H. Res. 1213 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

May 4, 2010. 

Whereas in 2005 the National Academy of Sciences published 

a report entitled ‘‘Rising Above the Gathering Storm’’, 

which estimated that in the United States innovations 

generated by the Science, Technology, Engineering, and 

Mathematics (STEM) fields account for nearly half of 

the growth in gross domestic product; 

Whereas in 2006 only 4.5 percent of college graduates in the 

United States received a diploma in engineering, compared with 25.4 percent in South Korea, 33.3 percent in 

China, and 39.1 percent in Singapore; 

Whereas increasing the number of students pursuing careers 

in STEM fields is vital to the global competitiveness of 

the United States; 

Whereas many STEM occupations do not have representation 

of women and underrepresented minorities proportional 

to these groups in the population or their enrollment in 

higher education; 

Whereas strengthening partnerships between the Federal and 

State governments, the private sector, nonprofit organizations, professional societies, and the education community 

will improve STEM education in our Nation’s schools; 
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•HRES 1213 EH 

Whereas the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that science 

and engineering occupations are projected to grow by 

21.4 percent from 2004 to 2014, compared to a projected 

growth of 13 percent in all occupations during the same 

time period; 

Whereas an understanding of science and mathematics is necessary not only for those who will enter STEM fields as 

majors but for all citizens to understand scientific and 

technical issues that affect their lives; 

Whereas scientific and technical skills are a requirement for 

an increasingly wide range of occupations and hands-on 

inquiry-based learning in the STEM fields is an essential 

element of a well-rounded education; 

Whereas the President has launched an ‘‘Educate to Innovate 

campaign’’ which aims to increase STEM literacy so that 

all students can learn deeply and think critically in 

STEM, to move American students from the middle of 

the pack to the top in the next decade, and to expand 

STEM education and career opportunities for underrepresented groups, including women and girls; 

Whereas National Lab Day is a nationwide initiative to foster 

community-based collaborations between educators and 

STEM professionals and other volunteers across the 

country to support high-quality, hands-on, discoverybased laboratory experiences for students; 

Whereas more than 200 business, science and technology, 

and education organizations have declared their support 

for National Lab Day; and 

Whereas schools and educators across the country will celebrate the first National Lab Day during the first week 
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•HRES 1213 EH 

of May at a time of their own choosing: Now, therefore, 

be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) supports the ideals of National Lab Day; 

(2) calls upon the Office of Science and Technology 

Policy and the National Science Foundation to continue 

fostering partnerships such as those involved in National 

Lab Day; and 

(3) encourages scientists, volunteers, and educators 

to participate in National Lab Day. 

Attest: 

Clerk.