Mark Takano: “I thank the gentlewoman, the ranking member, for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4323, the…”

“I thank the gentlewoman, the ranking member, for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4323, the Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act. I led this bill with the gentleman from Florida because finding ways to improve higher education for veterans is essential to our economy and critical to keeping our promise to those who serve. This legislation advances the great work being done by the National Science Foundation by requiring NSF to develop a plan to help more veterans enter science, technology, engineering, and math fields. In addition, it requires NSF to report available data on veterans participating in STEM fields. NSF will also be required to recruit veterans for existing NSF programs, including the Noyse Teacher Scholarship program, and for cybersecurity-specific education and training programs. Finally, this bill creates an interagency committee to help veterans and their spouses transition to STEM careers, including reporting on their progress. All of us understand the challenges veterans face when trying to further their education, but we have also seen what happens when former servicemembers are empowered to success as civilians. After World War II, soldiers returned home to a GI Bill that sparked an era of innovation and economic growth. By helping veterans enter STEM education and research programs, this bill will help build a workforce that is prepared to succeed in the modern economy.…”