Student Success Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. TONKO. Mr. Chairman, I thank the ranking member of the committee for the opportunity to have time to explain my amendment.

I was planning to offer an amendment today to strengthen the Federal commitment to STEM education, but I intend to withdraw my amendment and offer my robust support for the Democratic substitute which addresses many of my concerns and contains dedicated funding streams for STEM programs.

That being said, many schools already face shortages of science, technology, engineering, and math teachers; and these teachers often have inadequate opportunities for subject-specific professional development. Further, there is rarely an extensive curriculum available to support the teaching of these subjects, especially engineering education.

My amendment would have addressed these issues by committing existing funds under ESEA to support professional development of STEM education. I know firsthand the importance and value of a STEM education, having graduated from Clarkson University with a degree in mechanical and industrial engineering. I'm proud to represent New York's capital region, which serves as a shining example of what a robust investment in STEM education can produce.

In my district, companies like GE and GlobalFoundries, in addition to research centers like the Center for Nano Science and Engineering and RPI, lead the way in STEM jobs and education. These are well-paying, growth-oriented, cutting-edge occupations that ensure America remains competitive in the global marketplace.

As we work to speed up our economic recovery, we know that jobs in the future are going to rely heavily on professionals with a STEM education background. STEM education opportunities for students will spur American innovation through research and development. America has a proven track record of leading in new, innovative technologies, from the implementation of the car assembly line to the creation of the Internet. In order to remain a competitive global economic power of the 21st century, we must preserve a robust national commitment to STEM education.

The United States will have more than 1.75 million job openings in STEM-related occupations by 2018. Yet without a robust investment in the type of education and training these jobs require, there will be a significant shortage of qualified college graduates to fill these careers. The time to invest is now.

With that, Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to my good friend and colleague from Massachusetts (Mr. Kennedy), a very strong leader in promoting this issue.

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