[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 92 (Thursday, June 5, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1150]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING SCIENCE EDUCATION

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 4, 2008

  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 366, 
expressing the sense of Congress that increasing American capabilities 
in science, mathematics, and technology education should be a national 
priority.
  Two years ago, a National Academies panel led by Norm Augustine 
produced the ``Rising Above the Gathering Storm'' report, highlighting 
the critical state of our science, technology, engineering, and 
mathematics (STEM) workforce.
  Although this Congress passed America COMPETES Act last year, much 
more remains to be done to ensure our Nation is prepared to compete in 
the global economy in the 21st century. And we simply will not be able 
to compete if we cannot produce a workforce that excels in STEM fields.
  We have barely begun to turn the page in meeting our workforce and 
innovation demands. I am pleased that the resolution provides us the 
opportunity to raise awareness of this dire situation. Consider that:
  We still graduate half the number of physicists that we did in 1956--
before Sputnik spurred our last ``great awakening'' in science and 
engineering.
  One-third to half of those we graduate with science and engineering 
degrees are foreign students; and most of them will return to their 
home countries rather than applying their skills in the U.S.
  U.S. patents are down and our companies are spending more on tort 
legislation than on research and development.
  Tests still show that one-third of U.S. students lack the competency 
to perform the most basic mathematical computations.
  Half of the money we made available for grants for college students 
in STEM fields is going unused.
  Our edge in aerospace research is in danger. Our historic prominence 
in automobiles and electronics manufacturing has long since eroded; we 
cannot afford to lose our aerospace leadership.
  Above all else, I worry about our staggering $9 trillion debt and $54 
trillion unfunded liability. This debt is being fueled by 
uncontrollable entitlement program growth--which has grown from one-
third of the federal budget in 1960 to over two-thirds today.
  This is critically important to our competitiveness because, without 
reforming entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare, 
Medicaid, and tax policy, we simply won't have the resources to prepare 
our workforce to compete or to make the necessary investments in 
research.
  For the past year, Congressman Jim Cooper, a Democrat from Tennessee, 
and I have been working closely together on the Cooper-Wolf SAFE 
Commission Act. It has since garnered nearly 100 bipartisan cosponsors. 
Modeled after the base-closing process, the bill would create a 
bipartisan 16-member commission to review entitlement spending, tax 
policy, debt, and all other Federal spending.
  The commission will look beyond the Beltway for solutions, holding at 
least 12 town meetings--one in each of the Nation's Federal Reserve 
districts--over the span of 12 months in order to hear directly from 
the American people. And just like the base-closing process, the SAFE 
Commission Act would require and up-or-down vote on the commission's 
proposal--ensuring that Congress finally considered a comprehensive 
solution to this great challenge.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
resolution. It is yet another reminder that the next president and 
Congress must make both entitlement reform and American competitiveness 
top priorities.




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