[Pages H7664-H7669]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

COMMISSION ON THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN SCIENCE,
ENGINEERING, AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ACT

Mr. FAWELL. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3007) to establish the Commission on the Advancement of
Women in Science, Engineering, and Technology Development, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:

H.R. 3007

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Commission on the
Advancement of Women and Minorities in Science, Engineering,
and Technology Development Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds the following:
(1) According to the National Science Foundation's 1996
report, Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in
Science and Engineering--
(A) women have historically been underrepresented in
scientific and engineering occupations, and although progress
has been made over the last several decades, there is still
room for improvement;
(B) female and minority students take fewer high-level
mathematics and science courses in high school;
(C) female students earn fewer bachelors, masters, and
doctoral degrees in science and engineering;
(D) among recent bachelors of science and bachelors of
engineering graduates, women are less likely to be in the
labor force, to be employed full-time, and to be employed in
their field than are men;
(E) among doctoral scientists and engineers, women are far
more likely to be employed at 2-year institutions, are far
less likely to be employed in research universities, and are
much more likely to teach part-time;
(F) among university full-time faculty, women are less
likely to chair departments or hold high-ranked positions;
(G) a substantial salary gap exists between men and women
with doctorates in science and engineering;
(H) Blacks, Hispanics, and Native Americans continue to be
seriously underrepresented in graduate science and
engineering programs; and
(I) Blacks, Hispanics, and Native Americans as a group are
23 percent of the population of the United States, but only 6
percent are scientists or engineers.
(2) According to the National Research Council's 1995
report, Women Scientists and Engineers Employed in Industry:
Why So Few?--
(A) limited access is the first hurdle faced by women
seeking industrial jobs in science and engineering, and while
progress has been made in recent years, common recruitment
and hiring practices that make extensive use of traditional
networks often overlook the available pool of women;
(B) once on the job, many women find paternalism, sexual
harassment, allegations of reverse discrimination, different
standards for judging the work of men and women, lower salary
relative to their male peers, inequitable job assignments,
and other aspects of a male-oriented culture that are hostile
to women; and
(C) women to a greater extent than men find limited
opportunities for advancement, particularly for moving into
management positions, and the number of women who have
achieved the top levels in corporations is much lower than
would be expected, based on the pipeline model.
(3) The establishment of a commission to examine issues
raised by the findings of these 2 reports would help--
(A) to focus attention on the importance of eliminating
artificial barriers to the recruitment, retention, and
advancement of women and minorities in the fields of science,
engineering, and technology, and in all employment sectors of
the United States;
(B) to promote work force diversity;
(C) to sensitize employers to the need to recruit and
retain women and minority scientists, engineers, and computer
specialists; and
(D) to encourage the replication of successful recruitment
and retention programs by universities, corporations, and
Federal agencies having difficulties in employing women or
minorities in the fields of science, engineering, and
technology.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.

There is established a commission to be known as the
``Commission on the Advancement of Women and Minorities in
Science, Engineering, and Technology Development'' (in this
Act referred to as the ``Commission'').

SEC. 4. DUTY OF THE COMMISSION.

The Commission shall review available research, and, if
determined necessary by the Commission, conduct additional
research to--
(1) identify the number of women, minorities, and
individuals with disabilities in the United States in
specific types of occupations in science, engineering, and
technology development;
(2) examine the preparedness of women, minorities, and
individuals with disabilities to--
(A) pursue careers in science, engineering, and technology
development; and
(B) advance to positions of greater responsibility within
academia, industry, and government;

[[Page H7665]]

(3) describe the practices and policies of employers and
labor unions relating to the recruitment, retention, and
advancement of women, minorities, and individuals with
disabilities in the fields of science, engineering, and
technology development;
(4) identify the opportunities for, and artificial barriers
to, the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women,
minorities, and individuals with disabilities in the fields
of science, engineering, and technology development in
academia, industry, and government;
(5) compile a synthesis of available research on lawful
practices, policies, and programs that have successfully led
to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women,
minorities, and individuals with disabilities in science,
engineering, and technology development;
(6) issue recommendations with respect to lawful policies
that government (including Congress and appropriate Federal
agencies), academia, and private industry can follow
regarding the recruitment, retention, and advancement of
women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities in
science, engineering, and technology development;
(7) identify the disincentives for women, minorities, and
individuals with disabilities to continue graduate education
in the fields of engineering, physics, and computer science;
(8) identify university undergraduate programs that are
successful in retaining women, minorities, and individuals
with disabilities in the fields of science, engineering, and
technology development;
(9) identify the disincentives that lead to a
disproportionate number of women, minorities, and individuals
with disabilities leaving the fields of science, engineering,
and technology development before completing their
undergraduate education;
(10) assess the extent to which the recommendations of the
Task Force on Women, Minorities, and the Handicapped in
Science and Technology established under section 8 of the
National Science Foundation Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
1987 (Public Law 99-383; 42 U.S.C. 1885a note) have been
implemented;
(11) compile a list of all Federally funded reports on the
subjects of encouraging women, minorities, and individuals
with disabilities to enter the fields of science and
engineering and retaining women, minorities, and individuals
with disabilities in the science and engineering workforce
that have been issued since the date that the Task Force
described in paragraph (10) submitted its report to Congress;
(12) assess the extent to which the recommendations
contained in the reports described in paragraph (11) have
been implemented; and
(13) evaluate the benefits of family-friendly policies in
order to assist recruiting, retaining, and advancing women in
the fields of science, engineering, and technology such as
the benefits or disadvantages of the Family and Medical Leave
Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. 2001 et seq.).

SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP.

(a) Number and Appointment.--The Commission shall be
composed of 11 members as follows:
(1) 1 member appointed by the President from among for-
profit entities that hire individuals in the fields of
engineering, science, or technology development.
(2) 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of
Representatives from among such entities.
(3) 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the House
of Representatives from among such entities.
(4) 2 members appointed by the majority leader of the
Senate from among such entities.
(5) 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the Senate
from among such entities.
(6) 2 members appointed by the Chairman of the National
Governors Association from among individuals in education or
academia in the fields of life science, physical science, or
engineering.
(7) 2 members appointed by the Vice Chairman of the
National Governors Association from among such individuals.
(b) Initial Appointments.--Initial appointments shall be
made under subsection (a) not later than 90 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
(c) Terms.--
(1) In general.--Each member shall be appointed for the
life of the Commission.
(2) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled
in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
(d) Pay of Members.--Members shall not be paid by reason of
their service on the Commission.
(e) Travel Expenses.--Each member shall receive travel
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in
accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United
States Code.
(f) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
(g) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the Commission shall
be elected by the members.
(h) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet not fewer than 5
times in connection with and pending the completion of the
report described in section 8. The Commission shall hold
additional meetings for such purpose if the Chairperson or a
majority of the members of the Commission requests the
additional meetings in writing.
(i) Employment Status.--Members of the Commission shall not
be deemed to be employees of the Federal Government by reason
of their work on the Commission except for the purposes of--
(1) the tort claims provisions of chapter 171 of title 28,
United States Code; and
(2) subchapter I of chapter 81 of title 5, United States
Code, relating to compensation for work injuries.

SEC. 6. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF COMMISSION; EXPERTS AND
CONSULTANTS.

(a) Director.--The Commission shall appoint a Director who
shall be paid at a rate not to exceed the maximum annual rate
of basic pay payable under section 5376 of title 5, United
States Code.
(b) Staff.--The Commission may appoint and fix the pay of
additional personnel as the Commission considers appropriate.
(c) Applicability of Certain Civil Service Laws.--The
Director and staff of the Commission may be appointed without
regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code,
governing appointments in the competitive service, and may be
paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and
subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating to
classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that an
individual so appointed may not receive pay in excess of the
maximum annual rate of basic pay payable under section 5376
of title 5, United States Code.
(d) Experts and Consultants.--The Commission may procure
temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of
title 5, United States Code, at rates for individuals not to
exceed the maximum annual rate of basic pay payable under
section 5376 of title 5, United States Code.
(e) Staff of Federal Agencies.--Upon request of the
Commission, the Director of the National Science Foundation
or the head of any other Federal department or agency may
detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of that
department or agency to the Commission to assist it in
carrying out its duties under this Act.

SEC. 7. POWERS OF COMMISSION.

(a) Hearings and Sessions.--The Commission may, for the
purpose of carrying out this Act, hold hearings, sit and act
at times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence as
the Commission considers appropriate. The Commission may
administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing
before it.
(b) Powers of Members and Agents.--Any member or agent of
the Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take any
action which the Commission is authorized to take by this
section.
(c) Obtaining Official Data.--The Commission may secure
directly from any department or agency of the United States
information necessary to enable it to carry out this Act.
Upon request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head
of that department or agency shall furnish that information
to the Commission.
(d) Mails.--The Commission may use the United States mails
in the same manner and under the same conditions as other
departments and agencies of the United States.
(e) Administrative Support Services.--Upon the request of
the Commission, the Administrator of General Services shall
provide to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, the
administrative support services necessary for the Commission
to carry out its responsibilities under this Act.
(f) Contract Authority.--To the extent provided in advance
in appropriations Acts, the Commission may contract with and
compensate government and private agencies or persons for the
purpose of conducting research or surveys necessary to enable
the Commission to carry out its duties under this Act.

SEC. 8. REPORT.

Not later than 1 year after the date on which the initial
appointments under section 5(a) are completed, the Commission
shall submit to the President, the Congress, and the highest
executive official of each State, a written report containing
the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the
Commission resulting from the study conducted under section
4.

