[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 24, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H1098-H1100]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STEM EDUCATION ACT OF 2015
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass
the bill (H.R. 1020) to define STEM education to include computer
science, and to support existing STEM education programs at the
National Science Foundation.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1020
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``STEM Education Act of
2015''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITION OF STEM EDUCATION.
For purposes of carrying out STEM education activities at
the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy,
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National
Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Environmental
Protection Agency, the term ``STEM education'' means
education in the subjects of science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics, including computer science.
SEC. 3. INFORMAL STEM EDUCATION.
(a) Grants.--The Director of the National Science
Foundation, through the Directorate for Education and Human
Resources, shall continue to award competitive, merit-
reviewed grants to support--
(1) research and development of innovative out-of-school
STEM learning and emerging STEM learning environments in
order to improve STEM learning outcomes and engagement in
STEM; and
(2) research that advances the field of informal STEM
education.
(b) Uses of Funds.--Activities supported by grants under
this section may encompass a single STEM discipline, multiple
STEM disciplines, or integrative STEM initiatives and shall
include--
(1) research and development that improves our
understanding of learning and engagement in informal
environments, including the role of informal environments in
broadening participation in STEM; and
(2) design and testing of innovative STEM learning models,
programs, and other resources for informal learning
environments to improve STEM learning outcomes and increase
engagement for K-12 students, K-12 teachers, and the general
public, including design and testing of the scalability of
models, programs, and other resources.
SEC. 4. NOYCE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AMENDMENTS.
(a) Amendments.--Section 10A of the National Science
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-1a) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(2)(B), by inserting ``or bachelor's''
after ``master's'';
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (2)(B);
(B) in paragraph (3)--
(i) by inserting ``for teachers with master's degrees in
their field'' after ``Teaching Fellowships''; and
(ii) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (B)
and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(4) in the case of National Science Foundation Master
Teaching Fellowships for teachers with bachelor's degrees in
their field and working toward a master's degree--
``(A) offering academic courses leading to a master's
degree and leadership training to prepare individuals to
become master teachers in elementary and secondary schools;
and
``(B) offering programs both during and after matriculation
in the program for which the fellowship is received to enable
fellows to become highly effective mathematics and science
teachers, including mentoring, training, induction, and
professional development activities, to fulfill the service
requirements of this section, including the requirements of
subsection (e), and to exchange ideas with others in their
fields.'';
(3) in subsection (e), by striking ``subsection (g)'' and
inserting ``subsection (h)'';
(4) by redesignating subsections (g) through (i) as
subsections (h) through (j), respectively; and
(5) by inserting after subsection (f) the following new
subsection:
``(g) Support for Master Teaching Fellows While Enrolled in
a Master's Degree Program.--A National Science Foundation
Master Teacher Fellow may receive a maximum of 1 year of
fellowship support while enrolled in a master's degree
program as described in subsection (c)(4)(A), except that if
such fellow is enrolled in a part-time program, such amount
shall be prorated according to the length of the program.''.
(b) Definition.--Section 10(i)(5) of the National Science
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-
1(i)(5)) is amended by inserting ``computer science,'' after
``means a science,''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Smith) and the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. Esty) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
General Leave
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend
their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the STEM Education Act of 2015 is
bipartisan legislation that includes computer science in the definition
of STEM education for programs and activities at our Federal science
agencies. The bill also supports and strengthens ongoing STEM education
efforts at the National Science Foundation. Similar legislation passed
the House last year by voice vote.
I thank Representative Elizabeth Esty for cosponsoring the bill again
this year. I also thank our new Research and Technology Subcommittee
Chairwoman Barbara Comstock, Subcommittee Ranking Member Dan Lipinski,
Subcommittee Vice Chair John Moolenaar, and Representatives Randy
Hultgren, Larry Bucshon, Chris Collins, David McKinley, and Jaime
Herrera Beutler for their support.
Last Congress the Science, Space, and Technology Committee held
several hearings on STEM education. Each hearing highlighted the
importance of STEM education to keep America on the cutting edge of new
products and ideas. Our hearings discussed the merits of ensuring
computer science is included as a component of the science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics that make up STEM education. Today a
variety of jobs in industries from banking to engineering to medicine
require familiarity with computer science.
{time} 1630
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, computing and
mathematics will be one of the top 10 fastest growing major
occupational groups from 2010 to 2020, with a growth rate of 4 percent
annually compared to 1 percent for all other industries.
Unfortunately, America lags behind many other nations when it comes
to STEM education. American students rank 21st in science and 26th in
math. That must change for the better.
We need to ensure that our Nation's youth have the scientific and
mathematical skills to strive and thrive in a technology-based economy,
but we have to capture and hold the desire of young adults to study
STEM subjects so they will want to pursue these careers.
