Congresswoman Matsui Helps Advance American Innovation, STEM Education, R&D
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
CONTACT: MARA LEE
(202) 225-7163
Congresswoman Matsui Helps Advance American Innovation, STEM Education, Randamp;D
Legislation Will Enable American Students, Companies to COMPETE
Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (D Sacramento) joined her colleagues today in supporting H.R. 5116, the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, which was passed by the House by a 228-130 vote. The COMPETES Act will support research, better prepare the next generation of American innovators through increased education funding, and foster the creation of American jobs. The legislation provides for a national innovation strategy that will support Sacramento students, local companies, and their efforts to compete in a dynamic, global marketplace.
With passage of the COMPETES Act, we are protecting America's role as the world's innovator and are fighting for American jobs and manufacturing, Congresswoman Matsui. Our nation's economy has been driven by the spirit of innovation. By expanding educational programs in these fields, we can ensure our children will be properly prepared for the high-paying and highly-technical careers of the future.
H.R. 5116 supports basic research, improves science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, and fosters innovation. The bill reauthorizes appropriations for three major agencies responsible for supporting our nation's scientists and researchers: the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Department of Energy's Office of Science. It also provides for the short-term needs of both small- and medium-sized manufactures by providing a loan guarantee program to spur innovation and job growth.
Congresswoman Matsui has continually worked with her colleagues and leaders in Sacramento to highlight the importance of STEM education for all children and recently hosted local events focusing on increasing the number of women in traditionally male-dominated careers such as engineering. The COMPETES Act improves science and math education by reauthorizing programs that give teachers a deep understanding of their content, so they can help their students understand the real world applications of what they are learning. The bill also addresses coordination of STEM activities across the federal government, and improves STEM education at the undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral levels. Moreover, the bill aims to increase women and minorities in STEM fields by providing educational grants to schools and prioritizing the inclusion of minority serving institutions, an objective that Congresswoman Matsui has underscored through her Women and Minorities in Engineering Events at Sacramento-area high schools over the last year.
Investing in research and STEM education will help our country take the lead in scientific, technological and economic advancement, Congresswoman Matsui added. The America COMPETES Act will help to create jobs in Sacramento by investing in our students, teachers and workers. It will also support the great work of our local clean tech leaders who are manufacturing clean energy and clean tech products in our own backyard. Those new jobs require an educated and well-trained workforce, and COMPETES will help us meet those demands.
The COMPETES Act was passed by the Senate last week and will now be sent to the President for his signature.
# # #