Titus Introduces Training Highly Skilled Americans
Press Release
Today Congresswoman Titus of Nevada's First District introduced the Training Highly Skilled Americans Act to increase federal investment in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs at minority-serving colleges and universities. Additionally, the legislation creates scholarships for low-income and minority students; grants loan forgiveness to certain low-income students who obtain a STEM degree; and provides minority-serving institutions with funds to develop STEM programs for people of color and women. It also creates a National Science Foundation grant program to give at-risk K-12 students the tools they need to improve STEM education from the very beginning.
"A strong STEM workforce is critical to meeting the growing demands of Nevada's hi-tech economy and essential to our country's innovation and competitiveness. We can and should be doing more to give our students the resources they need to take on the challenges of the 21st century economy. This is especially critical for minority students and young women who are significantly underrepresented in these fields," Titus said. "By investing in STEM education, the Training Highly Skilled Americans Act will not only strengthen our education system, but will equip the next generation with the skills and tools to compete globally."
In November 2014, the Metropolitan Policy Program and Brookings Mountain West released a study: "Cracking the Code on STEM: A People Strategy for Nevada's Economy," which found that while there has been rapid growth in STEM jobs, too few Nevadans have the necessary training to take advantage of these opportunities. The report concludes, "Even though many available opportunities require no more than the right community college certificate, insufficient numbers of Nevadans have pursued even a little STEM training. As a result, too few Nevadans are ready to participate in the state's emerging STEM economy. The upshot: Without concerted action to prepare more Nevadans for jobs in STEM-intensive fields, skills shortages could limit growth in the state's most promising target industries and Nevadans could miss out on employment that offers superior paths to opportunity and advancement."
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