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 62,000,000 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 United States labor force since the Great 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, as compared to 40.6 years among non-Latinos; Whereas the overall number of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (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; Whereas the National Center for Education Statistics reports that with 70 percent of Latino students having unmet financial needs, the highest of any demographic, this is especially true in the case of 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 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; and Whereas greater investment in the Latino community will generate more individuals eager to pursue STEM jobs and will greatly increase our domestic high-skilled workforce: Now, therefore, be it That the House of Representatives— (1) supports the goal of increasing Latino individuals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) as a way to promote economic empowerment and sustainability, not only in their community, but in the overall United States economy; (2) acknowledges that, while Latino individuals have been a foundation for the United States economy, they are underrepresented in STEM fields to the detriment of these industries and the broader United States economy; (3) acknowledges that a strong commitment toward diversity and inclusion, which has been shown to improve the performance of the STEM workforce, will require greater investment in our Latino community and this emphasis will help develop talented and capable STEM workers, reduce our Nation’s dependence on foreign workers, and secure our Nation’s future as a leader in STEM; (4) encourages increased Federal support for initiatives aimed at boosting the number of Latino students who pursue STEM education and career paths, particularly engineering; and (5) recognizes the important role that Hispanic-serving institutions and all institutions of higher education must play in order to achieve this goal of increasing Latino individuals in STEM.

Summary: This resolution supports the goal of increasing Latino individuals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) as a way to promote economic empowerment and sustainability, not only in their community, but in the overall U.S. economy. The resolution also encourages increased federal support for initiatives aimed at boosting the number of Latino students who pursue STEM education and career paths, particularly engineering. Finally, the resolution recognizes the important role that Hispanic-serving institutions and all institutions of higher education must play in order to achieve the goal of increasing Latino individuals in STEM.