[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16810]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           INTRODUCTION OF THE STEM EDUCATION INNOVATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL M. HONDA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 4, 2011

  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to articulate a vision for American 
education and a platform for developing a strong competitive workforce. 
Today I am introducing the STEM Education Innovation Act, which does 
exactly this by raising the profile of state and federal science, 
technology, engineering, and mathematics initiatives.
  By promoting and highlighting science, technology, engineering, and 
mathematics education, we will enable America to regain its competitive 
edge in the global economy. This is essential so that the youth of 
America can once again be competitive with their international peers 
and attain satisfying, well-paying jobs. It is essential so that 
American ``Job Creators'' will be able to find future employees with 
the right skill sets to meet their needs right here at home.
  My legislation will establish an Office of STEM Education at the 
Department of Education, through which we will be making a national and 
international statement that the STEM fields are a national priority. 
This office can speak with articulation on why we must compete at the 
highest level on international benchmark tests such as the PISA, NAEP 
and TIMMS tests.
  By providing federal support for State Consortia on STEM Education, 
my bill helps States exercise their power to create, maintain, and grow 
their STEM platform. The bill acknowledges existing public-private 
collaborations and will grow such efforts in the STEM community. These 
state consortia are already springing up at the grassroots level. 
Through a federal matching grant, we will be reaffirming our Nation's 
priorities while allowing States to dictate and control their 
educational agenda by identifying best practices and implementing state 
standards.
  Finally, my legislation will boost American ingenuity and innovation 
by promoting the development of transformational technology for the 
classroom through the Education Innovation Project. Through a small 
federal dollar investment, small startup companies and the private 
market will deliver a huge return on educational technological 
innovation.
  Mr. Speaker, it is the aspiration of ALL Americans--rich and poor, 
rural and urban, public school and private school, Republican and 
Democrat--to realize the American dream for their children. The STEM 
Education Innovation Act builds up the platform of local educational 
communities all throughout the United States to collaborate and 
consolidate a solid educational platform holding up the pillars of 
science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). By supporting 
STEM efforts in American public schools, we are investing in the future 
of American youth. We are also investing in American ingenuity, 
innovation, and infrastructure: ensuring an educated population to 
carry us forward into the future.

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