Judy Chu: “Today, a woman sits in a classroom at East Los Angeles College, taking notes diligently as her professor explains the…”

“Today, a woman sits in a classroom at East Los Angeles College, taking notes diligently as her professor explains the different types of inorganic chemical reactions. Sylvia is the first in her family to attend college. She can barely afford the low tuition rate, even though she works full time to help pay for books and put food on the table. She is the embodiment of the American Dream-- studying, persevering, working, all with the hope of transferring to a 4-year college to earn her bachelor's degree in chemistry. But the road ahead is tough. She struggles to find rigorous courses that meet the demands of the 4-year institutions. She doesn't have access to a chemistry lab and her community college cannot provide the research opportunities available to her fellow students at larger universities. But she represents our path to economic recovery. Her success is imperative to ensuring a skilled and diverse workforce for our Nation's future. That's why I have introduced to the America COMPETES Act an amendment to include the community college and to help STEM students, particularly women and underrepresented minorities, transition from a 2-year to a 4-year institution. It will ensure that all students, regardless of ethnicity or socioeconomic status, are afforded every opportunity to enter STEM fields. Without my amendment, we risk leaving Sylvia behind.”