CONGRESSWOMAN EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON TO DELIVER CBC MESSAGE TO AMERICA
CONGRESSWOMAN EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON TO DELIVER CBC MESSAGE TO AMERICA
Congresswoman Johnson will discuss STEM education during Congressional Black Caucus address
Washington, D.C. – (May 9, 2008) Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson will deliver the weekly Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) “Message to America” radio address today. Congresswoman Johnson will discuss science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, and the importance of expanding educational opportunity to all young people.
The CBC “Message to America” is distributed nationwide to the affiliate stations of the American Urban Radio Network (AURN).
The text of Congresswoman Johnson’s radio address is as follows:
“Good afternoon. I am Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, and I am pleased to be speaking to you this afternoon on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus.
“In my work as a Member of Congress, I have long prioritized leveling the playing field for minority students. Particularly troublesome to me is the underrepresentation of minorities in science, technology, engineering, and math—or STEM—careers.
“Skin color and socioeconomic status should not determine career choice, and we have been working hard to expand opportunity to all young people, in all parts of the country. The United States is slipping in STEM competitiveness worldwide, and it is a matter not just of our international standing in the world, but of national security, that we maintain adequate funding for science and technology education. Ushering minority students into STEM careers benefits not just the students; it benefits our nation as a whole.
“A crucial element of expanding opportunity is ensuring that all of our schools employ qualified teachers and have up-to-date equipment and materials.
“Recently, the America COMPETES Act was signed into law. This legislation authorized more than $33 billion over fiscal years 2008-2010 for science and technology research and education programs. It will help to prepare thousands of new math and science teachers, and it will strengthen partnerships between industry, universities, and high schools to improve high school science laboratories. The America COMPETES Act provides much-needed support to our schools, particularly to schools in underserved areas.
“Townview High School, which is located in my district in Dallas, is the top high school in the nation because the local high-tech industry has invested in it. All students in America deserve to go to a school of this caliber.
“The CBC will continue to work tirelessly to achieve this goal.”
