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Mr. SCOTT of Virginia: Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation that will establish a grant program at the U.S. Department of Education to encourage and enhance the study of Modeling and Simulation at institutions of higher education.
Modeling and Simulation has become an essential component in ensuring that we meet both the defense and domestic challenges of the 21st century. Modeling and Simulation technology allows us to easily and effectively sharpen the tools, procedures, and decisions needed to address difficult and complex problems.
Earlier this year, this body passed by voice vote House Resolution 487, introduced by my Virginia colleague Congressman Randy Forbes of Virginia, which recognized Modeling and Simulation as a national critical technology.
This critical technology allows us to build and develop computer models of complex systems--whether a car, an airplane, an entire battlefield, or even a major city's evacuation plan--to see how certain actions will affect the end result. These simulations help us develop better and practical analogies of real world situations. Modeling and Simulation is a rapidly expanding field and we must ensure that the United States maintains its competitive edge in this field by expanding Modeling and Simulation programs at our institutions of higher education.
The bill that I am introducing today will ensure that this national critical technology is expanded at our Nation's colleges and universities. Specifically, the bill will establish a grant program for colleges and universities to enhance and improve already established Modeling and Simulation programs. Colleges and universities without Modeling and Simulation programs can also use the grant to establish their own program. The bill will also create a task force at the Department of Education to support the development of the Modeling and Simulation field, including helping to further define the study and identify the best practices of Modeling and Simulation.
I am proud to represent the people and businesses of the Third Congressional District of Virginia who are leading the way in the Modeling and Simulation field. Numerous colleges and universities in the Hampton Roads area, such as Hampton University, Norfolk State University, and Old Dominion University, have Modeling and Simulation programs. Old Dominion University is one of the few universities that has both an undergraduate degree program and a graduate degree program in Modeling and Simulation. ODU's Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center in Suffolk, Virginia is a premier facility that is second to none.
The grant program established by this legislation will go a long way in helping universities that have Modeling and Simulation programs expand and enhance their programs, as well as helping universities without a Modeling and Simulation program establish their own program. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor and support this important legislation to ensure that the United States maintains its competitive advantage in the critical national technology field of Modeling and Simulation.
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