[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 95 (Monday, June 15, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E895]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




21ST CENTURY STEM FOR GIRLS AND UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITIES ACT OF 2015

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOYCE BEATTY

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 15, 2015

  Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduced the 21st Century STEM 
for Girls and Underrepresented Minorities Act because I strongly 
believe that we need more girls and minorities represented in science, 
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers and 
professions.
  Large segments of our population are underrepresented in those 
academic and professional areas, which means that our nation is leaving 
a significant amount of talent on the table--not engaging with or being 
exposed to tools for tomorrow.
  Mr. Speaker, here is the problem.
  According to a 2014 National Science Board annual report, African 
Americans, Hispanics, American Indians, and Alaska Natives accounted 
for only 10 percent of U.S. workers in science and engineering in 2010.
  This is a far smaller proportion than their share of the general 
population, which was 26 percent.
  Women are also underrepresented in the science and engineering 
workforce.
  While women represent half of all college-educated workers in the 
United States, they made up just 28 percent of science and engineering 
workers in 2010.
  These statistics make clear we are ignoring an untapped opportunity 
to expand STEM employment in the United States, employment which leads 
to good jobs, steady wages, and the ability to join the middle class.
  The development of world-class talent in the STEM fields here at home 
is critical to America's global leadership.
  Supporting women and minorities in STEM is not only an essential part 
of America's strategy to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the 
rest of the world, it is also important to students themselves.
  STEM careers offer women and minorities the opportunity to engage in 
some of the most exciting fields of discovery and technological 
innovation.
  A highly-skilled STEM educated workforce is essential to ensuring the 
United States' ability to succeed in the 21st century global economy.
  By broadening the STEM pipeline to include those who have been 
historically underrepresented in STEM fields, we will create a larger, 
more diverse STEM talent pool of problem solvers and inventors.
  We can increase the number of girls and underrepresented minorities 
in the STEM fields by getting these groups interested in STEM early and 
keeping them engaged.
  Students from historically disadvantaged groups such as African 
Americans and Hispanics, both female and male, are less likely to have 
access to advanced courses in math and science in high school, which 
negatively affects their ability to enter and successfully complete 
STEM majors in college.
  That is why I am introducing the 21st Century STEM for Girls and 
Underrepresented Minorities Act.
  This bill would provide funding to local school districts to carry 
out activities designed to better engage girls and underrepresented 
minorities in STEM.
  This way we can be sure to tap into these vast talent pools of 
students, while they are young.
  Allowable activities under the legislation include improving 
professional development for teachers and other school personnel, 
strengthening outreach to parents, providing mentoring and tutoring 
programs, improving access to afterschool and summer programs that 
provide additional enrichment opportunities in STEM, and providing 
academic advice and assistance in high school course selection that 
encourages girls and underrepresented minorities to take advanced STEM 
classes.
  Diversity is key for the United States to continue to prosper and 
compete: We must do more to recruit women and underrepresented 
minorities into the science, technology, engineering and math fields.
  Diversity drives innovation, and its absence imperils our creativity 
and our productivity.
  By training our nation's underserved talent in STEM fields, we will 
ensure that we have the intellectual capital essential to enhance our 
position as the world's strongest economy, passing American greatness 
to the next generation.
  I encourage my colleagues to join me in this effort my co-sponsoring.

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