H.R. 1020 includes language suggested by Mr. Lipinski to support
informal STEM education programs and activities at the National Science
Foundation. These activities reach students outside of the classroom
and strengthen a student's engagement in STEM subject areas.
The STEM Education Act also ensures that teachers working towards a
master's degree program in STEM subjects can participate in the Robert
Noyce Master Teacher Fellowship program. I thank Ms. Esty for this good
addition to the bill.
This program provides opportunities for teachers who want to bolster
their teaching skills. Through the Master Teaching fellowships,
individuals receive training in order to become highly effective
mathematics and science teachers. With this bill, the program now will
encourage more teachers to pursue advanced degrees.
A healthy and viable STEM workforce literate in all STEM subjects,
including computer science, is critical to American industries. A well-
educated and trained STEM workforce ensures our future economic
prosperity. More graduates with STEM degrees means more advanced
technologies and a more robust economy.
Support for this bill from organizations like the STEM Education
Coalition, STEM4US!, and Code.org illustrate the importance of aligning
our
[[Page H1099]]
Federal STEM programs with workforce needs. We must work to ensure that
students continue to go into these fields so that their innovative
ideas can lead to a more innovative and prosperous America.
I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. ESTY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I want to begin by thanking my friend, Chairman Smith, for his
leadership on the Science Committee, particularly on STEM education.
For the second Congress in a row, we are considering the STEM
Education Act on the House floor. I am grateful that we are advancing
these important efforts in a bipartisan fashion, thanks in large part
to the chairman's willingness to work across the aisle.
I would also like to thank and recognize the work of Representative
Lipinski for his diligent work on this and many other bills and my good
friend Eddie Bernice Johnson for her thoughtful leadership on STEM
education and on all issues facing the Science Committee.
The STEM Education Act of 2015 supports teachers who are preparing
students to be the engineers, manufacturers, and scientists of
tomorrow. We all know that students, particularly elementary school
students, learn best when they are engaged and interested.
However, any parent knows that it can be difficult to spark a
student's passion for STEM subjects without innovative and creative
learning environments. With more and more jobs of the 21st century
requiring STEM skills, we need to better prepare our children for these
good-paying jobs.
As a mother of three, I remember when my children had incredible
teachers who made science and math accessible and fun. We should do all
we can to support innovative, passionate teachers for every child in
every school.
This bill today includes sections of my STEM Jobs Act, a bill
expanding the Robert Noyce Master Teaching Fellowship program at the
National Science Foundation. Currently, Master Teaching fellowships
provide mentoring, training, and financial support to STEM
professionals who want to enter the teaching profession.
In Connecticut, we have two Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship
programs. UConn's Teachers for Tomorrow program prepares teachers
throughout the State to teach math, biology, physics, and chemistry to
students of all ages. At the University of Bridgeport, the Master
Teacher Fellowship program places master physics teachers in high-need
high schools in southwestern Connecticut.
Our bill today expands the Master Teaching Fellowship so that those
who are working towards a master's degree, not just those who already
have a master's degree, are also eligible to apply--supporting more
passionate teachers and, in doing so, allowing more students to benefit
from excellent STEM instructors.
Our bill also promotes learning outside of the classroom. In
Connecticut, we have the wonderful Connecticut Science Center, with
incredibly creative exhibits like one called ``Grossology,'' where
children can explore how to keep their bodies healthy by crawling
through an enormous digestive system and experiencing a ``larger than
life sneeze,'' perfect for inspiring our Nation's future doctors and
biomedical researchers.
In addition to educating and inspiring our children, science centers,
planetariums, and aquariums across the country also provide invaluable
teacher training. Last year alone, the Connecticut Science Center
trained nearly 1,200 teachers who then went on to teach and inspire
tens of thousands of their students.
The bill today directs the National Science Foundation to continue to
award competitive grants for out-of-school STEM learning experiences
for both students and teachers.
Finally, our bill takes the important step of expanding the
definition of STEM for Federal programs and grants to include computer
science.
As a member of the Science Committee and Representative Lipinski's
STEM Education Caucus, I have been a strong advocate for increasing
literacy in computer science. This winter, I joined students from
across the State and more than 100 million worldwide to participate in
an hour of code. We learned basic computer programming skills and
discovered it is a lot of fun.
I also helped create the Congressional App Challenge and hosted this
competition in my district where students created and built apps for
their smartphones. The entries submitted by these high school students
were incredibly innovative and useful, technologically advanced, as
well as terrific examples of the problem solving we need all of our
students to learn.
The winning apps included an app to keep teachers informed during a
school emergency, a program to help students know if they are going to
be able to catch their bus on time, an app I know that my children
would have benefited from greatly on those cold Connecticut winter
mornings--like this morning--and an app to help high school freshmen
learn their way around a big new school.
