[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 149 (Tuesday, November 16, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H7472-H7474]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1600
                 SUPPORTING UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH WEEK

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1654) expressing support for designation of the 
week of October 24, 2010, as ``Undergraduate Research Week,'' as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1654

       Whereas close to 600 colleges and universities in the 
     United States and thousands of undergraduate students and 
     faculty pursue

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     undergraduate research every year, providing research 
     opportunities that will shape the trajectory of students' 
     lives and careers and researchers' and institutions' purpose 
     and contributions to academia and the research enterprise;
       Whereas students and faculty engaged in undergraduate 
     research contribute to research across many disciplines, 
     including arts and humanities, biology, chemistry, health 
     sciences, geosciences, mathematics, computer science, physics 
     and astronomy, psychology, and social sciences;
       Whereas research at the undergraduate level provides both 
     students and faculty members opportunities for improving and 
     assessing the research environment at their institution, 
     develops critical thinking, creativity, problem solving, and 
     intellectual independence, and promotes an innovation-
     oriented culture;
       Whereas undergraduate research is essential to pushing the 
     Nation's innovation agenda forward by increasing the interest 
     and persistence among young people in the crucial science, 
     technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, 
     and to cultivating the interest of would-be researchers who 
     pursue a new aspiration of graduate education after 
     participating in undergraduate research; and
       Whereas the week of April 11, 2011, would be an appropriate 
     week to designate as ``Undergraduate Research Week'': Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports the designation of ``Undergraduate Research 
     Week'';
       (2) recognizes the importance of undergraduate research and 
     of providing research opportunities for the Nation's talented 
     youth to cultivate innovative, creative, and enterprising 
     young researchers, in collaboration with dedicated faculty;
       (3) encourages institutions of higher education, Federal 
     agencies, businesses, philanthropic entities, and others to 
     support undergraduate research and undergraduate researchers 
     and their faculty mentors;
       (4) encourages opportunities, including through existing 
     programs, for females and underrepresented minorities to 
     participate in undergraduate research; and
       (5) supports the role undergraduate research can and does 
     play in crucial research that serves the Nation's best 
     economic and security interests.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Langevin). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) and the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Hawaii.


                             General Leave

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House 
Resolution 1654 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. HIRONO. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1654, which 
supports the designation of the week of April 11, 2011, as 
``Undergraduate Research Week.'' The undergraduate students of our 
Nation's colleges and universities provide important research across 
many disciplines at over 600 colleges and universities each year.
  Undergraduate research occurs in a number of fields, including arts 
and humanities, biology, chemistry, health sciences, geosciences, 
mathematics, computer science, physics and astronomy, psychology, 
social sciences, and many more. Students work with dedicated faculty 
mentors to produce important studies, findings, and reports that 
advance research in these fields.
  Undergraduate research helps both individual students and the 
institutions they attend. Student researchers develop critical 
thinking, analytical skills, and an understanding of research 
methodology which helps to prepare them for graduate education and 
their future careers. For institutions of higher education, 
undergraduate research promotes an innovation-oriented culture, 
bolsters research capacities, and improves retention rates by engaging 
students in the campus community.
  In my State, the University of Hawaii's system invests heavily in 
undergraduate research opportunities across its campuses. Recently, I 
had the opportunity to meet two outstanding students from the 
University of Hawaii who presented their scientific research posters at 
a Washington, D.C., awards ceremony. Haunani Kane from UH Manoa and 
Nakoa Goo from UH Hilo are native Hawaiian students who were award 
winners in the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation 
program.
  We know that increasing interest and participation among young people 
in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics--the STEM 
disciplines--is crucial for the Nation's future economic 
competitiveness and for preparing our students for the jobs of 
tomorrow. Undergraduate research in STEM fields offers students an 
opportunity to both become interested in careers in these areas and to 
learn important technical and research skills which prepare them for 
successful careers.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Representative Holt for bringing 
this resolution forward.
  Once again, I express my support for Undergraduate Research Week, 
which recognizes all of the important contributions of our 
undergraduate students to research at our Nation's colleges and 
universities. I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 1654.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1654, 
expressing support for the designation of the week of April 11, 2011, 
as ``Undergraduate Research Week.''
  Almost 600 colleges and universities in the United States offer 
opportunities for undergraduate research. Undergraduate research 
opportunities encourage students to develop critical thinking skills, 
problem-solving skills, and may intrigue students to pursue research 
opportunities in their educational and professional futures.
  Research at all levels of education encourages innovation and 
discovery essential to the future of the United States. Undergraduate 
research in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
disciplines can foster a student's interest in these fields, which are 
vital to the success of our Nation and of the world today.
  Undergraduate Research Week recognizes the importance of 
undergraduate research. It encourages colleges and universities, 
businesses and other organizations to recognize the occasion. I support 
this resolution, and I ask my colleagues to do the same.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt).
  Mr. HOLT. I thank the gentlelady, and I rise in support of H. Res. 
1654. We would like to see the week of April 11, 2011, designated as 
``Undergraduate Research Week.''
  Mr. Speaker, as a scientist and an educator, I know the value of 
undergraduate research both for the students and for the research 
enterprise. Undergraduate researchers formed the backbone of my 
research program when I was a faculty member at Swarthmore College, and 
they also contributed valuable work to my research at New York 
University and at Princeton University. I watched as their hands-on 
experiences with the process of discovery helped them develop skills 
that cannot be obtained just in the classroom, and I watched as it 
heightened their understanding of science and their enthusiasm for 
research. I might add, they produced excellent research.
  Around the country, thousands of students at hundreds of colleges and 
universities are involved in undergraduate research experiences that 
will shape the trajectories of their lives and their careers. Yet we 
would benefit if thousands more were involved.
  Recently, the National Academies followed up on their ``Rising Above 
the Gathering Storm'' report from 2005 with an account this year of 
America's progress over the previous 5 years. They concluded, in part, 
if the United States is to remain competitive, we need to preserve an 
adequate supply of creative, leading-edge, innovative American 
researchers. Early involvement in the real-world practice of science is 
very valuable in meeting this goal, and it is equally vital to our 
economic progress. It produces a scientifically literate society as 
well.

                              {time}  1610

  I commend the students and faculty who are participating in 
undergraduate research programs across the country and in organizations 
that support their

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work, such as the Council on Undergraduate Research, the Research 
Corporation, the National Science Foundation and many others. I 
encourage our colleges, universities, and Federal agencies to continue 
robust support for these programs, and to work together to develop new 
opportunities for all interested students to participate in 
undergraduate research.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker I have no requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, once again, I urge my colleagues to support 
this resolution and especially at this time, at a time when we need to 
be strengthening and enhancing our STEM education. I think that this is 
a very important resolution to focus our attention on those issues.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1654, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  The title of the resolution was amended so as to read: ``Expressing 
support for designation of the week of April 11, 2011, as 
`Undergraduate Research Week.' ''
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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