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Silicon Valley Rep. helps to secure
$1billion in technology grants to improve
education
Washington DC - U.S. Congressman Mike Honda (D-San
Jose) announced that he has helped to secure $1 billion in a
bill passed today by the House Committee on Science &
Technology that authorizes the National Science Foundation
(NSF) to provide a number of grants, including funding that
will enable undergraduate and graduate students to assist
schools in using technology to improve math and science
curricula. The funding comes as part of the bipartisan
"National Mathematics and Science Partnerships Act" (H.R.
1858) which directs the NSF to establish partnerships with
government agencies, businesses and non-profit organizations
to increase academic performance of elementary and secondary
students in math and science. The bill now proceeds to the
House Floor for a vote.
"As a new member of the Science Committee, former teacher
Mike Honda has proven to be a valuable partner as the
Committee has worked on a bipartisan basis to improve the
nation's quality of education in our classrooms," said Science
Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY). "'The National
Mathematics and Science Partnerships Act' will ensure students
have the brightest, best prepared teachers and demonstrates
what can be accomplished when both sides work together."
"It is vitally important that all our classrooms and
schools have the benefit of 21st century technology- but in
order to make full use of these resources our teachers and
schools must be better trained and assisted," said Honda. "By
working closely with Chairman Boehlert and our Republican
colleagues, we have produced a balanced, bipartisan bill that
will provide needed federal funding to enable some of our
brightest young minds to help prepare our children with the
high tech skills they need to succeed in the Knowledge
Economy."
In addition to providing grants to bolster math and science
education, the National Mathematics and Science Partnerships
Act also contains a provision authored by Honda that would
encourage the development of energy curriculum in primary and
secondary schools. The Honda provision authorizes the use of
federal funds to create programs to educate students about how
electricity is generated, the importance of conservation and
the promise of renewable energies.
"It is my hope that, one day, every school in America will
offer students an energy curriculum that accurately reflects
the great energy demands our nation will face in the coming
years and the great promise of renewable energy sources that
are so critical to our future," said Honda. "By educating our
young people about energy today we empower them to be smarter
consumers when they purchase homes, cars and
dishwashers." | 
