Political Quotes

“Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Visclosky, thank you for providing me this time to speak on the floor today. Mr. Chairman, as we all know, providing science, technology, engineering, and math education to America's youth is critical to the global competitiveness of our Nation. The STARBASE program engages local fifth grade elementary students by exposing them to STEM subjects through an inquiry-based curriculum that is currently active in 56 congressional districts throughout the country. We need to be committed to ensuring the United States remains competitive globally by strengthening the pipeline of American graduates with degrees in STEM fields. That is why I am offering STARBASE amendment No. 32 to H.R. 4870, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act. My bipartisan amendment, with Congressman Benishek, increases funding to the STARBASE Youth Program by $5 million. The STARBASE program is carried out by the military because the lack of STEM-educated youth in America has been identified as a future national security issue by the Department of Defense. Last year, both the House and the Senate rejected the Office of Management and Budget's proposal to terminate this critical program. As a Member of Congress, I appreciate the OMB's desire to consolidate the STEM programs across the spectrum into one funding line. However, this is a national defense issue, and it has been identified by the Joint Chiefs of Staff as such.…”