Gordon Adds His Voice to Call for Science Focused Presidential Debate
(Washington, DC) U.S. House Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) today added his support to an effort underway aimed at underscoring the importance of science, education, research and innovation in the 2008 presidential race.
Gordon joined a group of Nobel laureates, business leaders, university presidents and other Congressional leaders in support of “Science Debate 2008” (www.sciencedebate2008.com) – an effort underway to urge the candidates for President to participate in a debate focused solely on their plans for the scientific and technological future of the U.S.
“As I’ve said time and again, we have to recognize there are roughly seven billion people in the world, half of whom make less than $2 a day. We cannot and would not want to compete with that,” said Gordon. “We have to compete at a higher level with a better equipped and skilled workforce than that of our global counterparts – and we do that by focusing on science, education and innovation.”
“I’m confident that the same enthusiasm and coordinated effort that led to the passage of the America COMPETES Act last year, will bring this debate to fruition,” added Gordon. “As Chairman of the House Science and Technology Committee and the father of a 6-year old daughter, I understand we cannot allow our children to become the first American generation to inherit a lower standard of living than their parents. Ensuring our kids have the best education and jobs available to them is a challenge all of us must undertake.”
The landmark America COMPETES Act (H.R. 2272) was signed into law in August. The bill, which will help secure the U.S.’s ability to compete in the global marketplace, was steered through Congress by Chairman Gordon and bi-partisan Congressional leaders based upon the recommendations of the National Academies’ 2005 report, “Rising Above the Gathering Storm.”
Among the report’s findings were that 68 percent of eighth graders received math instruction from a teacher with no degree or certification in math; and 93 percent of children in grades five through nine received physical science instruction from a teacher with no degree or certification in the field. The report also found that less than a third of 4th and 8th grade students are proficient in math.
“The COMPETES legislation was a great step forward for U.S. efforts in science, technology, innovation and education – and it will yield results. But the debate on science and technology in this country must grow to be part of a national discussion on our future – and a presidential debate on the subject would put it front and center,” concluded Gordon.
For more information on the Committee’s efforts on innovation or on H.R. 2272, please visit the Committee’s website.
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