Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman very much, and I thank the committee for its work. I ask my colleagues to support the amendment. I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer an amendment to H.R. 5325, the ``Energy and Water Appropriations Development Act, FY 2013.'' My amendment will protect funds provided for Science under Title III of the Department of Energy's Energy Programs. This amendment addresses the need to increase programs that educate minorities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), as well as, the need to train teachers and scientists in advanced scientific and technical practices. As a former Member of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, I recognize the importance of developing a highly skilled technical workforce. Over the last 50 years, there have been major changes in the United States in terms of both the economy and the population. The economic base has shifted from the manufacturing of durable goods to processing and analyzing information. In this information-driven economy, the most valuable assets are human resources. Therefore, in order to compete successfully in the global economy, the U.S. needs citizens who are literate in terms of science and mathematics, and a STEM workforce that is well educated and well trained (Friedman 2005, National Academy of Sciences 2005, Pearson 2005).…”