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[Pages S5751-S5752]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN STEM BOOSTER ACT OF 2019
Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, studies show that women and
underrepresented minorities face substantial barriers to completing
educational opportunities and pursuing careers in science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Congress and the Federal
government should be doing more to help women and underrepresented
minorities succeed in these areas, which will strengthen our economy
and communities in the long-term.
For these reasons, I come to the floor today to reintroduce the STEM
Opportunities Act of 2019 and the Women and Minorities in STEM Booster
Act of 2019, two important bills that would help to broaden
participation in STEM and strengthen our nation's STEM pipeline for
women and minorities.
Recent trends indicate that we are not keeping pace with training the
scientists and engineers we will need for the 21st century careers of
the future. Unfortunately, women and minorities too often ``leak'' out
of the STEM pipeline before completing degrees in these critical
fields. In order for the United States to remain competitive in our
increasingly global economy, we need to make sure opportunities are
available for everyone because only when everyone succeeds can we all
succeed.
As members of Congress, we have a responsibility to ensure that our
country remains competitive and provides opportunities for all
Americans. We have an important role to play in breaking down barriers
for women and minorities in STEM and must work to ensure that Federal
government agencies, Federal laboratories, institutions of higher
education, State and local governments, industry, and nonprofit
stakeholders are working collaboratively to support these efforts.
The STEM Opportunities Act represents a comprehensive approach to
improving the severe shortage and lack of diversity in our Nation's
STEM pipeline by addressing factors that limit the progression of women
and minorities in research environments and implementing research-based
practices to improve the recruitment and retention of faculty and
students. Specifically, the bill would provide for guidance, data
collection, and grants for women and minorities in STEM at institutions
of higher education and at federal science agencies to improve access
and reduce cultural and institutional barriers that limit diversity in
STEM research and careers.
The Women and Minorities in STEM Booster Act represents a more
targeted approach to strengthening the STEM pipeline, by providing for
training, outreach, mentoring, and other resources
[[Page S5752]]
for women and minorities in STEM. Specifically, the bill would require
the National Science Foundation to award competitive grants to promote
activities such as online workshops, mentoring programs, internship
opportunities, outreach efforts, and other designed to increase
recruitment and retention of women and underrepresented minorities in
STEM. It is through these purposeful efforts that we, as a nation, can
foster a stronger, more expansive, and diverse STEM workforce that will
help us remain a competitive force around the world.
As we work to build and maintain our STEM workforce, it is important
for us to promote opportunities for women and minorities that encourage
participation so that we engage our entire talent pool and ensure that
our nation's future economic and national security are secure.
We have made important strides to provide opportunities for women and
minorities in our country, but more work remains and we should continue
our efforts by considering and passing these bills. I thank my
colleagues for joining me in reintroducing the bills, and encourage
others to join us as we work to strengthen the STEM pipeline for
everyone in the United States.
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By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Schumer, Mrs. Murray, Ms.
Baldwin, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Booker, Mr. Brown, Mr. Carper, Mr.
Casey, Mr. Coons, Ms. Cortez Masto, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs.
Feinstein, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Harris, Ms. Hassan, Ms. Hirono,
Mr. Jones, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Markey, Mr. Menendez,
Mr. Merkley, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Reed, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Sanders, Mr.
Schatz, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms. Warren,
Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Wyden, Ms. Smith, Mr. Peters, and Mr.
Kaine):
S.J. Res. 56. A joint resolution providing for congressional
disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule
submitted by the Department of Education relating to ``Borrower Defense
Institutional Accountability''; to the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions.
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of
the bill be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
S.J. Res. 56
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress
disapproves the rule submitted by the Department of Education
relating to ``Borrower Defense Institutional Accountability''
(84 Fed. Reg. 49788 (September 23, 2019)), and such rule
shall have no force or effect.
____________________