On the recordMay 29, 2014
This week, the White House hosted high school students from across the country for its 2014 Science Fair. San Diego high school student Eric Chen was among the attendees and was praised by President Obama for his award-winning research into combating influenza. I rise to congratulate Eric and celebrate all students across the country who eagerly pursue scientific research. We must continue to provide students with opportunities to demonstrate their excitement and their mastery in science, technology, engineering, and math. Soon we will depend on these same students to tackle our biggest challenges; and at times, they will inherit problems that seem daunting: climate change, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, drought, food scarcity, the list goes on. We are at a critical crossroads in so many areas and cannot afford to lose our technological edge. We must provide students with the tools necessary for success by further investing in STEM education. It begins by heavily recruiting teachers who go beyond the traditional role of educators, teachers that become mentors and explorers and visionaries with their students; and we need teachers who inspire our best and brightest young minds to do more than the generation before them ever could imagine. STEM education is an issue that we can all rally around, and I urge my colleagues to do so when supporting this important initiative. ____________________
