[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Page 3663]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 411--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF 
THE BIENNIAL USA SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FESTIVAL IN WASHINGTON, DC, AND 
DESIGNATING APRIL 11 THROUGH APRIL 17, 2016, AS ``NATIONAL SCIENCE AND 
                           TECHNOLOGY WEEK''

  Mr. COONS (for himself, Mr. Alexander, and Mr. Kirk) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 411

       Whereas science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
     (referred to in this preamble as ``STEM'') are essential to 
     the future global competitiveness of the United States;
       Whereas advances in technology have resulted in significant 
     improvement in the daily life of each individual in the 
     United States;
       Whereas scientific discoveries are critical to curing 
     diseases, solving global challenges, and an increased 
     understanding of the world;
       Whereas the future global economy requires a workforce that 
     is educated in science and engineering specialties;
       Whereas educating a new generation of individuals in the 
     United States in STEM is crucial to ensure continued economic 
     growth;
       Whereas an increase in the interest of the next generation 
     of students in the United States, particularly young women 
     and underrepresented minorities, in STEM is necessary to 
     maintain the global competitiveness of the United States;
       Whereas science and engineering festivals have attracted 
     millions of participants and inspired an effort throughout 
     the United States to promote science and engineering;
       Whereas thousands of institutions of higher education, 
     museums, science centers, STEM professional societies, 
     educational societies, government agencies and laboratories, 
     community organizations, elementary and secondary schools, 
     volunteers, corporate and private sponsors, and nonprofit 
     organizations come together to organize the USA Science & 
     Engineering Festival in Washington, DC, during April 2016;
       Whereas the USA Science & Engineering Festival, through 
     exhibits on topics including human spaceflight, medicine, 
     engineering, biotechnology, physics, and astronomy--
       (1) reinvigorates the interest of young individuals in the 
     United States in STEM; and
       (2) highlights the important contributions of science and 
     engineering to the competitiveness of the United States; and
       Whereas scientific research is essential to the 
     competitiveness of the United States, and an event such as 
     the USA Science & Engineering Festival promotes the 
     importance of scientific research and development for the 
     future of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) expresses support for the goals and ideals of the USA 
     Science & Engineering Festival to promote, as the 
     cornerstones of innovation and competition in the United 
     States--
       (A) scholarship in science; and
       (B) an interest in scientific research and development;
       (2) supports a festival, such as the USA Science & 
     Engineering Festival, that focuses on the importance of 
     science and engineering to the daily life of each individual 
     in the United States through exhibits on topics including 
     human spaceflight, medicine, engineering, biotechnology, 
     physics, and astronomy;
       (3) congratulates each individual or organization the 
     efforts of which make the USA Science & Engineering Festival 
     possible;
       (4) recognizes that the USA Science & Engineering Festival 
     highlights the accomplishments of the United States in 
     science and engineering;
       (5) encourages each family and child to participate in 1 or 
     more of the activities or exhibits of the USA Science & 
     Engineering Festival, which will occur--
       (A) in Washington, DC; and
       (B) across the United States as satellite events; and
       (6) designates April 11 through April 17, 2016, as 
     ``National Science and Technology Week''.

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