III 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 640 

Expressing support to increase the growing number of Latino students and 

young professionals entering careers in science, technology, engineering, 

and mathematics (STEM) fields. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 17, 2022 

Mr. PADILLA (for himself and Mr. CORNYN) submitted the following 

resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support to increase the growing number of Latino 

students and young professionals entering careers in 

science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 

(STEM) 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 62,000,000 residents in 

2020; 

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 labor force of the United States since the Great 

Recession of 2007 to 2009; 


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•SRES 640 ATS 

Whereas the Latino population in the United States 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 non-Latinos in 2018; 

Whereas the overall number of graduates in the fields of 

science, technology, engineering, and math (in this preamble referred to as ‘‘STEM’’) has 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 only increased by 1 percent annually since 

2016; 

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

awarded in STEM fields increased for all individuals in 

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, Latinos make 

up a disproportionately low share of the STEM workforce; 

Whereas many Latino students are not well-positioned to 

take full advantage of financial aid opportunities to attend an institution of higher education, and the National 

Center for Education Statistics reports that 70 percent 

of Latino students have unmet financial needs, the highest of any demographic, which is especially true in the 

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•SRES 640 ATS 

lies, 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 in the coming years, making 

STEM fields even more attractive for Latino students 

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

Whereas investment in the Latino community will generate 

more individuals eager to pursue STEM jobs and will 

greatly increase the domestic high-skilled workforce of 

the United States: Now therefore be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the goal of increasing the number 

3 of Latino individuals in science, technology, engi4 neering, and mathematics (in this resolution referred 

5 to as ‘‘STEM’’) as a way to promote economic em6 powerment and sustainability, not only in their com7 munity but in the overall economy of the United 

8 States; 

9 (2) supports increasing the representation of 

10 Latino individuals in STEM fields to enhance and 

11 improve representation and improve performance in 

12 the STEM workforce, which will help— 

13 (A) develop talented and capable STEM 

14 workers; 

15 (B) reduce the dependence of the economy 

16 of the United States on foreign workers; and 


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•SRES 640 ATS 

1 (C) secure the future of the United States 

2 as a leader in STEM; 

3 (3) encourages increased Federal support for 

4 initiatives aimed at boosting the number of Latino 

5 students who pursue STEM education and career 

6 paths, particularly engineering; and 

7 (4) recognizes the important role that Hispanic 

8 Serving Institutions and all colleges and universities 

9 must play in order to achieve this goal of increasing 

10 Latino individuals in STEM. 

Æ 


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