[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 147 (Tuesday, September 12, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5239-S5240]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 997. Mr. SCHUMER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill H.R. 2810, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2018 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of part I of subtitle F of title V, add the 
     following:

     SEC. __. EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR MILITARY CHILDREN IN 
                   SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND 
                   MATHEMATICS.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The United States military is keenly aware of the need 
     to support the families of those who serve our country.
       (2) Military children face unique challenges in educational 
     achievement due to frequent changes of station by, 
     deployments by, and even injuries to their parents.
       (3) Investing in quality education opportunities for all 
     military children from cradle to career ensures parents are 
     able to stay focused on the mission, and children are able to 
     benefit from consistent relationships with caring teachers 
     who support their early learning so they can be ready to 
     excel in school.
       (4) Research shows that early math is at least as 
     predictive of later school success as early literacy.
       (5) Investing in early learning for military children is an 
     important element in a comprehensive strategy for ensuring a 
     smart, skilled, and committed future national security 
     workforce.
       (6) To strengthen the global standing and military might of 
     the United States, technology, and innovation, the Nation 
     must continuously look for ways to strengthen early education 
     of children in science, technology, engineering, and 
     mathematics (STEM).
       (b) Guidance.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
     issue guidance to the Armed Forces in order to ensure the 
     following:
       (1) The placement of a priority on supporting early 
     learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
     for children, including those at Department of Defense 
     schools and schools serving large military child populations.
       (2) Support for efforts to ensure that training and 
     curriculum specialists, teachers and other caregivers, and 
     staff serving military children have the training and skills 
     necessary to implement instruction in science, technology, 
     engineering, and mathematics that provides the necessary 
     foundation for future learning and educational achievement in 
     such areas.
       (c) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
     congressional defense committees a report setting forth the 
     following:
       (1) A description and assessment of the progress made in 
     improving educational opportunities and achievement for 
     military children in science, technology, engineering, and 
     mathematics.

[[Page S5240]]

       (2) A description and assessment of efforts to implement 
     the guidance issued under subsection (b).
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