New Democrat Coalition Amendments Added to FIRST Act by Unanimous Vote
The New Democrat Coalition’s members on the House Science, Space and Technology’s Research and Technology Subcommittee successfully offered a series of amendments to the House Majority’s FIRST Act to improve workforce development, basic research and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education. Of the Democrats on the subcommittee, four – Rep. Elizabeth Esty (CT-05), Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52), Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and Rep. Ami Bera (CA-07) – belong to the New Democrat Coalition.
The FIRST Act reauthorizes portions of the America COMPETES Act, which was influenced by the 2005 Rising Above the Gathering Storm Report, a report commissioned by Congress, which developed recommendations to foster and retain STEM educated students, increase funding for basic research, and support initiatives to ensure the United States remains a global innovation leader. These recommendations were provided nine years ago now, with the America COMPETES legislation passed first in 2007 and reauthorized in 2010.
“The most important investment we can make is in our nation’s continued economic competitiveness,” Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA-06) said in a statement. “When I worked in economic development, I had a sign on the wall that said “We are competing with everyone, everywhere, every day, forever.” The FIRST Act gives us an opportunity to step up to that challenge. I’m proud that my amendments to expand access to STEM education in the FIRST Act were adopted because we need to have a 21st Century workforce capable of tackling the challenges of the future. While I still have serious concerns that the funding levels in this bill won’t be sufficient to sustain the current research initiatives already underway and help our country produce new ideas for the future, I am committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find solutions to move our country forward.
“I’m proud that my amendments passed today with broad, bipartisan support,” said Rep. Elizabeth Esty (CT-05). “These are areas we should all agree on: supporting our manufacturers and our teachers. I’ve heard time and time again from manufacturers that they can’t find workers with the right skill sets. My amendments will help link our unemployed and underemployed workforce with employers in need of their skills, and give teachers additional resources to help prepare students for the jobs of the 21st century. We have so many teachers in Connecticut who are going above and beyond to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers, and it’s time we support them.”
“As an educator and a parent, I know how important it is for us to prepare our students for the jobs of the 21st century,” said Rep. Ami Bera (CA-07). Colleges and technical education schools need to work hand in hand with employers to make sure they are teaching students what they need to be successful in the workplace. My amendment will help community colleges and technical schools collaborate with manufacturers so that they can better develop student skills and enhance the workforce. That’s something that both Democrats and Republicans can agree on, and I’m glad the amendment passed with broad, bipartisan support.”
“The FIRST Act unfortunately misses a key opportunity to provide needed support and funding for science and research – a field that is critical to our nation’s competitiveness over the next century,” Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52) said. “This bill doesn’t provide the long-term funding stability that our scientists and researchers asked for and doesn’t even keep up with the rate of inflation. I am committed working with the full committee to ensure that we provide the robust support for science that our country desperately needs.”
In late 2013, the New Democrat Coalition’s members on the Science, Space and Technology Committee unveiled their comprehensive agenda for reinvesting in and reinvigorating America’s R & D ecosystems. The agenda called for full funding for basic research akin to the significant investments made under the America COMPETES Act. Coalition members argued that the FIRST Act as a whole still doesn’t go far enough to promote basic research in the United States.
New Dem Amendments Bolster FIRST Act
Peters Amendment 037 (incubators and accelerators): The amendment generates a study of university-based incubators and accelerators to identify best practices and how these programs help inspire the entrepreneurial and innovative spirit in our students.
Peters Amendment 038 (reducing administrative burdens): The amendment gives researchers and scientists a seat at the table as we work to reduce the administrative burdens they face.
Esty Amendment 039 (credentialing): The amendment expands a teacher professional development grant under the National Science Foundation. Currently, only teachers with an advanced college degree in the STEM fields are eligible. Esty’s amendment would expand the pool of eligible teachers, including computer science teachers.
Esty Amendment 040 (workforce readiness): The amendment streamlines the credentialing system at technical high schools, community colleges, and trade associations to improve workforce readiness. Without universal standards, a welding certificate from a community college in one state may not be recognized in another, and the skills our veterans gained while serving in the military are not easily transferrable to a civilian job for which they’re qualified.
Bera Amendment 025 (college and technical training): This amendment facilitate the collaboration between small and medium-sized companies and community colleges and career and technical education schools to help the schools better understand the specific needs of manufacturers, and help manufacturers better understand the skill sets learned by the students. It also ensures that one member on the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Council established by the bill is a representative from community college.
KilmerAmendment 044 (women and underrepresented students): The amendment directs the STEM Advisory Panel to assess the extent to which STEM education and activities are contributing to recruitment and retention of women and under-represented students. This was not included in the underlying bill and should be a focus of given broad concerns over participation of underrepresented students and women in STEM fields.
Kilmer 047 (highlighting attention to areas of high unemployment): This amendment directs the STEM Advisory Panel to pay particular attention to areas in the country that are experiencing high unemployment when assess ways to incorporate workforce needs into Federal STEM education programs. The underlying bill did not focus on areas of high unemployment when directing the Panel to look for ways that STEM programs can address workforce needs.
Kilmer 046 (Geographically diverse areas): This amendment directs the STEM Advisory Panel to assess the extent to which STEM education and activities are serving geographically diverse areas and not focused on a single area with a single set of needs. We included this amendment to allow you to speak on the need to both increase STEM activities throughout the country, but diversify STEM activities to different areas with different skill sets and resources.
The New Democrat Coalition is dedicated to maintaining America’s standing as the world’s strongest, most successful nation. Founded in 1997, the New Dems believe firmly in the power of American ingenuity and innovation, and are focused on finding ways to foster and harness this creativity to grow our economy, create new American jobs, and ensure a safer and more secure future for our country.
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