STEM EDUCATION IN THE 113TH CONGRESS

JULY 8, 2013

Della Cronin, Washington Partners, LLC

1

Agenda

Congressional Agenda OverviewSTEM Education and ESEASTEM Education and Immigration ReformSTEM Education ProposalsWhat’s Next?Questions

2

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

3

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

4

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

5

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

6

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

7

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

8

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

9

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

10

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

11

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)

12

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)

13

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

14

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

15

Questions?

Questions?

Triangle Coalition http://www.trianglecoalition.org/category/legislative-

news

Library of Congress http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas.php

16