[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7519]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    INTRODUCTION OF THE CONGRESSIONAL SCIENCE COMPETITION RESOLUTION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 22, 2004

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, today, along with 35 of my House colleagues, 
I introduce bipartisan legislation to authorize the Congressional 
Science Competition. This legislation will allow Members the 
opportunity to conduct academic competitions in the sciences among high 
school students in their Congressional Districts.
  Pre-college science and mathematics education is one of the most 
important factors affecting the nation's scientific literacy and 
awareness, as well as the future supply of America's scientific and 
technological personnel. Unfortunately, indicators of the performance 
of United States students in pre-college science and math education 
indicate a need for improvement, including the need to increase student 
interest in science.
  In 2000, the National Center for Education Statistics, NCES, released 
its most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress, NAEP, on 
the Sciences. As a division of the United States Department of 
Education, the NCES has, since 1969, issued National Assessments on 
subjects such as reading, mathematics, history and civics.
  Unfortunately, the 2000 Science Assessment found that from 1996, the 
first year a Science Assessment was completed, to 2000, proficiency in 
the sciences by America's 12th graders declined. Using a scale of 0-
300, America's 12th graders scored 147, with 47 percent of students 
testing below a basic knowledge in the sciences. Only 34 percent of 
students showed a basic knowledge and even more discouraging, only 16 
percent of students tested at or above a proficient knowledge in the 
sciences.
  Coupled with these declining scores and declining interest in the 
sciences from pre-college students, enrollment in graduate science and 
engineering programs over the last decade has not kept pace with 
foreign student enrollment in these same programs. According to a 
report released by the National Science Foundation, enrollment in 
graduate science and engineering programs by United States citizens and 
permanent residents from 1993 to 2001 declined by over 10 percent from 
just over 330,000 students to 296,000 students. However, at the same 
time, enrollment in these same programs by foreign students living in 
the United States with temporary visas rose by over 26 percent from 
just over 105,000 in 1993 to approximately 133,000 in 2001.
  Global competition and rapid advances in science and technology 
increasingly require a national workforce that is more scientifically 
and technically proficient and Congress must take action to support the 
need to develop national expertise in the areas of science and 
engineering.
  Americans have been responsible for some of the most fantastic 
scientific discoveries. From Thomas Edison's work with electricity, Dr. 
Jonas Salk's discovery of the Polio vaccine, to the development of the 
personal computer and the Internet, Americans and their discoveries 
have changed the world in remarkable and unmistakable ways. Even today, 
America's space program is coordinating our most sophisticated space 
exploration effort ever. The Mars Rover program is a tremendous 
scientific success developed by NASA's best and brightest scientists.
  Yet if academic indicators are correct, America will face a vast 
drain of scientific knowledge and ambition in the near future and we 
must begin to ask ourselves where we will find America's next Dr. Salk 
or the talent to develop America's future missions in space.
  Congress has a clear interest in ensuring that America's great 
scientific past and present continues into the future. The 
Congressional Science Competition is an effective way for Congress to 
demonstrate leadership in promoting scientific education as a national 
priority, to show support for the process of scientific inquiry, and to 
foster enthusiasm for science. I urge all of my Colleagues to join me 
in cosponsoring this legislation and in doing so, indicate their 
support for making science education and interest a national priority.

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