Date: 2001-07-30
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to add my support for the National Mathematics and Science Partnership Act. This is significant legislation designed to improve mathematics and scienceeducation in elementary and secondary schools throughout the Nation. I congratulate the gentleman from New York . the chairman of the Committee on* Science. for his efforts to develop the bill and for his cooperative approach in working with Members on both sides of the aisle all during the process. I also want to acknowledge the hard work of the gentleman from Texas . my ranking member and colleague. who introduced comprehensive science education earlier this year. Many provisions of his bill. Science Education for the 21st Century Act. H.R. 1693. are incorporated in the bill before us today. Over the past two Congresses. the Committee on Science has conducted an extensive series of hearings that have examined all aspects of K12 science and math education. I believe that H.R. 1858. as reported from the Committee on Science. is guided and wellsupported by the testimony that we have received. It is now time to move it forward toward final passage. The Democratic members of the Committee on Science have separately developed several legislative proposals on science and math education. this year. In addition. they have worked with the gentleman from Texas . our ranking member. in developing H.R. 1693. I am pleased that many of the programs and activities set out in these bills are now part of H.R. 1858. I want to commend the bipartisan process through which the legislation has been developed. I believe we all approached this matter with an appreciation of the importance of finding creative and effective ways to address the serious deficiencies that now exist in K12 science and math education. I believe we may all take pride in the legislation that has emerged from this collegial process. Mr. Speaker. H.R. 1858 comprises a range of proposals from Members on both sides of the aisle on ways to improve teacher training. to attract more talented students to careers in science and math. to encourage more students to go into education. and to develop more effective educational materials and teaching practices to improve student learning. It also authorizes new research programs to improve the scientific base for teaching techniques and education materials. as well .as to determine the effectiveness of new educational approaches of improving student performance. I am particularly pleased that the bill incorporates the Math and Science Proficiency Partnership Act. H.R. 1660. which I introduced this year. This is similar to bills that I haveintroduced in the past two Congresses. My legislation is a targeted measure. It seeks to bring schools with large populations of economically disadvantaged students together in partnership with businesses to improve math and science education and to recruit and support students in undergraduate education and science and technology fields. The components of the partnerships will include support from the National Science Foundation to. the schools for teacher training. education materials. and equipment. InduStry will provide support for college scholarships for promising students. job site mentoring and internship programs. and donations of computer software and hardware. The overall effect of the partnerships will be to encourage and support promising students from underrepresented groups in pursuing careers in science and engineering. Mr. Speaker. again. I want to commend the gentleman from New York