Title: Expressing support for designation of March 14, 2019, as "National Pi Day".
Policy area: Education

Summary:
This resolution expresses support for the designation of Pi Day.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 232 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 232

Expressing support for designation of March 14, 2019, as ``National Pi 
                                 Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 14, 2019

 Mr. Foster (for himself, Mr. Casten of Illinois, Mr. Dunn, Mr. Gaetz, 
   Mr. Himes, Ms. Jackson Lee, Ms. Johnson of Texas, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. 
Kilmer, Mr. Lipinski, Mr. McNerney, Mr. Quigley, Mr. Rush, Mr. Schiff, 
  Mr. Tonko, Mrs. Watson Coleman, and Ms. Kendra S. Horn of Oklahoma) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                   on Science, Space, and Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing support for designation of March 14, 2019, as ``National Pi 
                                 Day''.

Whereas the Greek letter (Pi) is the symbol for the ratio of the circumference 
        of a circle to its diameter;
Whereas the ratio Pi is an irrational number, which will continue infinitely 
        without repeating, and has been calculated to over thirteen trillion 
        digits;
Whereas Pi is a fundamental mathematical constant that has been studied 
        throughout history and is central in mathematics as well as science and 
        engineering;
Whereas mathematics and science are a critical part of our children's education;
Whereas aptitude in mathematics, science, and engineering is essential for a 
        knowledge-based society;
Whereas, according to the 2015 Trends in International Mathematics and Science 
        Study (TIMSS) survey done by the National Center for Education 
        Statistics, American children in the 4th and 8th grades were 
        outperformed by students in other countries including Singapore, South 
        Korea, Taiwan, and Japan;
Whereas students from underrepresented minorities and from schools with high 
        poverty rates have lower than average scores on the TIMSS survey;
Whereas, while through 8th grade girls and boys have similar math and science 
        scores on the TIMSS survey, there is a significant gender gap in math 
        and physics scores at the end of high school;
Whereas the United States needs to reinforce mathematics and science education 
        for all students in order to better prepare children for the future and 
        to succeed in a 21st century economy;
Whereas the National Science Foundation has been driving innovation in math and 
        science education at all levels from elementary through graduate 
        education since its creation 69 years ago;
Whereas mathematics and science can be a fun and interesting part of a child's 
        education, and learning about Pi can be an engaging way to teach 
        children about geometry and attract them to study science and 
        mathematics; and
Whereas Pi can be approximated as 3.14, and thus March 14, 2019, is an 
        appropriate day for ``National Pi Day'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of a ``Pi Day'' and its 
        celebration around the world;
            (2) recognizes the continuing importance of the National 
        Science Foundation's math and science education programs; and
            (3) encourages schools and educators to observe the day 
        with appropriate activities that teach students about Pi and 
        engage them about the study of mathematics.
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