Mathematical and Statistical Modeling Education Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Lofgren for yielding me the time to speak on behalf of my bill, H.R. 1735, and I thank so much my colleague, Representative Baird, for his tireless efforts to help us get this across the finish line.

It is past time that America's K-12 students enter the 21st century, and this Mathematical and Statistical Modeling Education Act is a bipartisan bill that will help with that and will direct $10 million in funding, importantly, funding that is already appropriated to the National Science Foundation, toward grant programs, and it will support the modernization of mathematical and statistical modeling education across this fine Nation.

As someone who is educated as a systems engineer, with both undergraduate and graduate degrees, which focused on things like operations research and linear programming and statistical modeling, I have had the privilege of using all of these kinds of maths all during my career and life.

Also, as a former high school chemistry teacher, I saw firsthand that many of my students struggled because they lacked the basic foundations in math that are necessary to succeed in the sciences, and frankly, to succeed in our economy.

These math skills form the basis of all the STEM disciplines, and importantly, they also form the basis of critical thinking and problem- solving as well. Without them, students struggle to keep up, let alone to get ahead not just in math and science but ultimately in our competitive workplace and world.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress, which is colloquially known as the Nation's report card, has shown that this is a national challenge. The most recent assessment registered the very largest declines in math scores since we first started assessing them in 1990. The scores of our average fourth graders were down five points. Worse, the average score of our eighth graders recorded an eight-point lower assessment than the last time.

As our students are continuing to recover from the pandemic, now particularly is a very good time to focus on a renewed and modified investment in math and STEM education and skills.

If our students can't get ahead in school, how will they get ahead in the STEM workforce as engineers, as chemists, as nurses, as doctors, and so much more?

As importantly, how will those who do not pursue STEM fields succeed where these same kinds of skills are very, very useful in things such as the trades and manufacturing or any other job in industry?

Thankfully, schools across the country are already developing new tools and curricula to better connect students and help them learn these challenging topics.

It is crucial though that the Federal Government deliver its financial support to schools that are already leading this effort and that want to in the future.

My colleagues also supported an amendment to the bill ensuring that this funding is broadly available, so students can benefit from it no matter what kind of school they go to. Their adjustment made sure that schools which are private, faith-based, or homeschools also have access to this funding.

I also want to highlight that this funding is all drawn from funds that are already appropriated to the National Science Foundation. This legislation does not represent any new funding authorizations or authorities. It is simply ensuring that the NSF is able to spend the money it already receives to bolster innovation in this very important area.

This bill will go a long way towards providing our very youngest people with the skills that they need to succeed in today's marketplace. It passed with a strong bipartisan majority in the 117th Congress and was passed unanimously out of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology last year in this Congress as well.

I once again thank my Republican colleague, Mr. Baird, for his work on this legislation. I also extend my deep appreciation to the SST staff and committee who have helped to shepherd this legislation through today.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this very commonsense, bipartisan measure.

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