[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 26, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2191-E2192]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      STUDENT RESULTS ACT OF 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 20, 1999

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2) to send 
     more dollars to the classroom and for certain other purposes:

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Chairman, I rise today to 
show my support for the Mink/Woolsey/Sanchez/Morella amendment to H.R. 
2, the Student Results Act. This amendment would place much needed 
gender equity language into this bipartisan legislation.
  Madam Chairman, I know firsthand how difficult it is for women to 
compete in today's world. As a woman of many firsts, I know that it is 
not always assumed that anything boys can do, girls can do, especially 
in the sciences. Let me give you some statistics to illustrate my 
point. Only 25 percent of female students have taken computer science 
courses in high school. Only 20 percent of female students take the 
three core science courses in high school. Also, only 19 percent of 
girls earn a math SAT score of 600 or above vs. 30% of males. These 
statistics are alarming.
  We need to create a strong workforce for technology jobs in our 
country so that we can continue to compete with other countries. 
Therefore, it is important for us to not only include, but to also 
encourage every student to excel in the maths and sciences. That means 
encouraging girls as well as boys to take courses in math and science. 
We cannot afford to limit our technology workforce and training based 
on gender.
  Studies have proven that teachers and other influences in children's 
lives still do not equally encourage girls as well as boys to study 
math and science. Until we see more improvements in these statistics, 
gender equity language will be necessary.
  This amendment will train teachers in gender equitable methods and 
techniques and require the identification and elimination of gender and 
racial bias in instructional materials. It will continue the progress 
that was started with the passage of Title IX in 1974 to close the 
gender gap which still exists in today's schools.

[[Page E2192]]

  I wish that I did not have to speak about this gender gap and hope 
that a day will come when we will no longer need this type of 
legislation. Until that day, let us do the right thing and prove to 
everyone that this Congress cares about girls as much as we do boys by 
adopting this amendment.

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