Building Blocks of Stem Act

Floor Speech

How appropriate that today the House is taking up S. 737, the Building Blocks of STEM Act, just as the Nation kicks off a celebration of Computer Science Education Week.

S. 737, the Building Blocks of STEM Act, is important, bipartisan legislation to improve science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and computer science, or STEM, education. It directs the National Science Foundation to support STEM research focused on early childhood education and to award grants to encourage young girls to pursue computer science learning. Studies have found that children who engage in scientific activities from an early age develop positive attitudes toward science and are more likely to pursue STEM expertise and careers.

Across the country, the share of STEM jobs has expanded significantly, with STEM employment nearly doubling over the last 30 years. Currently, there are over half a million open computing jobs in the United States, in every industry and in every State. This demand is projected to grow at twice the rate of any other field, and America is failing to meet it.

We can succeed, though, and we can do it by encouraging children, particularly young girls, in STEM in early childhood and sustaining that interest as they grow.

More students with STEM degrees means more advanced American technologies and a more robust economy. But it is not just about the economy. STEM graduates have the potential to develop technologies that can save thousands of lives, jump-start a new industry, or even discover new worlds.

It has been shown that female students who learn computer science before college are 10 times more likely to major in it. By supporting more hands-on STEM engagement at younger ages, we are supporting and investing in America's future.

I thank Representative Baird and Representative Stevens for their leadership on this bill. The House previously passed this legislation in July and sent it to the Senate for consideration. We are considering it again today with some minor changes from our Senate colleagues.

I encourage my colleagues to again support this legislation and send it to the President's desk for his signature.

Mr. Speaker, the love of learning starts young, and the Building Blocks of STEM bill promotes this by prioritizing a focus on early childhood STEM education. It gives us the opportunity to encourage girls to get involved and stay engaged in STEM, helping us improve our educational programs and diversify the STEM workforce.

Again, I thank Representative Baird and Representative Stevens for leading this bipartisan bill. As the House did in July, I encourage this body to again support and unanimously pass this legislation and send it to the President's desk for his signature.

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