Date: 2009-06-08
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

cently reintroduced. The ESTEM Act estab- w Madam Speaker. I would. like to express my lishes a comprehensive approach to improving cent support of H.R. 1709the STEM Education coordination and coherence of STEM edu- W Coordination Act of 2009. cation activities and stimulates collaboration at thei Science. technology. engineering and math-- both the federal and state levels throughout prox ematics are critical subjects that. are related to the nation. My legislation provides federal used our national competitiveness. agencies and states with the infrastructure re- Uni As a cosponsor of this legislation. I support quired to work collaboratively. establish na- yea the work of the Committee on Science and tional STEM education goals. coordinate cart Technology as it developed and refined the STEM education initiatives. and to avoid un- Uni bill. necessary duplication among these efforts. In W During committee consideration of the bill. I addition the ESTEM Act would require the Of t offered several amendments that passed NSTC committee to create a coordinated inter- W unanimously. One such amendment Was de- agency STEM education budget and a five ity signed to strengthen the role of the Office of year projection of the STEM workforce. cans Science and Technology Policy in monitoring Strengthening STEM education is important mot quantifiable progress of federal STEM edu- for our nation to remain innovative and ensure vidi cation programs across the agencies. The our future prosperity. During a time of rapid indc amendment specified that the committee with- technological and scientific advance. scientific tion in the National Science & Technology Council literacy is increasingly important for full partici- W shall determine common metncs to assess pation in our Democracy. I want to thank corn progress toward achieving the objectives in its Chairman GORDON. Representative BAIRD. and shot hu STEM education strategic plan. Ranking Member EHLERS for bringing thi leg- ing In addition. the committee accepted an islation to the floor and I urge my colleagues rori amendment added a responsibility of OSTP: to join me in supporting this legislation. I w to encourage and monitor the agency efforts would also invite my colleagues to cosponsor whi to ensure that the strategic plan is executed the ESTEM Act to encourage similar coordi- norn effectively. Finally. I offered an amendment nation among States and improve the dissemi- the that required that the annual report submitted nation of promising practices and STEM edu- cons by OSTP should include a description of the cation resources. prin outcome of any program assessments com- Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker. with no envi pleted in the previous year. other speakers. I urge passage of this to i Better coordination of our federallyfunded important legislation. and I yield back ada education programs for STEM is needed. H.R. the balance of my time. chai 1709 aims to achieve that goal. so that good The SPEAKER pro tempore. The sibi] programs can be supported and refined. It is question is on the motion offered by cien my belief that a more competitive America will the gentleman from Washington (Mr. ety: come as a result of stronger. bettercoordi- BAIRD) that the House suspend the Rc nated STEM education programs. I support rules and pass .the bill. H.R. 1709. as tive this legislation and urge its passage. amended. (er Penf