stem education in the 113 th congress july 8, 2013 della cronin, washington partners, llc 1
TRANSCRIPT
STEM EDUCATION IN THE 113TH CONGRESS
JULY 8, 2013
Della Cronin, Washington Partners, LLC
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Agenda
Congressional Agenda OverviewSTEM Education and ESEASTEM Education and Immigration ReformSTEM Education ProposalsWhat’s Next?Questions
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Congressional Agenda
STEM education-related activities to date
Receipt of the President’s FY 2014 budget proposal
Appropriations process Elementary and Secondary Education Act
reauthorization Immigration Reform Introduction of smaller legislative
proposals
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STEM Education and ESEA: Senate
Strengthening America's Schools Act (S. 1094) Introduced by Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) Retains significant federal role in education Flexibility in accountability requirements Includes STEM-specific program Supports Administration priorities Over 1,100 pages
Every Child Ready for College or Career Act (S. 1101) Introduced by Ranking Member Lamar Alexander (R-TN) Eliminates accountability requirements Defends against “National School Board” About 200 pages
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STEM Education and ESEA: Senate
Strengthening America's Schools Act (S 1094) Marked up June 11 and 12 Collegial, but partisan Minimal discussion of STEM education Approved on 12-10 partisan vote Chairman Harkin and Ranking Member Alexander
want open floor debate (meaning weeks) this year Could be on the floor late September, early October
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STEM Education and ESEA: House
Student Success Act (HR 5) Introduced by Chairman John Kline (R-MN) Reduces federal role in K-12 education Removes accountability requirements Sends money to states and leaves decisions to states and
districts Eliminates categorical programs Retains requirement for science assessment
Democratic alternative Ranking Member George Miller’s (D-CA) substitute proposal Sole amendment from Democrats Builds on framework of current law Has a STEM-specific program
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STEM Education and ESEA: House
Some comments from Committee members about STEM education Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) supports
STEM and STEAM Representative Rush Holt (D-NJ) defended the Math
Science Partnerships Representative Susan Davis (D-CA) feels it is
important to nurture the STEM teaching workforce Representative Todd Rokita (R-IN) agreed that STEM
is important, but argued it is not the role of the federal government to mandate “how we teach”
Bill passed by a partisan vote of 23-16
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STEM Education and ESEA: What’s Next?
Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) sent Republicans notice that ESEA would be on the floor this summer
Rumors that ESEA could be on the House floor the week of July 22
Senate could debate bill under an open amendment process in late September/early October
Then what? Could a conference produce a reasonable compromise?
Until Congress acts, waivers persist
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STEM Education and Immigration Reform
Senate has approved S 744 Argues for changes to H-1B visa program Through proposed changes to H-1B visa program,
companies can hire more high-skilled workers from overseas to fill currently vacant positions
The additional fees would go toward a national STEM education fund
Money to NSF for scholarships and specific programs Money to ED to strengthen STEM education Every state could apply for money to improve STEM
education Other funds to Department of Labor, to support national
activities
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STEM Education and Immigration Reform
House has started marking up (HR 2131) House wants to pursue regular order (smaller
proposals to be bundled together) Bill approved by Judiciary Committee does not include
STEM fund, which was considered a “tax” and complicated referrals
What’s Next? House will continue to debate White House will continue to apply pressure Pundits suggest enactment of immigration reform
unlikely
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STEM Education Proposals
Legislative debates that will or could address STEM education Budget Process ESEA Reauthorization Immigration Reform America COMPETEs Workforce Investment Act Career and Technical Education Higher Education Act Reauthorization Cybersecurity Legislation
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STEM Education Proposals
Comprehensive STEM bills that have been introduced S.854 : STEM Education for the Global Economy Act of
2013 (Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR))
Familiar proposals STEM Master Teacher Corps Act (S 358) Educating Tomorrow’s Engineers Act (S 1178/HR 2426) Stepping Up to STEM Act (HR 1089) Innovation Inspiration School Grant Program Act (S
1067/HR 1243) National STEM Education Tax Incentive for Teachers Act
(HR 118)
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STEM Education Proposals
Familiar proposals Computer Science Education Act (HR 2536) STEM 2 Act (HR 2334/S 1129) STEM Opportunities Act (HR 1358) STEM Education Opportunity Act (HR 1353)
New proposals Veterans’ STEM Education Program (HR 1816) Transforming Education through Technology Act (HR
521)
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What's Next?
This week Senate Labor, Health and Human Services and
Education Appropriations Committee action House Science Subcommittee on Space marking up
NASA AuthorizationLater this month
ESEA on the floor of the House Reset on America COMPETEs reauthorization Continued progress on immigration reform
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What's Next?
Later this year ESEA on Senate floor Workforce Investment Act Career and Technical Education Higher Education Act reauthorization Cybersecurity Appropriations
Next year Elections and politics
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Questions?
Questions?
Triangle Coalition http://www.trianglecoalition.org/category/legislative-
news
Library of Congress http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas.php
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