[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 5 (Wednesday, January 12, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E47-E48]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          THE STEM EDUCATION TEACHER TAX INCENTIVE ACT OF 2011

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MAZIE K. HIRONO

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 12, 2011

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, the latest results of international tests 
just came in. On the Program for International Student Assessment, 
PISA, 15-year-olds in the United States rank 25th in math--below 
average--among their peers in the Organisation for Economic Co-
operation and Development, OECD, nations. Our 15-year-olds rank 17th 
place--only average--in science. To compete for the jobs of the future, 
the United States can and must do better.
  Today I introduce the Science, Technology, Education, and 
Mathematics, STEM, Teacher Tax Incentive Act of 2011, one small step to 
help restore our strength in STEM education and our nation's economic 
competitiveness.
  Research has shown that teacher quality is the most important factor 
affecting student achievement. We need more highly effective teachers 
to help excite and inspire our students about Science, Technology, 
Engineering, and Math. This bill will provide a tax credit to encourage 
those who major in STEM fields to join and stay in the teaching 
profession. The tax credit can be used to help repay undergraduate 
tuition, and is 50 percent greater for qualified STEM teachers who 
teach in high-needs schools.

[[Page E48]]

  In Hawaii, I have visited dozens of schools and STEM teachers who are 
working day in, day out to inspire the next generation of leaders. 
These teachers engage their students through innovative programs like 
Waianae High School's Searider Productions and robotics initiatives, 
where our students compete successfully across our islands, nationally, 
and internationally.
  The Hawaii Department of Education's winning Race-to-the-Top plan 
outlines efforts to increase students' access to highly qualified 
teachers in STEM and other hard-to-staff subjects. This bill can help 
supplement Hawaii DOE's efforts.
  For his work on this bill in past congresses, I thank my former 
colleague Congressman Vern Ehlers, Republican of Michigan. Although he 
retired from his role as a legislator in December 2010, I look forward 
to his continued contributions as a nuclear physics professor. Thank 
you also to the other members of the Congressional STEM Education 
Caucus for their partnership in this and other initiatives to promote 
STEM Education.

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