[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 22, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H1514-H1516]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                PROMOTING WOMEN IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACT

  Ms. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4742) to authorize the National Science Foundation to 
support entrepreneurial programs for women.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4742

       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 ``Promoting Women in 
     Entrepreneurship Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds that--
       (1) women make up almost 50 percent of the workforce, but 
     less than 25 percent of the workforce in science, technology, 
     engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions;
       (2) women are less likely to focus on the STEM disciplines 
     in undergraduate and graduate study;
       (3) only 26 percent of women who do attain degrees in STEM 
     fields work in STEM jobs;
       (4) there is an increasing demand for individuals with STEM 
     degrees to extend their focus beyond the laboratory so they 
     can be leaders in discovery commercialization;
       (5) studies have shown that technology and 
     commercialization ventures are successful when women are in 
     top management positions; and
       (6) the National Science Foundation's mission includes 
     supporting women in STEM disciplines.

     SEC. 3. SUPPORTING WOMEN'S ENTREPRENEURIAL PROGRAMS.

       Section 33 of the Science and Engineering Equal 
     Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (10);
       (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (11) and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(12) encourage its entrepreneurial programs to recruit 
     and support women to extend their focus beyond the laboratory 
     and into the commercial world.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Jody B. Hice of Georgia). Pursuant to 
the rule, the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Comstock) and the 
gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. Esty) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Virginia.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous material on H.R. 4742, the bill now under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise today to offer a bipartisan bill Ms. Esty and I introduced, 
H.R. 4742, the Promoting Women in Entrepreneurship Act.
  We were also joined by the chairman and ranking member of the 
Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Congressman Lamar Smith and 
Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, who are original cosponsors of 
this measure.
  I am pleased that the consideration of this bill occurs during 
Women's History Month. Our bill amends the Science and Engineering 
Equal Opportunities Act to authorize the National Science Foundation to 
use its entrepreneurial programs to recruit women and to extend their 
focus beyond the laboratory and into the commercial world.
  The bill also includes a number of findings regarding women in 
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields, also known as 
the STEM fields.
  One finding in this bill notes that only 26 percent of women who 
attain degrees in STEM fields ultimately work in STEM jobs. We want to 
improve these statistics, and we believe this bill is a step in the 
right direction.
  Again, I am happy to collaborate with my colleague, Congresswoman 
Esty, on this legislation.
  I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. ESTY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of H.R. 4742, the Promoting Women in 
Entrepreneurship Act. This bill would expand the mission of the 
National Science Foundation to support and strengthen women 
entrepreneurs. I drafted this legislation because we can and we must do 
more for women in science, technology, engineering, and math, the so-
called STEM fields, to extend their efforts beyond the laboratory and 
into the commercial world.
  Women have the potential to be remarkable entrepreneurs, job 
creators, and innovators. Unfortunately, women remain an underutilized 
force for starting small businesses that sustain the middle class.
  Women make up roughly half of the labor force. But according to the 
Department of Commerce, women only own 30 percent of private businesses 
in the United States.
  Why is it that women aren't starting their own businesses more often? 
The sad truth is that women still face significant barriers to 
entrepreneurship, including limited access to capital, a lack of women 
mentors in STEM fields, often difficult or unmanageable expectations 
for work-life balance, and a subconscious bias against women in STEM.
  Now, an increasing number of women are earning STEM degrees. However, 
women are still largely underrepresented in all STEM fields, including 
significantly the ones that have the highest entrepreneurship rates.
  For example, in 2012, women earned only one in five Ph.D.'s granted 
by U.S. institutions in computer science. We must do better at 
increasing representation of women in all STEM fields.
  Now, I may be biased, but my own State of Connecticut is a great 
example of how far women can go with a STEM background.
  We have women engineers who are designing life-support packs for our 
astronauts at the International Space Station. We have women scientists 
conducting cutting-edge research in STEM cell work at Yukon and at 
Yale.
  We have women inventors and entrepreneurs making life-changing 
discoveries and literally altering the course of history. We have 
wonderful local companies with women entrepreneurs, such as Bedoukian 
Research and Jonal Labs, who are not only creating quality products, 
but are fostering the next generation of women leaders in STEM. I think 
we might have had one in the gallery who was excited about our 
introduction of this bill.
  It is not enough to promote women in STEM careers. We must also work 
to increase the number of women who become entrepreneurs. The benefits 
of encouraging and supporting women entrepreneurs could be tremendous.
  According to the Department of Commerce, between 1997 and 2007, 
privately held women-owned businesses added 500,000 jobs. During that 
same period, other privately held firms lost over 2 million jobs.
  Women have unique experiences and perspectives to bring to the table. 
We simply cannot afford in this increasingly global economy to overlook 
the valuable and talented resource of over half our citizens.
  We must do more to promote women entrepreneurs and to better support 
women who are commercializing great ideas, starting small businesses, 
and creating jobs.
  I know, when I hear from the women and the men who are part of my 
STEM advisory committee in Connecticut about the challenges and, yet, 
the great opportunities that women in the STEM fields have to create 
the next new exciting business, develop the next new cure to help 
Americans.
  H.R. 4742 would help do that by supporting programs focused on 
helping more women, commercialize great ideas, start businesses, 
stimulate 21st century careers, and strengthen the middle class.
  I want to thank my colleagues on the Science, Space, and Technology 
Committee, Mrs. Comstock, Ranking Member Johnson, and Chairman Smith, 
for working with us together on this bill.
  I ask my colleagues to support this bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded not to make reference 
to occupants of the gallery.

