On the recordJune 7, 2018
This is an educational amendment, if you will. It is to emphasize the importance of the Department of Energy's program that deals with the emphasizing of educating minority students across America with STEM. Now we have moved and advanced to STEAM. That includes arts. But the Office of Minority Impact that is in the DOE has as its major focus--and we are still behind in the numbers--to ramp up the numbers of men and women and minorities in the STEM effort. Women and minorities make up 70 percent of college students but only 45 percent of undergraduate STEM degree holders. If we are to be a 21st century and 22nd century country--and as I was sitting in some meetings today--competing with countries on the question of cybersecurity--I know that we are in the Energy and Water approps, but if we are to reach beyond the boundaries of research that help in energy and water, I think it is important that we continue to try and do outreach to increase the numbers of women and minorities to go into the STEM fields. The energy and science education programs funded in part by this bill will help ensure that members of underrepresented communities are not placed at a disadvantage when it comes to the environmental sustainability, preservation, and health. The larger point is that we need more STEM educators and more minorities to qualify for those positions. Mr.…
