For Immediate Release: June 7, 2007

Sutton Pushes for investment in Science, Math, Engineering and Technology (STEM)

Congresswoman Betty Sutton helps pass legislation ensuring American commitment to strengthening STEM fields

Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, Congresswoman Betty Sutton and the U.S. House of Representatives took another step to strengthen achievement and investment in science, math, engineering and technology (STEM) fields.  The House passed H.R. 1051, the National STEM Scholarship Database Act, a bill co-sponsored by Sutton.

"The National STEM Scholarship Database Act will, for the first time, create a single public website where students and their families can access public and private scholarship and financial aid programs and grants for study in STEM fields," Sutton said.  "American students rank near the bottom in math and science compared to their peers around the world.  The United States is the greatest nation in the world.  We must not allow our students to lag behind in academic fields that are so critical to our future.  This important legislation will provide assistance to thousands of students so they can attend college or pursue graduate studies in math, science, engineering and technology. An increased emphasis on these fields will prepare our students to be engineers, scientists and innovators in the economy of tomorrow," Sutton said.
 
The financial assistance database created by the National STEM Scholarship Database Act will be organized by field of study, searchable by category, and will provide students, families and teachers with contact information and links for additional information.  
 
"With greater access to information on the financial assistance that is available, more students will be able to take advantage of the many resources that are out there," Sutton said.  
 
The House also passed H.R. 1467, the 10,000 Trained by 2010 Act, legislation to spur innovation in health care information research at colleges and universities.  This bill provides for grants to schools to establish multidisciplinary Centers for Informatics Research to conduct cutting-edge, multidisciplinary research to generate innovative approaches in health care information and to establish or enhance undergraduate or master's degree health care information programs.  Funds could be used to attract students to these programs or to provide students with experience in government or industry related to their studies.  
 
"The 10,000 Trained by 2010 Act helps advance the goals of our innovation agenda and will help our educational institutions train students for high-paying, technical jobs that will be vital to Ohio's economic future."

Contact: Ian Mandel at 202-225-3401