[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 16714-16715]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 656--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE INAUGURAL USA SCIENCE 
                         & ENGINEERING FESTIVAL

  Mr. KAUFMAN (for himself, Mr. Reid, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Rockfeller, and 
Mr. Akaka) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
agreed to:

                              S. Res. 656

       Whereas the global economy of the future will require a 
     workforce that is educated in the fields of science, 
     technology, engineering, and mathematics (referred to in this 
     preamble as ``STEM'');
       Whereas a new generation of American students educated in 
     STEM is crucial to ensure continued economic growth;

[[Page 16715]]

       Whereas advances in technology have resulted in significant 
     improvements in the daily lives of the people of the United 
     States;
       Whereas scientific discoveries are critical to curing 
     diseases, solving global challenges, and expanding our 
     understanding of the world;
       Whereas strengthening the interest of American students, 
     particularly young women and underrepresented minorities, in 
     STEM education is necessary to maintain the global 
     competitiveness of the United States;
       Whereas countries around the world have held science 
     festivals that have brought together hundreds of thousands of 
     visitors to celebrate science;
       Whereas the inaugural 2009 San Diego Science Festival 
     attracted more than 500,000 participants and inspired a 
     national STEM effort;
       Whereas the mission of the USA Science & Engineering 
     Festival is to reinvigorate the interest of the young people 
     of the United States in STEM by producing exciting and 
     educational science and engineering gatherings; and
       Whereas thousands of individuals from universities, museums 
     and science centers, STEM professional societies, educational 
     societies, government agencies and laboratories, community 
     organizations, K-12 schools, volunteers, corporate and 
     private sponsors, and nonprofit organizations have come 
     together to organize the inaugural USA Science & Engineering 
     Festival across the United States, including a 2-day 
     exposition on the National Mall that will feature more than 
     1,500 hands-on activities and more than 75 stage shows: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) expresses the support of the Senate for the inaugural 
     USA Science & Engineering Festival to be held in October 2010 
     in Washington, D.C.;
       (2) commends the Nobel Laureates, institutions of higher 
     education, corporate sponsors, and all the various 
     organizations whose efforts will make the USA Science & 
     Engineering Festival possible; and
       (3) encourages students and their families to participate 
     in the activities which will take place on the National Mall 
     and across the United States at satellite locations as part 
     of the inaugural USA Science & Engineering Festival.

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