[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 640 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 640
Expressing support to increase the growing number of Latino students
and young professionals entering careers in science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 17, 2022
Mr. Padilla (for himself and Mr. Cornyn) submitted the following
resolution; which was considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing support to increase the growing number of Latino students
and young professionals entering careers in science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
Whereas the Latino population in the United States has grown significantly over
the years on a national basis and Latinos accounted for more than
62,000,000 residents in 2020;
Whereas the number of Latinos enrolled at an institution of higher education has
increased from 2,900,000 in 2010 to 3,600,000 in 2019;
Whereas Latinos are responsible for 78 percent of the growth of the labor force
of the United States since the Great Recession of 2007 to 2009;
Whereas the Latino population in the United States is growing more rapidly than
the non-Latino population and has a younger median age of 29.5 years, as
compared to 40.6 years among non-Latinos in 2018;
Whereas the overall number of graduates in the fields of science, technology,
engineering, and math (in this preamble referred to as ``STEM'') has
increased, but Latino workers remain underrepresented in the STEM
workforce, making up 18 percent of total employees across all
occupations but only 8 percent of all STEM workers;
Whereas the percentage of Latino workers in STEM occupations has only increased
by 1 percent annually since 2016;
Whereas the attractiveness of STEM career paths is evidenced by the fact that
the number of bachelor's degrees awarded in STEM fields increased for
all individuals in the United States by 62 percent between 2010 and
2018, in comparison to a 20 percent growth for all other degrees;
Whereas, while surveys indicate that Latino students are interested in STEM
education and aspire to STEM careers at similar rates as overrepresented
groups, Latinos make up a disproportionately low share of the STEM
workforce;
Whereas many Latino students are not well-positioned to take full advantage of
financial aid opportunities to attend an institution of higher
education, and the National Center for Education Statistics reports that
70 percent of Latino students have unmet financial needs, the highest of
any demographic, which is especially true in the case of first-
generation college students in Latino families, making it far more
difficult for them to pursue STEM education and careers;
Whereas the growth of well-paying STEM jobs is expected to outpace non-STEM jobs
in the coming years, making STEM fields even more attractive for Latino
students and young adults and increasing the need for new strategies to
facilitate their entrance into STEM fields; and
Whereas investment in the Latino community will generate more individuals eager
to pursue STEM jobs and will greatly increase the domestic high-skilled
workforce of the United States: Now therefore be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) supports the goal of increasing the number of Latino
individuals in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (in this resolution referred to as ``STEM'') as a
way to promote economic empowerment and sustainability, not
only in their community but in the overall economy of the
United States;
(2) supports increasing the representation of Latino
individuals in STEM fields to enhance and improve
representation and improve performance in the STEM workforce,
which will help--
(A) develop talented and capable STEM workers;
(B) reduce the dependence of the economy of the
United States on foreign workers; and
(C) secure the future of the United States as a
leader in STEM;
(3) encourages increased Federal support for initiatives
aimed at boosting the number of Latino students who pursue STEM
education and career paths, particularly engineering; and
(4) recognizes the important role that Hispanic Serving
Institutions and all colleges and universities must play in
order to achieve this goal of increasing Latino individuals in
STEM.
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