IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 988 

Recognizing the importance of diversity in science, technology, engineering, 

and mathematics, acknowledging a necessity to increase diversity and 

representation within physics, and expressing support for the American 

Physical Society Bridge Program for its work toward increasing the 

number of underrepresented minorities earning physics doctoral degrees. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 11, 2018 

Mr. CASTRO of Texas (for himself and Mrs. COMSTOCK) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Science, 

Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Education 

and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 

Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 

the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the importance of diversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, acknowledging a 

necessity to increase diversity and representation within 

physics, and expressing support for the American Physical Society Bridge Program for its work toward increasing the number of underrepresented minorities earning 

physics doctoral degrees. 

Whereas increased diversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields brings broader experiences, expertise, ideas, and creativity to problem solving and research; 


pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
2 

•HRES 988 IH 

Whereas the National Science Foundation (NSF) has made 

increasing diversity in STEM a priority; 

Whereas increasing diversity in STEM begins with improving 

educational opportunities for underrepresented minorities 

(URMs) to create the next generation of leaders facing 

future scientific challenges; 

Whereas there is a ‘‘representation gap’’ problem in physics 

among URMs, with African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans earning 11 percent of United 

States physics bachelor’s degrees, but only 6 percent of 

physics Ph.D.s; 

Whereas this ‘‘representation gap’’ could be closed with the 

addition of 30 more Ph.D.s awarded to URMs each year; 

Whereas the American Physical Society (APS) Bridge Program, which was established with support from the NSF 

Directorate for Education & Human Resources Division 

of Human Resource Development, Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences Divisions of Physics and 

Materials Research, and other programs, was created to 

solve this problem by connecting promising URMs not 

admitted to graduate school with a system of support; 

Whereas the APS Bridge Program is a national effort with 

a network of more than 160 participating universities 

and research institutions in 38 States that have admitted 

more than 150 students since its inception in 2013; 

Whereas the APS Bridge Program is on track to close the 

‘‘representation gap’’ in physics by placing over 30 students each year since 2016 in support programs and 

physics graduate programs, maintaining a retention rate 

of 88 percent, 29 percentage points higher than the national average; and 


pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
3 

•HRES 988 IH 

Whereas the APS Bridge Program advances the NSF goal of 

broadening participation by increasing representation in 

physics, and serves as a model for successful graduate 

education for URMs in other science disciplines: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the value of the American Phys3 ical Society Bridge Program; 

4 (2) supports increasing diversity in the science, 

5 technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) 

6 fields and closing the representation gap; and 

7 (3) encourages continued Federal investments 

8 in higher education programming. 

Æ 


pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS