[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 132 (Tuesday, September 28, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S7667]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE INAUGURAL USA SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FESTIVAL

  The resolution (S. Res. 656) expressing support for the inaugural USA 
Science & Engineering Festival was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 656

       Whereas the global economy of the future will require a 
     workforce that is educated in the fields of science, 
     technology, engineering, and mathematics (referred to in this 
     preamble as ``STEM'');
       Whereas a new generation of American students educated in 
     STEM is crucial to ensure continued economic growth;
       Whereas advances in technology have resulted in significant 
     improvements in the daily lives of the people of the United 
     States;
       Whereas scientific discoveries are critical to curing 
     diseases, solving global challenges, and expanding our 
     understanding of the world;
       Whereas strengthening the interest of American students, 
     particularly young women and underrepresented minorities, in 
     STEM education is necessary to maintain the global 
     competitiveness of the United States;
       Whereas countries around the world have held science 
     festivals that have brought together hundreds of thousands of 
     visitors to celebrate science;
       Whereas the inaugural 2009 San Diego Science Festival 
     attracted more than 500,000 participants and inspired a 
     national STEM effort;
       Whereas the mission of the USA Science & Engineering 
     Festival is to reinvigorate the interest of the young people 
     of the United States in STEM by producing exciting and 
     educational science and engineering gatherings; and
       Whereas thousands of individuals from universities, museums 
     and science centers, STEM professional societies, educational 
     societies, government agencies and laboratories, community 
     organizations, K-12 schools, volunteers, corporate and 
     private sponsors, and nonprofit organizations have come 
     together to organize the inaugural USA Science & Engineering 
     Festival across the United States, including a 2-day 
     exposition on the National Mall that will feature more than 
     1,500 hands-on activities and more than 75 stage shows: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) expresses the support of the Senate for the inaugural 
     USA Science & Engineering Festival to be held in October 2010 
     in Washington, D.C.;
       (2) commends the Nobel Laureates, institutions of higher 
     education, corporate sponsors, and all the various 
     organizations whose efforts will make the USA Science & 
     Engineering Festival possible; and
       (3) encourages students and their families to participate 
     in the activities which will take place on the National Mall 
     and across the United States at satellite locations as part 
     of the inaugural USA Science & Engineering Festival.

  Mr. KAUFMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to express my support for 
the inaugural USA Science & Engineering Festival.
  As the only serving Senator who has worked as an engineer, I am proud 
to sponsor a resolution acknowledging the importance of science and 
engineering education.
  I would also like to thank Majority Leader Reid and Senators Akaka, 
Baucus, and Rockefeller for joining me in introducing this resolution.
  I have spoken many times on the Senate floor about the need to 
inspire a new generation of graduates educated in science, technology, 
engineering, and mathematics, or STEM. According to a report released 
last week by the National Academy of Sciences, the United States ranks 
27th among developed nations in the proportion of college students 
receiving undergraduate degrees in engineering or science. This trend 
must be reversed.
  Last year, the science community of greater San Diego recognized this 
need and launched the inaugural San Diego Science Festival. According 
to the festival's Web site, part of its mission was to demonstrate to 
students that careers in STEM are ``interesting, accessible, and a 
pathway to a better future.'' By all accounts, the San Diego Science 
Festival was sensational and attracted more than 500,000 participants 
which inspired a national STEM effort--the USA Science & Engineering 
Festival.
  Hosted by Lockheed Martin, the USA Science & Engineering Festival is 
a grassroots collaboration of over 500 of the Nation's leading science 
organizations, including professional science and engineering 
societies, universities, government agencies, industry partners, and K-
12 schools working to reinvigorate young people's interest in STEM. It 
also has a strong advisory board including Nobel Laureates, leaders of 
Fortune 100 technology and science companies, innovators, scientists, 
and STEM educators.
  The festival launches in the Washington, DC area on October 10 and 
culminates in a 2-day expo on the National Mall on October 23 and 24. 
It will feature more than 1,500 hands-on activities and more than 75 
stage shows. At the same time, dozens of satellite locations will be 
hosting festival events across the country. This first-ever national 
science festival is gearing up to be an extremely successful event.
  I believe that encouraging more students to pursue careers in the 
STEM fields, particularly young women and underrepresented minorities, 
is necessary to maintaining our economic and global competitiveness. 
Countries around the world have held science festivals in support of 
STEM education and I am so pleased that the United States is on the eve 
of doing the same. I commend those individuals who are working hard to 
make the USA Science & Engineering Festival a success and I encourage 
students and families across the country to participate in this 
extraordinary event.

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