (TIMSS) study 
results, along with whatever other relevant information they need to 
assess the state of science and mathematics education in the United 
States, and reporting back to Congress with a set of recommendations 
for implementation by public and private agencies; these 
recommendations would serve to allow United States students to become 
preeminent among the nations of the world.
  As everyone in the Senate knows, I have been a long and ardent 
supporter of education. That is why I read with such dismay the recent 
TIMSS study results which show United States students behind every 
major industrialized nation in the study. This is an unacceptable 
situation. The United States' economy is becoming increasingly 
dependent on high-technology, information management, and intellectual 
ability rather than raw materials, natural resources and muscle power. 
It is imperative that our high-school graduates--whether they go on to 
college, post-secondary technical training, or move straight into the 
workforce--have a solid foundation of science and mathematics 
education. A recent study suggests that 60 percent of positions require 
some sort of computer skills, while only 22 percent of today's workers 
have applicable skills. We can not let this inequality continue to 
future generations.
  Unfortunately the TIMSS study results show that we are setting up our 
students to fail. We need to identify, and work diligently to 
implement, means to correct this situation. The commission formed by 
this bill is a needed first step. I encourage my colleagues to support 
this bill.
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