[[Page H1515]]

  

  Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. McCarthy), the majority leader.
  Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding and 
for her work on this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, innovation rises up from all parts of this country. One 
of the main purposes of the Innovation Initiative is to empower people 
to make new discoveries and guide our country into the future. When we 
do that, we ensure America remains a global leader and everyone in 
America and abroad benefits.
  We have two bills today to build innovation from the ground up, 
focusing on future women leaders in America. Because when you look back 
on history, you see women at the forefront.
  You look at Grace Hopper, who was one of the first programmers of our 
earliest computers. Stephanie Kwolek invented Kevlar. Shirley Ann 
Jackson laid the foundation for amazing advancements in communication, 
like fiber optic cables and portable fax machines.
  These are all women who fueled positive disruption with their ideas. 
This is the positive disruption America needs to prosper.
  So we should encourage a learning environment where young women 
continue to have the opportunities to explore the interests in STEM 
subjects.
  Today we will pass a bill by Congresswoman Barbara Comstock to enable 
retired NASA astronauts, engineers, and scientists to work with female 
STEM students who will lead the next generation.
  We are also voting to authorize the National Science Foundation to 
work with its entrepreneur programs to recruit more women who can be 
the top innovators in the lab and beyond.
  With these two items, the Innovation Initiative continues to empower 
the American people for the sake of the American people, removing 
obstacles to success while bringing innovation into government.
  Ms. ESTY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Costello).
  Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
H.R. 4742, the Promoting Women in Entrepreneurship Act.
  Mr. Speaker, for over the past year, STEM education has been a 
critical part of many debates we have had here on the House floor.
  We have discussed it in the context of reauthorization of critical 
education programs and with respect to how it can drive American 
innovation in research and technology.

                              {time}  1315

  The discussion we are having here today--a dialogue as to how we can 
encourage more women who wish to pursue a course of study in STEM 
fields to follow through beyond the classroom and build successful 
careers in science, math, and technology fields--is very important for 
economic growth in this country and to ensure young women help pioneer 
new innovation in this country for generations to come.
  We have heard the statistics, Mr. Speaker. Women make up half of the 
U.S. workforce and half of the college-educated workforce, yet only 26 
percent of women who attain degrees in STEM fields end up working in 
STEM jobs.
  Mr. Speaker, that is why I rise today in strong support of this 
simple, commonsense legislation. By encouraging entrepreneurial 
programs to recruit and support women to extend their focus beyond the 
laboratory and into the commercial world, we can take a significant 
step in the right direction.
  Further, by having this debate and discussion here today and by 
encouraging all of our best and brightest to pursue the education and 
career path of their dreams, we are taking a necessary step to include 
this as part of our ongoing dialogue with respect to the delivery of 
STEM education in our classrooms and what it will take to develop 
American innovation for future generations.
  I would like to commend Representative Esty and Representative 
Comstock for their efforts on this legislation. I urge my colleagues on 
both sides of the aisle to support it.
  Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, as the mom of a daughter with a biology 
degree major and with a master's degree in forensic science who is now 
working in the STEM fields, I ask that my colleagues support this 
bipartisan legislation to promote women in the workforce and in STEM 
fields.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4742 the 
``Promoting Women in Entrepreneurship Act.''
  As a Senior Member on the House Committee on Homeland Security who 
sits on the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, 
and Security Technologies, I know well of the need to encourage and 
train women to thrive in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and 
Mathematics (STEM) fields.
  Promoting diversity in the STEM professions is more than just an 
idea; it requires an understanding that there is a need to have a 
process that will ensure the inclusion of all minorities and women in 
all areas of American life.
  Studies have found that women make up almost 50 percent of the 
workforce.
  Studies note that 23 percent of STEM workers are women; however, 
women make up 48 percent of workers in all occupations.
  Only 26 percent of women who do attain degrees in STEM fields work in 
STEM jobs.
  According to the most recent available data women are less likely to 
focus on the STEM disciplines in undergraduate and graduate studies.
  In 1991, women received 29.6 percent of computer science B.A.'s, 
compared to just 18.2 percent in 2010.
  Jobs in computer systems design and related services, a field 
dependent upon high-level math and problem-solving skills, are 
projected to grow 45 percent between 2008 and 2018.
  There are approximately 6 million women and minority owned businesses 
in the United States, representing a significant aspect of our economy.
  My home city of Houston, Texas, the energy capital of the world, 
knows the importance of professionals in the STEM industries.
  It has been reported that the highest-paying STEM occupations are 
petroleum engineers with an annual salary of $147,520, architectural 
and engineering managers with an annual salary of $138,720, natural 
sciences managers with an annual salary of $136,450, computer and 
information systems managers with an annual salary of $136,280, and 
physicists with a reported annual salary of 117,300.
  There is an increasing demand for individuals with STEM degrees to 
extend their focus beyond the laboratory so they can be leaders in 
discovery and commercialization.
  Women deserve a fair shot in the STEM programs in this nation.
  In addition, I believe that work needs to be done to modernize key 
contracting developmental programs designed to increase opportunities 
for women, minorities and low-income individuals who pursue STEM 
degrees and STEM job training.
  I support programs at the National Science Foundation that have 
worked to reduce the current barriers and ensure women have the support 
they need in the STEM fields.
  Mr. Speaker, we should encourage women to pursue degrees and careers 
in the STEM fields so we can continue to compete in the global economy.
  Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4742, the 
Promoting Women in Entrepreneurship Act. Now more than ever STEM fields 
are dictating the way business in the United States is conducted. The 
successful commercialization of technology has expanded opportunities 
for those with STEM degrees. It is imperative that we promote women as 
part of this crucial expansion in order to promote equality in the 
advancing technological age.
  A Harvard Business Review article released last March described the 
top biases pushing women out of STEM fields. To women in any workplace 
this comes as no surprise. The constant need to prove ourselves more 
times over than our male counterparts, the tightrope of navigating a 
masculine workspace while holding true to our feminine identity and, 
the general isolation of being a woman in a male-dominated field are 
all too common in today's workplaces. In my District, Wayne State 
University has a program called GO-GIRL, Gaining Options-Girls 
Investigate Real Life. The mission of this program is to increase the 
competence and confidence of adolescent girls by engaging them in 
experiences that promote an interest in STEM education while building 
their capacity to pursue STEM-related careers. While programs like this 
are currently helping girls nationwide, we must continue the progress 
that has been made and expand upon our success.
  The Promoting Women in Entrepreneurship Act amends Section 33 of the 
Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act by including a key 
phrase that ``encourage[s] its entrepreneurial programs to recruit and 
support

