Ralph Hall: “Mr. Speaker, I rise, of course, in support of this act. It is a very important piece of legislation that will strengthen…”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise, of course, in support of this act. It is a very important piece of legislation that will strengthen science and mathematics education in the Nation's schools. It includes a lot of provisions designed to bring more support to K-12 science and math teachers, more support to their students and, of course, to the entire schools. The overall goal is to help our children become more proficient in science and math, to get them more interested in it, and I am confident that the programs authorized by this bill will do exactly that. Earlier this year, I chaired a forum in Sherman, Texas, which is in my district. It focused on the issue of the skills needed for high technology workforce. The forum highlighted the importance of providing high quality science and math education in elementary and secondary schools in order to prepare the students for the technological challenges of the new economy. The program initiatives authorized by H.R. 1858 are consistent with the recommendations I received during this conference.”