WASHINGTON – The U.S. House Science, Space, and Technology Committee today unanimously approved the Innovations in Mentoring, Training, and Apprenticeships Act (H.R. 5509), introduced by Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and cosponsored by Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas).
Majority Leader McCarthy: “Everyone wants to do something that they can be proud of and where they are needed, and our nation has a great need for skilled labor and professionals with knowledge in the STEM fields. Across our country the workforce needs are different and in my district in California, STEM careers within companies in the agriculture, energy, and aerospace industries will support the continued advancement of our communities and leadership of our companies. To help connect American workers looking for good jobs and industries searching for valued employees, my legislation supports apprenticeship and training programs to fill local STEM jobs. I am grateful to my friend Chairman Smith and to the entire Science, Space, and Technology Committee for considering and supporting my bill. With it, we can help close the job gap, help workers, employers, and our nation as a whole all at the same time.”
Chairman Smith: “The Innovations in Mentoring, Training, and Apprenticeships Act will bolster our STEM workforce and ensure America’s leadership in the science fields. Leader McCarthy’s bill directs the National Science Foundation to support innovative educational STEM initiatives and development programs, encouraging Americans of all ages to pursue careers in STEM. Providing this level of training and education will help meet the growing need for a strong STEM workforce and help maintain America’s competitiveness on the world stage. I thank Leader McCarthy for his initiative on this critical subject.”
Background
H.R. 5509, the Innovations in Mentoring, Training, and Apprenticeships Act, directs the National Science Foundation to provide grants for innovative approaches to STEM education and related workforce development programs. The bill expands the workforce pipeline in STEM fields through experiments with apprenticeships and other applied learning opportunities for college students as well as enhancement of two-year degree programs and technical skills certificates in order to meet the shortage of qualified candidates for the more than two million jobs in STEM fields projected to go unfilled in the next decade. Text of the bill can be found here.
Click here to see a statement of support from James Brown, executive director of STEM Education Coalition.