[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 153 (Wednesday, October 21, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2599]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL CHEMISTRY WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 20, 2009

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 793, 
supporting the goals and ideals of National Chemistry Week. I commend 
the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Reyes, for his continued support of this 
important celebration of chemistry.
  This year marks the 22nd anniversary of National Chemistry Week, 
which is sponsored by the American Chemical Society. The event features 
outreach programs created by schools and businesses to educate 
communities and schoolchildren on the importance of chemistry in their 
everyday lives. The theme of this year's National Chemistry Week is 
``Chemistry--It's Elemental,'' which emphasizes the role that elements 
play in every aspect of our lives, from the air we breath to the cars 
we drive to the food we eat.
  I applaud the ACS for their commitment to chemistry education at the 
elementary and secondary level. To maintain our nation's role as a 
leader in innovation in an increasingly globalized world, our young 
people will need to excel in the fields of science, technology, 
engineering, and mathematics. Training a new generation of chemists 
will also be essential for solving the world's most pressing issues, 
from fighting global warming to discovering vaccines for emerging 
diseases. This is why I am pleased that this year's event includes a 
national chemistry competition, the distribution of 10,000 Merck 
Indexes to science educators, and a website with biographies of 
chemists and online activities to inspire students to choose a career 
path in chemistry.
  As important as this resolution is though, we need to do more in 
Congress right now to improve STEM education. A recent National 
Assessment of Education Progress showed that, for the first time since 
1980, 4th graders made no progress in math performance between 2007 and 
2009. Study after study highlights the need to strengthen math and 
science education so that our nation's students do not continue to lag 
behind others in developing the skills critical for global 
competitiveness.
  Again, I commend Mr. Reyes and the ACS for their commitment to 
promoting a greater understanding of chemistry, and I urge my 
colleagues to join me in supporting this important resolution.

                          ____________________