July 06, 2016

New Dems Send Letter to House Appropriations for Increase in Computer Science Funding

Last week, over 20 Members of the New Democrat Coalition (New Dems) sent a letter, led by Reps. Jared Polis (CO-02), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), and Tony Cardenas (CA-29), to the House Appropriations Committee seeking new funding for computer science. Specifically, Members of the Coalition request $250 million in funding for Computer Science Development Grants in the Fiscal Year 2017 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill.

According to the Computer Science Education Coalition, last year there were less than 50,000 computer science graduates nationwide, yet there are over 500,000 computing jobs currently unfilled in the United States. Computer science is a basic skill in the 21st century global economy and the opportunity to learn computer science should be provided to all students in our nation.

“The New Democrat Coalition understands the need to sharpen America’s innovation edge in order to support the middle class, ensure American prosperity, and remain a world leader n the new economy that technology and innovation are helping to mold,” the letter reads. “Already, 50 percent of jobs today require some digital skills. By the end of the decade, some 77% of jobs will require technological skills, however only one in four schools in the U.S. teach any computer science courses. If we do not take action, we put ourselves at risk of falling behind other nations who have prioritized the teaching of computer science.”

New Dems are committed to making an investment in our children’s education in order to lead the world in innovation, remain competitive, and grow our economy. Read the signed copy here.

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. 

--->