The STEM app competition helps students experience for themselves how
important and fun computer science can be; but, for example, in
Connecticut, where only 65 schools across the State have dedicated
computer science programs, it is critical that we continue to
expand access to computer science education for all students.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud that we are rising above partisan politics to
advance the bipartisan STEM Education Act of 2015. This bill
demonstrates that we can come together to help our children, to help
them thrive, and to help ensure that they will be competitive in the
21st century global economy.
I want, again, to thank Chairman Smith and Representative Lipinski
for their leadership and the committee staff for their hard work on the
STEM Education Act.
I would also like to thank my friend, Ranking Member Johnson, a
dedicated STEM champion, who is leading all of us on the Science
Committee to truly recognize the importance of a robust and
multidisciplinary STEM education and inspire us to do more across the
board to support STEM.
I look forward to working with Ranking Member Johnson and the rest of
the committee to further advance our priorities in Congress.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. ESTY. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as she may consume to the
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson), my friend, the
ranking member of the Science Committee.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of
H.R. 1020--although, reluctantly, I must qualify my support. I will
begin with the parts of the bill that I strongly support.
I want to thank Ms. Esty for her language to amend NSF's Noyce Master
Teacher Fellowship program. This is an important update to the program
to ensure that we are tapping into our entire pool of talented math and
science teachers who might serve as master teachers in their schools
and districts.
I also want to thank Mr. Lipinski for his language to authorize the
National Science Foundation's informal STEM education portfolio. While
we know that informal STEM education learning holds great promise to
increase engagement in STEM by diverse populations and to enhance
learning of STEM content, there is still more R&D to be done to make
sure we are developing and implementing the most effective programs.
My support for those sections of this bill is unqualified. However, I
must express my concern about the definition for STEM included in this
legislation which differs in a significant way from the definition of
STEM that Chairman Smith proposed in last year's version of this same
bill.
Specifically, the current version would define STEM as ``science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics, including computer science.''
Last year's version, developed in collaboration with the STEM Education
Coalition, read as ``science, technology, engineering, and mathematics,
including other academic subjects that build on these disciplines such
as computer science.''
This second definition, the one this entire House agreed to last
year, was agreed to because it left the door open
[[Page H1100]]
for other critical fields such as statistics and geology that don't
cleanly fit into S, T, E, or M of STEM in K-12 teacher certifications
and curricula.
I think we can all agree to the importance of computer science
education. The current disconnect between the high demand for
information technology jobs and limited opportunities for students to
be exposed to computer science at the K-12 level puts American students
and American companies at a significant disadvantage.
However, it baffles me as to why we would implicitly devalue such
fields as statistics and geology in order to highlight computer
science.
Statistics is an essential tool across all fields of science. Without
good statistics, the biomedical research results that we count on to
develop new diagnostics and therapeutics for diseases would be
meaningless.
Without geology, oil and gas companies would not be able to locate
and drill for new sources of energy. Without geology, we will never
achieve early warning for earthquakes to save lives. Whether we are
from Texas or California, we ought to place high value on geology.
I am also baffled why this bill is so urgent that we had to skip
regular order to bring it to the floor. I requested that the committee
hold a hearing or a markup on this legislation so that we might settle
the definition dispute in committee after an open and public debate,
but my request was denied.
Mr. Speaker, I will support this bill today, but I hope that the
Senate will be wiser than we are being today in defining STEM. This is
not simply semantics. How and what science is taught in our Nation's
classrooms is essential to our future economic competitiveness,
national security, and overall well-being.
Ms. ESTY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
{time} 1645
Parliamentary Inquiry
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, parliamentary inquiry.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his parliamentary
inquiry.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Is it too late for me to yield time to the
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Moolenaar), who I had mentioned a while
ago was on the way to the House floor to speak on this particular bill?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Does the gentleman from Texas ask unanimous
consent to reclaim his time?
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to reclaim
my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman
from Michigan (Mr. Moolenaar), who is a member of the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology and is also vice chair of the
Subcommittee on Research and Technology.
Mr. MOOLENAAR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education is
necessary to prepare today's students for future job opportunities.
H.R. 1020 will add computer science under the definition of STEM
programs while providing STEM grants for the research of new, informal,
out-of-school methods for teaching STEM subjects.
Whether it is a hands-on museum, a science competition, or an
internship as a lab assistant, finding the best ways to teach these
critical subjects outside of the classroom will help students who might
not learn these subjects in a traditional setting.
As our Nation's employers look to fill good-paying jobs, STEM
education has applications across the board, including skilled trades
in construction, manufacturing, and welding. Every student who learns
these skills will have the solid academic background to secure
employment in a career field.
This important legislation will benefit bright young minds outside of
the classroom and help our country remain the world leader in research
and innovation.
I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 1020.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
____________________