[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 5, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E752-E753]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               SUPPORTING THE IDEALS OF NATIONAL LAB DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 4, 2010

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1213, 
which recognizes the need to improve the performance of American 
students in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
(STEM) fields.
  In 2006, 4.5 percent of students in the United States graduated from 
college with a STEM-related diploma. By comparison, 33 percent of 
students in China graduated in the STEM field. The United States has 
been a global leader in technology and innovation for decades--but we 
will quickly fall behind unless our country encourages more young 
people to pursue STEM careers.
  We must take an all hands on deck approach to improve our national 
STEM outlook. National Lab Day helps drive young students' curiosity 
for science and technology by encouraging hands-on projects in the 
classroom that prove the sciences are fun. We must work to ensure that 
high schoolers, particularly young women and at-risk students, take 
college prep courses in science and math that prepare them for future 
careers as scientists.

[[Page E753]]

And we must stand by young scientists while they are in college to see 
that they graduate with a STEM diploma in hand.
  Improving STEM opportunities both professionally and in the classroom 
has long been a priority for me, and I continue to be amazed by the 
type of work that is happening in my own district. For example, 
Polyera, a nanotech company in Skokie, Illinois, is working to develop 
polymer inks for organic photovoltaics, or printed solar cells. Imagine 
a company that's able to print off solar-powered cells just as easily 
as printing off a newspaper.
  Nanotechnology is an absolutely incredible step forward, but what I 
get excited about, especially when I'm talking to the next generation 
of potential scientists, is that they are already thinking about the 
next big thing. A cure for cancer, putting an astronaut on Mars, or 
finding new sources of renewable energy--these are challenges that will 
be solved by today's STEM student.
  There is a place for initiatives that motivate students to pursue 
STEM throughout their educational careers. With targeted action, like 
that encouraged by National Lab Day, we can remain global leaders in 
this vital field.
  Again, I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 1213.

                          ____________________