Expressing support for Mathematics Awareness Month.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1270) expressing support for Mathematics Awareness Month.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 1270 into the Record.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1270, which recognizes the important role of mathematics in our schools and in our country.

Family members, as children's first teachers, are crucial to student success. The more adults become engaged in their children's education, the greater the chances that children will succeed. Parents teach children academic fundamentals by reading to them and by counting with them.

Mathematics Awareness Month provides a venue for students from kindergarten through high school and their families to celebrate and learn math. Institutes of higher education and professional organizations organize community events that highlight math problem- solving and how math is used in a variety of careers.

To succeed in tomorrow's world, students must understand algebra, geometry, statistics, and probability. Business and industry demand workers who can solve real-world problems, who can explain their thinking to others, who can identify and analyze trends from data, and who can use modern technology.

Our Nation's economic competitiveness depends upon rich math knowledge that can fuel industry by our citizenry. Tackling prominent social and health challenges will require professionals skilled in mathematics.

Mathematics Awareness Month began in 1986 as Mathematics Awareness Week, and it became a monthlong celebration in 1999. Math has been commemorated this way every April for almost 25 years.

The theme of this year's Mathematics Awareness Month is ``Sports.'' All over the country, students and their families can attend community events to learn about math in baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, track and field, tennis, and, actually, car racing. Additionally, the Mathematics Awareness Month Web site provides videos and links to other resources.

Mathematics Awareness Month also provides an opportunity for us all to recognize the dedication of our Nation's math educators and to purposefully look for ways to increase mathematical excellence for all of our children.

I commend the colleges, universities, and organizations which hold events to draw and retain students into the field of mathematics.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I express my support for Mathematics Awareness Month, and I hope this resolution

serves to inspire our Nation's citizenry to seek out events near them.

I want to thank Representative McMorris Rodgers for bringing this resolution to the floor, and I urge my colleagues to pass this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 1270, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Washington, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the sponsor of this bill.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, as a longtime advocate of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics--or STEM--education during my tenure here in Congress, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 1270, expressing support for Mathematics Awareness Month.

In our increasingly global and technology-based economy, math education has become even more important to ensuring our Nation's continued economic competitiveness. Learning math is financially beneficial for both our Nation's economy and for our students.

In 2010, the top 10 highest paying college majors were all related to math, science, and engineering. Unfortunately, recent National Association of Educational Progress--NAEP--test scores has shown little or no progress among our fourth and eighth grade students since 2007. Despite the best efforts of many, this data demonstrate that much more must be done to improve mathematics education and to demonstrate its relevance to our Nation's students.

That is why the Joint Policy Board of Mathematics has chosen the 2010 theme ``Mathematics and Sports'' for this year's Mathematics Awareness Month. It will highlight the intersection of the sports world with the wide world of mathematics, a universal language which is used to investigate questions ranging from the trajectory of a baseball to the weight of a star.

Sports offer a variety of data, strategies, and probabilities which are each uniquely suited to mathematical analysis. Beyond its obvious use in evaluating baseball players and football quarterbacks, mathematics is necessary to design the dimple patterns on golf balls and the composition of racing tires. Today's baseball and basketball teams are even utilizing complex, new mathematical formulas to assemble the best teams at the lowest cost. This sports theme will provide students with countless opportunities to apply a range of math skills on real-life issues they encounter every day.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support Mathematics Awareness Month, and I urge my colleagues to join me in encouraging all schools, colleges, universities, and other organizations to recognize the importance of mathematics in their own curricula.

Seeing that I have no further requests for time, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1270 to express support for Mathematics Awareness Month. This year, Mathematics Awareness Month will take place in April with the theme of ``Mathematics and Sports.'' Events and demonstrations will take place across the country and include a variety of workshops, exhibits, competitions, and lectures to both educate people and encourage the study of mathematics.

As our society becomes increasingly dependent on technology, professionals who have a deep understanding of math and science are going to be in high demand. For this reason it is imperative that we educate the coming generation to truly understand mathematics and how it can be applied to everyday life. Simply put, our economy is going to demand an understanding of mathematics, and it is imperative that we rise to the challenge and teach our young people the mathematics skills they need.

Mr. Speaker, throughout my years in Congress, I have been an avid supporter of mathematics, engineering, and other related fields. I fully believe that we have to hold mathematics education in higher regard as innovation is a direct byproduct of a deep understanding of this field. For this reason, Mathematics Awareness Month is incredibly important, and I encourage my fellow colleagues to join me today in supporting this resolution for both our students and the future of our country.

Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I missed the following recorded votes on the House floor the legislative week of Tuesday, April 20, 2010.

For Tuesday, April 20, 2010, had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote #212 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1257), ``aye'' on rollcall vote #213 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1271).

For Wednesday, April 21, 2010, had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote #214 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to S. 1963), ``aye'' on rollcall vote #215 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1104), ``aye'' on rollcall vote #216 (on 'notion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1216).

For Thursday, April 22, 2010, had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote #217 (on ordering the previous question to H. Res. 1287), ``aye'' on rollcall vote #218 (on motion to refer H. Res. 1287), ``aye'' on rollcall vote #219 (on motion to instruct Conferees to H.R. 2194), ``aye'' on rollcall vote #220 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1270).

Madam Speaker, on April 22, 2010, I regret that I was not present to vote on the Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Flake Privileged Resolution, the Motion to Refer the Flake Privileged Resolution, the Republican Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 2194, and H. Res. 1270.

Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on the Motion to Refer the Flake Privileged Resolution, and H. Res. 1270

I would have voted ``no'' on the Motion on Ordering the Previous Question on the Flake Privileged Resolution and the Republican Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 2194.