Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, as a former member of the Science Committee and a strong supporter of education, I rise in strong support of this resolution Recognizing the need to improve the participation and performance of America's students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields. This legislation recognizes the importance of equipping young minds with the technological and scientific knowledge necessary to compete in a globalized economy. Further, within the context of globalization, I strongly believe that this country's ability to achieve and maintain a high standard of living is dependent on the extent to which it can harness science and technology. Thus, in order to enhance the international competitiveness of the country, it is critical for us to promote and support students pursuing careers in meteorology, climatology and atmospheric research. From Ben Franklin to NASA to Silicon Valley, America has a great history of scientific innovation. In recent years, however, we have diverged from this path and have endangered our reputation as a nation at the forefront of science and technology. In 2006 only 4.5 percent of college graduates in the United States received a diploma in engineering, compared with 25.4 percent in South Korea, 33.3 percent in China, and 39.1 percent in Singapore. Today, American students rank 21st out of 30 in scientific literacy among students from developed countries, and 25th out of 30 in math literacy.…”