[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 76 (Thursday, June 3, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H3724]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IBM WORKING TOWARD LIFELONG LEARNING

  (Mr. CARTER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CARTER. Mr. Speaker, lifelong learning is very important to the 
competitiveness of this country. I would like to highlight what IBM, a 
company with a very strong presence in my district, is doing for 
lifelong learning.
  When I visited IBM's Austin site recently, I learned about several 
programs that IBM has which promote science and math for children. The 
company's Young Explorer is an interactive apparatus that young 
children have to access many of the schools in districts around the 
country. It targets kids up to age 8. By making science and math fun, 
IBM hopes that these children will decide to go into areas of science 
and math.
  IBM also runs the Excite Science Camp For Girls at 38 U.S. sites 
during the summer months. Such camps give seventh and eighth grade 
girls the opportunity to meet with IBM female engineers, design and 
build their own Web sites, and hopefully come to realize that 
engineering is a viable career option for them.
  IBM has collaborative relationships with many colleges and 
universities. The company and students share resources and work 
together on research and development endeavors. The company also goes 
into the community and offers computer training.
  IBM has the right idea. We need to create initiatives for U.S. 
employees to build new skills in today's global economy. If we do not, 
U.S. workers will get left behind.

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