Expressing support for the goals and ideals of the inaugural USA Science & Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C., and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer a resolution to support the inaugural USA Science and Engineering Festival to be held here in Washington, D.C., and, more importantly, to be held in 49 other locations across this country between October 10 and October 24. I say ``more importantly'' because of the fact that sometimes those of us in Washington forget that we are the capital of the Nation, but we are not the Nation. The foundation of this concept of our Federal republic is to make sure that we represent those communities out throughout this Nation, not just here in D.C.

This festival is actually going to be centered here in D.C. and in 49 other locations, and I think it is one of those bipartisan efforts that I would like to thank my colleagues for, those such as Chairman Gordon, Pete Olson of Texas, Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Brian Baird of Washington, two colleagues from Washington.

This is a unique opportunity for thousands of Americans to learn more about science and engineering from exhibits, participation, demonstrations, performances and discussions.

For those of us in San Diego who firsthand witnessed the wonderful event we had in 2009, the inaugural event of the San Diego Science and Energy Festival that attracted over a half-million participants, we are really kind of excited for the rest of the Nation to experience this.

Our Nation finds itself in the midst of a terrible economic recession, a crisis that is one that has been growing for generations, not one that was just spurred in the recent past. One of the key answers to pulling ourselves out of this economic trouble is to activate those entrepreneurial spirits in the scientific research that has always led America on the cutting edge of technology, and of economic and social prosperity.

Our Nation needs this kind of stimulus. Frankly, I think the USA Science and Engineering Festival is a great opportunity and can help the private sector work with the public sector. In fact, I think the latest I saw was that there were millions of dollars being put into this by the private sector because they see how important this investment of not just money, but of minds and creativity is going to be for all of us.

Madam Speaker, I think that we can recognize that though we have been successful in the past, only if we recognize that science, math, technology is going to be essential for a prosperous future, I think that we can look at each other and say maybe we need to spend more time focusing on those things that we have taken for granted for much too long.

I am happy to say I think culturally America is waking up to the fact that science is cool, that science is a neat thing to be involved with. In fact, I think that those of us who remember when the chairman and I were growing up, the great heroes of law enforcement were Joe Friday and the cops carrying the badge, who are still the heroes, but now our young people are learning it is the scientists who can find that little particle that leads to the answers. And every day, every night we can always turn on the television now, and we don't just see the strong cop on the beat, we see the scientists in the laboratory being our heroes.

Hopefully this will help to continue to grow the culture that being smart is cool, being a scientist is something to aspire to be. And maybe in our own little way, in our small way by supporting this festival, we can cultivate those minds and that creativity out there and maybe we will see the future Alexander Graham Bells, the Thomas Edisons, the Robert Fultons and many other great Americans who have been able to create the America we know today and the world we see around us that too often we take for granted that science and technology made it all possible.

With this event, maybe we will be able to remind all of us how lucky we are to be in America, where freedom of mind goes along with freedom of spirit.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1660) expressing support for the goals and ideals of the inaugural USA Science and Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C., and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 1660, the resolution now under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 1660, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of the inaugural USA Science and Engineering Festival. I want to congratulate the gentleman

from California (Mr. Bilbray) for introducing this resolution.

A number of much-publicized studies have shown that the mathematics and science achievement of American students is poor by international standards. This is a dark cloud over the future of American competitiveness. Without high-achieving math and science students today, we won't have the innovative scientists, engineers and technologists for tomorrow.

As you know, the House recently passed the America COMPETES Act reauthorization, which seeks to improve STEM education at all levels, not only so that our Nation will produce the world's leading scientists and engineers, but also so that all students, high school, and junior college students will have a strong background in math and science.

The USA Science and Engineering Festival, which is taking place in October on the National Mall and in satellite locations across the country, is a collaboration of hundreds of science and engineering companies, professional associations, colleges and universities, K-12 schools, and other organizations, all with the goal to recruit the next generation of scientists and engineers by inspiring students and showing them how science intersects daily with their lives. The culmination of the festival will be a free 2-day expo on the National Mall and will feature over 1,500 interactive science activities.

Once again I want to commend Mr. Bilbray and his cosponsors for introducing this resolution, and urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the goals and ideals of the inaugural USA Science and Engineering Festival.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I once again thank my friend from San Diego for an excellent resolution and also for the good constructive role he plays on our Science and Technology Committee.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1660, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I, of course, rise in support of H. Res. 1660, supporting the goals and ideals of the USA Science and Engineering Festival taking place on the National Mall and at satellite events around the country.

This inaugural national event on October 23 and 24 is intended to celebrate science and raise awareness of the importance of science, technology, engineering, and math education in the United States. STEM education is a crucial component to our Nation's growth and well-being. Advances in the science and engineering fields not only have made our lives significantly better but also have had a global impact as well.

The USA Science and Engineering Festival will have over 1,500 free hands-on activities and shows for all ages featuring some of the most talented and experienced specialists in the science and engineering fields. This festival aims to reinvigorate the interests of our Nation's youth in STEM by producing and presenting the most compelling, exciting, educational, and entertaining science gatherings in the United States.

Inspiring our children to become more interested in the STEM fields and in careers through endeavors such as this is the key to unlocking our future economic and innovative potential and success. Over 100 members of Congress have joined to support the efforts of this festival in a bipartisan fashion.

I am pleased to support the USA Science and Engineering Festival, and I encourage my colleagues to join me in this support.

At this time I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Bilbray).

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.