Introduction of the Supporting Diverse Stem Students Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, today, I am proudly introducing the bipartisan Supporting Diverse STEM Students Act, along with my colleagues, Representatives Fitzpatrick, Sewell, and Turner.

I am especially proud to do so during my 5th Annual HBCU STEAM Days of Action, a time where hundreds of participants from HBCUs, advocacy organizations, technology companies, and industry leaders meet with Republican and Democratic Members of Congress. They're here to advocate for equitable federal resources to make sure that every talented student has access to world class science, technology, engineering, arts, and math education.

We know that a well-prepared workforce--inclusive of America's diverse communities--is necessary for cultivating our United States' Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, or STEM, capacity.

However, underrepresented minority students are disproportionally left behind in their STEM studies. Researchers find over a third of Black and Latino students switch out of their STEM majors before earning their degree, in part due to a lack of access to the academic resources that traditionally help support students to completion.

This bill focuses on supporting those diverse STEM students into career success by supporting institutions that predominantly serve minority students in their capacity to provide direct scholarships and comprehensive wraparound services, such as academic advising and tutoring, work-study, and undergraduate research opportunities.

As the United States continues to support the cultivation of our STEM talent, we must help better provide the resources that help retain, prepare, and promote the success of underrepresented and diverse students in STEM.

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