Formatting necessary for an accurate reading of this text may be shown by tags (e.g., <DELETED> or <BOLD>) or may be missing from this TXT display. For complete and accurate display of this text, see the PDF.
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E91]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUPPORTING VETERANS IN STEM CAREERS ACT
______
speech of
HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE
of texas
in the house of representatives
Monday, January 27, 2020
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, as a senior member of the House
Judiciary Committee and the Committee on Homeland Security, I rise in
strong support of S. 153, the ``Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers
Act.''
It is with the great sacrifice of the men and women, who have served
in our armed forces and protected our freedom in mind that I urge
members on both sides of the aisle to vote in favor this bill.
We often hear about the many difficulties veterans face while
attempting to transition back to civilian life.
From physical and mental trauma to unemployment to the struggles
associated with refamiliarizing themselves with civilian life, veterans
face many obstacles in life after service.
With respect to employment, nearly one-third of veteran job seekers
are underemployed, which is 15.6 percent higher than non-veteran job
seekers.
In addition, the Texas Workforce Investment Council reported that in
2017, 35,734 veterans remained unemployed.
In 2019, LinkedIn published its Veteran's Opportunity Report, which
stated that veterans who had degrees as well as four or more years of
experience were less likely to land the job than less-experienced
civilians who applied for the same role.
I am voting in favor of S. 153 because it seeks to address that
barrier by encouraging veterans to study and pursue rewarding careers
in science, technology, engineering, and math as well as by creating an
interagency working group.
This group is tasked with coordinating federal programs for
transitioning and training veterans for STEM careers.
By facilitating this process, veterans will be able to have a
meaningful career that utilizes their skillsets and secures their
livelihood.
In addition, S. 153 will result in filling thousands of open
positions and contribute to growing our economy.
Today, STEM careers are growing at an unprecedented rate.
Texas is home to more than three-quarters of a million great STEM
jobs.
In fact, Texas is expected to represent nearly 10 percent of future
STEM opportunities in the nation.
According to a study by Syracuse University in 2018, Texas possesses
the largest percentages of veterans working in the STEM workforce.
At the state-level, 9 percent of veterans work in STEM.
Yet, the report states that 18.66 percent of veterans in Houston are
employed in STEM.
Throughout my tenure In Congress, I have strongly supported veterans.
With that in mind, I authored and introduced the ``Helping to
Encourage Real Opportunity for Veterans Transitioning from Battlespace
to Workplace Act'', or the HEROES Act, in previous congresses.
Through my advocacy work with veterans, I have come to understand
that one of the greatest barriers to entry for veterans seeking
employment is that civilian employers do not adequately understand how
the skills, experience, and training of veterans can contribute in the
private sector.
In an effort to address this problem, the HEROES Act creates a
Military Skills Translator Database to remove that obstacle and better
incorporate veterans into the workforce, especially in fields like
STEM.
I strongly believe that we must come together and address the
barriers that prevent veterans from re-entering the workforce.
It is imperative that we, the American people, continuously recognize
the sacrifices these men and women have made to ensure our freedom and
safety.
We must take it upon ourselves to try and ease the burdensome
transition that thousands of veterans' experience.
And so, I ask all members from both parties to join me in voting to
pass S. 153.
____________________