IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 762 

Expressing support for increasing the number of Latino students and young 

professionals entering careers in science, technology, engineering, and 

mathematics fields. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 6, 2023 

Mr. CA ́RDENAS (for himself, Ms. SALAZAR, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. VALADAO, 

Mr. CASTRO of Texas, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. SALINAS, Mr. GOMEZ, Ms. 

STANSBURY, Mr. RUIZ, Mr. SOTO, Mr. CARSON, Ms. CARAVEO, Mr. 

ESPAILLAT, Mr. CORREA, Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ, Mr. VICENTE GONZALEZ of Texas, and Ms. STEVENS) submitted the following resolution 

OCTOBER 25, 2023 

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 

Expressing support for increasing the number of Latino students and young professionals entering careers in science, 

technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. 

Whereas the Latino population in the United States has 

grown significantly over the years on a national basis and 

Latinos accounted for more than 62,500,000 residents in 

2021; 


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•HRES 762 IH 

Whereas the number of Latinos enrolled at an institution of 

higher education has increased from 2,900,000 in 2010, 

to 3,600,000 in 2019; 

Whereas Latinos are responsible for 78 percent of the growth 

of the United States labor force since the recession of 

2007 to 2009; 

Whereas the Latino population is growing more rapidly than 

the non-Latino population, and has a younger median 

age of 29.5 years, as compared to 40.6 years among nonLatinos; 

Whereas the overall number of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (referred to in this resolution as 

‘‘STEM’’) graduates increased, but Latino workers remain underrepresented in the STEM workforce, making 

up 18 percent of total employees across all occupations, 

but only 8 percent of all STEM workers; 

Whereas the percentage of Latino workers in STEM occupations has increased, but the increase has only been 1 percent annually since 2016; 

Whereas the attractiveness of STEM career paths is evidenced by the fact that the number of bachelor’s degrees 

in STEM increased for all citizens of the United States 

by 62 percent between 2010 and 2018 in comparison to 

a 20-percent growth for all other degrees; 

Whereas while surveys indicate that Latino students are interested in STEM education and aspire to STEM careers 

at similar rates as overrepresented groups, they make up 

a disproportionately low share of the STEM workforce; 

Whereas many Latino students are not adequately prepared 

or well-positioned to take full advantage of financial aid 

opportunities to attend an institution of higher education; 


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•HRES 762 IH 

Whereas the National Center for Education Statistics reports 

that 70 percent of Latino students have unmet financial 

needs, the highest of any demographic and such challenges are particularly significant for first generation college students in Latino families, making it far more difficult for them to pursue STEM education and careers; 

Whereas the growth of well-paying STEM jobs is expected to 

outpace non-STEM jobs at 10.8 percent, as opposed to 

4.9 percent in non-STEM sectors through 2031, making 

STEM fields even more attractive for Latino students 

and young adults and increasing the need for new strategies to facilitate their entrance; and 

Whereas greater investment in the Latino community will 

generate more individuals eager to pursue STEM jobs 

and will greatly increase the domestic high-skilled workforce: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the goal of increasing Latino indi3 viduals in STEM as a way to promote economic em4 powerment and sustainability, not only in their com5 munity, but in the overall United States economy; 

6 (2) acknowledges that, while Latino individuals 

7 have been a foundation for the United States econ8 omy, they are underrepresented in STEM fields to 

9 the detriment of these industries and the broader 

10 United States economy; 

11 (3) acknowledges that a strong commitment to12 ward diversity and inclusion, which has been shown 


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•HRES 762 IH 

1 to improve the performance of the STEM workforce, 

2 will require greater investment in the Latino com3 munity, and this emphasis will help develop talented 

4 and capable STEM workers, reduce the Nation’s de5 pendence on foreign workers, and secure the Na6 tion’s future as a leader in STEM; 

7 (4) encourages increased Federal support for 

8 initiatives aimed at boosting the number of Latino 

9 students who pursue STEM education and career 

10 paths, particularly engineering; and 

11 (5) recognizes the important role that Hispanic12 serving institutions and all institutions of higher 

13 education must play in order to achieve this goal of 

14 increasing Latino individuals in STEM. 

Æ 


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