[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 57 (Thursday, May 11, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E807]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       INTRODUCTION OF THE SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION FOR 
                          COMPETITIVENESS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. JOHN J.H. ``JOE'' SCHWARZ

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 11, 2006

  Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce today 
the Science and Mathematics Education for Competitiveness Act. The bill 
expands and strengthens math and science education programs at the 
National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy to improve the 
math and science literacy of our nation and prepare our young people 
for the high-tech, high-wage jobs of tomorrow.
  President Bush, in his State of the Union Address, articulated the 
link between math and science education and national competitiveness. I 
agree with the President. Like him, I want to ensure that the 21st 
Century remains ``the next American century.'' And, like him, I want to 
ensure that Americans continue to enjoy the highest standard of living 
in the world.
  The jobs of today require a higher level of math and science skills 
than ever before. The jobs of tomorrow will be even more demanding. And 
we know that the rest of the world is not standing still. In an 
increasingly globalized economy, our children and grandchildren will be 
competing with highly-skilled, highly-educated workers around the world 
for high-wage jobs in high-value-added industries. I want to make sure 
that those industries and those jobs stay here in America. To do that, 
our nation's business leaders tell us that we have to boost the math 
and science skills of American students.
  I know of no better way to improve math and science education in this 
country than to build upon the successful programs of the National 
Science Foundation and to expand the ability of some of America's most 
brilliant scientists and engineers in the Department of Energy to lend 
their talent and expertise to the education of U.S. students.
  In crafting my bill, I focused on what already works and I sought to 
minimize the creation of new programs. Based on testimony offered in a 
series of hearings in the Science Committee, and on recommendations 
offered in a series of reports by American business and academic 
leaders, my bill focuses on encouraging more teachers to specialize in 
teaching math and science, and encouraging more students to pursue 
undergraduate and graduate degrees in math, science, and engineering.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that so many business and educational 
organizations have endorsed my bill, including Texas Instruments, AeA 
(formerly the American Electronics Association), the Telecommunications 
Industry Association, the Electronics Industries Alliance, the Council 
on Competitiveness, the Battelle Memorial Institute, the American 
Chemical Society, the National Education Association, the National 
Science Teachers Association, the National Council of Teachers of 
Mathematics, the American Association of Colleges for Teacher 
Education, the American Association of Physics Teachers, the American 
Geological Institute, the Science Technology Engineering and 
Mathematics Education Coalition, the Council of Graduate Schools, the 
Association of American Universities, and a host of other 
organizations. I am grateful for their support. Together, we can ensure 
that America remains the most competitive nation in the world.

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