[[Page H1516]]

women to extend their focus beyond the laboratory and into the 
commercial world.'' The commercialization of STEM fields has created a 
vast new sector of jobs and careers, a sector that must include women 
professionals. This Act does just that, ensuring the inclusion of women 
in one of America's most important and fast developing industries.
  I would like to close by saying that I am proud of our chamber for 
coming together to ensure that women continue to achieve success in 
STEM fields. I also want to thank my colleagues for considering two 
bills today that highlight the importance of reaching out to young 
women who otherwise may not be inspired to pursue a career in a STEM-
related field.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 4742, the Promoting 
Women in Entrepreneurship Act. I thank my Science Committee colleagues 
Ms. Esty, who authored the bill, and Research and Technology 
Subcommittee Chairwoman Comstock for their initiative on this issue.
  H.R. 4742 authorizes the National Science Foundation (NSF) to use its 
existing entrepreneurial programs to recruit and support women and help 
them develop their research and technology ideas for the marketplace.
  STEM education is critical to our country's economy and global 
competitiveness. A well-educated and trained STEM workforce promotes 
our future economic prosperity.
  These STEM workers have the potential to develop technologies that 
could save thousands of lives, jump-start new industries, or even 
discover new worlds.
  That's why I authored with Ms. Esty the STEM Education Act, a new law 
that strengthens science, technology, engineering and mathematics 
education efforts at federal science agencies. It also, for the first 
time, expands the definition of STEM to include computer science. The 
bill was signed by the President last October.
  Unfortunately, studies show that only 26 percent of women who attain 
degrees in STEM fields work in STEM jobs.
  H.R. 4742 encourages NSF to tackle this problem. It enhances women's 
ability to translate their enthusiasm, scientific expertise and 
research ideas into tangible products and businesses.
  Inspiring American students to seek science and math careers is a 
goal shared by Republicans and Democrats alike. Some of the most 
energizing and exciting moments of my Science Committee chairmanship 
have been interactions with young people who want to pursue STEM 
studies and careers.
  At various Committee hearings and robotics competitions in my 
district, I have encountered motivated, talented young people who want 
nothing more than an opportunity to pursue their dreams. And, in some 
cases, change the world with their ideas.
  Their passion for learning and science reminds me of why I enjoy 
serving in Congress and on the Science Committee.
  I again thank Ms. Esty and Chairwoman Comstock for their work on this 
bill. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 4742.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Comstock) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4742.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mrs. COMSTOCK. 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.

                          ____________________