[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3634]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 23, 2016

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, had I been present for the Motion on 
Ordering the Previous Question on the Rule providing for consideration 
of H.R. 2745, (Roll Call Number 131) I would have voted ``nay.''
  Had I been present for the vote on H. Res. 653, the rules for 
consideration of H.R. 2745, the Standard Merger and Acquisition Reviews 
Through Equal Rules Act, (Roll Call Number 132), I would have voted 
``nay.''
  Had I been present for the vote on H.R. 4742, the Promoting Women in 
Entrepreneurship Act (Roll Call Number 133), I would have voted 
``aye.'' I applaud Rep. Esty's effort to expand the mission of the 
National Science Foundation to encourage its entrepreneurial programs 
to recruit and support women and to extend their focus beyond the 
laboratory and into the commercial world. While women make up about 
half the U.S. workforce, they only account for about 1 in 4 of those 
working in STEM fields. This bill is an important part of the larger 
effort to expand entrepreneurial opportunities for women in the STEM 
fields.
  Had I been present for the vote on H.R. 4755, the Inspiring the Next 
Space Innovators, Researchers, and Explorers (INSPIRE) Women Act (Roll 
Call Number 134), I would have voted ``aye.'' I am encouraged by Rep. 
Comstock's work to expand STEM educational opportunities for women and 
girls. Specifically, the bill directs NASA to encourage women and girls 
to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), 
pursue careers in aerospace and support NASA GIRLS and NASA BOYS, the 
Aspire to Inspire (A2I) program and the Summer Institute in Science, 
Technology, Engineering, and Research (SISTER) program.
  Had I been present for the vote on H.R. 4336, the Women Airforce 
Service Pilot Arlington Inurnment Restoration Act, as amended (Roll 
Call Number 135), I would have voted ``aye.'' I support Rep. McSally's 
work to make groups of women, civilians and foreigners who served the 
United States during World War II eligible to be inurned in Arlington 
National Cemetery. This is a great victory for the families of the 
brave women who served during World War II.

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