[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 93 (Monday, June 11, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1246]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       10,000 TRAINED BY 2010 ACT

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                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 6, 2007

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. 
Res. 1467 the ``10,000 Trained by 2010 Act''. This legislation would 
authorize the appropriation of about $100 million over the 2008-2011 
period for the National Science Foundation to award grants to 
institutions of higher education for research on innovative approaches 
to enhancing healthcare informatics through hardware and software 
solutions, as well as to conduct basic research and improve 
undergraduate and graduate education in the study of information 
systems. Higher educations facilities would also be able to establish 
multidisciplinary centers for Health and Medical Informatics Research 
Centers.
  These research centers would be designed to train qualified 
healthcare personnel and professionals, as well as physicians, nurses, 
information technology specialists, medical administrators and social 
scientist.
  Ciborra (2002) defines the study of information systems as the study 
that ``deals with the deployment of information technology in 
organizations, institutions, and society at large.'' Today, information 
and information technology have become the fifth major resource 
available to executives for shaping an organization, alongside people, 
money, material and machines
  One of the benefits of H.R. 1467 the ``10,000 Trained by 2010 Act'' 
is that we will be able to stay ``up to date'' with other countries and 
their technology.
  Most businesses have shifted from being product oriented to knowledge 
oriented. This means that employers are now looking for people who can 
compete in innovative, and knowledge oriented businesses, rather than 
product oriented business. By funding this Act, we are giving our youth 
a better knowledge about the field of information systems so that they 
can have a greater chance on jobs and other opportunities in our 
country, rather than the employer having to go to foreign nations to 
look for help. We are also increasing the amount of resources that we 
have available here in the United States.
  We should make a conscious effort to get as many of our minority 
students and women into the information systems career field as 
possible. Although this is a highly populated field, there are not very 
many minorities holding these positions. It is not because they are 
incapable or lack the drive and determination to get the job done, but 
simply because they are not very educated about the options and 
possibilities that are out there.

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