[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 17, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2549-S2550]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 640--EXPRESSING SUPPORT TO INCREASE THE GROWING 
 NUMBER OF LATINO STUDENTS AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS ENTERING CAREERS IN 
    SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) FIELDS

                              S. Res. 640

       Whereas the Latino population in the United States has 
     grown significantly over the years on a national basis and 
     Latinos accounted for more than 62,000,000 residents in 2020;
       Whereas the number of Latinos enrolled at an institution of 
     higher education has increased from 2,900,000 in 2010 to 
     3,600,000 in 2019;
       Whereas Latinos are responsible for 78 percent of the 
     growth of the labor force of the United States since the 
     Great Recession of 2007 to 2009;
       Whereas the Latino population in the United States is 
     growing more rapidly than the non-Latino population and has a 
     younger median age of 29.5 years, as compared to 40.6 years 
     among non-Latinos in 2018;
       Whereas the overall number of graduates in the fields of 
     science, technology, engineering, and math (in this preamble 
     referred to as ``STEM'') has increased, but Latino workers 
     remain underrepresented in the STEM workforce, making up 18 
     percent of total employees across all occupations but only 8 
     percent of all STEM workers;
       Whereas the percentage of Latino workers in STEM 
     occupations has only increased by 1 percent annually since 
     2016;
       Whereas the attractiveness of STEM career paths is 
     evidenced by the fact that the number of bachelor's degrees 
     awarded in STEM fields increased for all individuals in the 
     United States by 62 percent between 2010 and 2018, in 
     comparison to a 20 percent growth for all other degrees;
       Whereas, while surveys indicate that Latino students are 
     interested in STEM education and aspire to STEM careers at 
     similar rates as overrepresented groups, Latinos make up a 
     disproportionately low share of the STEM workforce;
       Whereas many Latino students are not well-positioned to 
     take full advantage of financial aid opportunities to attend 
     an institution of higher education, and the National

[[Page S2550]]

     Center for Education Statistics reports that 70 percent of 
     Latino students have unmet financial needs, the highest of 
     any demographic, which is especially true in the case of 
     first-generation college students in Latino families, making 
     it far more difficult for them to pursue STEM education and 
     careers;
       Whereas the growth of well-paying STEM jobs is expected to 
     outpace non-STEM jobs in the coming years, making STEM fields 
     even more attractive for Latino students and young adults and 
     increasing the need for new strategies to facilitate their 
     entrance into STEM fields; and
       Whereas investment in the Latino community will generate 
     more individuals eager to pursue STEM jobs and will greatly 
     increase the domestic high-skilled workforce of the United 
     States: Now therefore be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the goal of increasing the number of Latino 
     individuals in science, technology, engineering, and 
     mathematics (in this resolution referred to as ``STEM'') as a 
     way to promote economic empowerment and sustainability, not 
     only in their community but in the overall economy of the 
     United States;
       (2) supports increasing the representation of Latino 
     individuals in STEM fields to enhance and improve 
     representation and improve performance in the STEM workforce, 
     which will help--
       (A) develop talented and capable STEM workers;
       (B) reduce the dependence of the economy of the United 
     States on foreign workers; and
       (C) secure the future of the United States as a leader in 
     STEM;
       (3) encourages increased Federal support for initiatives 
     aimed at boosting the number of Latino students who pursue 
     STEM education and career paths, particularly engineering; 
     and
       (4) recognizes the important role that Hispanic Serving 
     Institutions and all colleges and universities must play in 
     order to achieve this goal of increasing Latino individuals 
     in STEM.

                          ____________________