Newsletter: Our Future Depends On It

Statement

Dear Friend,

For our country to remain the global leader in technology development, it's more important than ever that we invest in the next generation of innovators. Doing that starts with helping our children discover a passion for science, engineering, technology, and math (STEM) at an early age, both inside and outside the classroom.

That's why this week when the Senate was considering legislation that determines national education policy, I included an amendment to fund STEM afterschooleducation programs. This will help programs like the FIRST program, founded in New Hampshire, which does a tremendous job of getting kids excited about engineering through fun and exciting robot competitions.

This week in the U.S. Capitol building, I also hosted a discussion about the lack of women in technology jobs. A diverse crowd attended that included software developers, legislative staff, educators and administration officials who talked about how to better include women in the rapidly growing technology sector that is changing so many aspects of our daily lives. By closing the technology gender gap, we can expand economic opportunity for women and make sure that this promising economy lives up to its full potential. Once again, inspiring young girls to have an interest in coding and computer science is absolutely key to ensuring that the next generation of technology leaders reflects our country.

I started out as a teacher, and helping more kids discover a passion for learning will always be important to me. I will continue working on ways to help all of our students excel, because our future depends on it.

Sincerely,

Jeanne Shaheen

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