SEC. 9. CONSTRUCTION; USE OF INFORMATION OBTAINED.

(a) In General.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to
require any non-Federal entity (such as a business, college
or university, foundation, or research organization) to
provide information to the Commission concerning such
entity's personnel policies, including salaries and benefits,
promotion criteria, and affirmative action plans.
(b) Use of Information Obtained.--No information obtained
from any entity by the Commission may be used in connection
with any employment related litigation.

SEC. 10. TERMINATION; ACCESS TO INFORMATION.

(a) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate 30 days
after submitting the report required by section 8.
(b) Access to Information.--On or before the date of the
termination of the Commission under subsection (a), the
Commission shall provide to the National Science Foundation
the information gathered by the Commission in the process of
carrying out its duties under this Act. The National Science
Foundation shall act as a central repository for such
information and shall make such information available to the
public, including making such information available through
the Internet.

[[Page H7666]]

SEC. 11. REVIEW OF INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE NATIONAL
SCIENCE FOUNDATION AND OTHER AGENCIES.

(a) Provision of Information.--At the request of the
Commission, the National Science Foundation and any other
Federal department or agency shall provide to the Commission
any information determined necessary by the Commission to
carry out its duties under this Act, including--
(1) data on academic degrees awarded to women, minorities,
and individuals with disabilities in science, engineering,
and technology development, and workforce representation and
the retention of women, minorities, individuals with
disabilities in the fields of science, engineering, and
technology development; and
(2) information gathered by the National Science Foundation
in the process of compiling its biennial report on Women,
Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and
Engineering.
(b) Review of Information.--The Commission shall review any
information provided under subsection (a) and shall include
in the report required under section 8--
(1) recommendations on how to correct any deficiencies in
the collection of the types of information described in that
subsection, and in the analysis of such data, which might
impede the characterization of the factors which affect the
attraction and retention of women, minorities, and
individuals with disabilities in the fields of science,
engineering, and technology development; and
(2) an assessment of the biennial report of the National
Science Foundation on Women, Minorities, and Persons with
Disabilities in Science and Engineering, and recommendations
on how that report could be improved.

SEC. 12. DEFINITION OF STATE.

In this Act, the term ``State'' includes the several
States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands,
American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and any other
territory or possession of the United States.

SEC. 13. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
Act--
(1) $400,000 for fiscal year 1999; and
(2) $400,000 for fiscal year 2000.

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Smith of New Jersey). Pursuant to the
rule, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Fawell) and the gentlewoman from
Hawaii (Mrs. Mink) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Fawell).
Mr. FAWELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the
gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella).
Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3007,
which is the Commission on the Advancement of Women in Science,
Engineering and Technology Development Act. I would like to call it the
Wise Tech Act. As my colleagues know, I introduced H.R. 3007 on
November 9 of last year.
I think it is fitting that we are considering H.R. 3007 under
suspension of the rules today. I have been reading with great interest
recent news articles regarding the push by high-tech industries for
Congress to approve a temporary increase in the number of H-1B
immigration visas for foreign technology workers. It is my
understanding that we will likely consider legislation later this week
to do just that. I think it is only appropriate, then, that we also
pass legislation this week which will focus on what we can do to make
sure American workers are prepared to fill these high-tech jobs.
Over the last decade, the use of technology has transformed almost
every sector of our Nation's economy, ranging from transportation and
health care to manufacturing and education. In manufacturing alone,
high-tech industries now employ close to 1.9 million workers, making
them the largest manufacturing employer in the United States. In
addition, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has predicted that the demand
for highly skilled workers in computer and data processing will more
than double over the next 10 years.
Mr. Speaker, I have been working over the past few years to help
ensure that American workers have the high-tech skills they need to be
successful in the job market that is increasingly dependent upon
technological expertise. For example, last spring I had the pleasure of
participating in the first Regional Town Hall Meeting on the National
Technology Workforce, which was convened in Montgomery County,
Maryland. Through those town hall meetings, we hope to bring attention
to the issue of preparing our workforce for the 21st century.
Ensuring our workforce is prepared to meet the technology challenges
of the future is not only important to me, because I want to ensure the
I-270 corridor in my district maintains its technological preeminence,
but it is also important from a national perspective. Technology will
continue to be the driving force behind a strong economy in the 21st
century. We need to make sure that our Nation has a workforce that is
capable of meeting the needs of the 21st century economy. Today, as
high-tech companies are scrambling to fill jobs, a vast portion of the
U.S. labor pool remains underutilized.
Women represent roughly 50 percent of all U.S. workers, but make up
only 22 percent of the entire science and engineering workforce.
Determining why so few women enter the fields of science, engineering
and technology development is a priority. Understanding and addressing
such issues could dramatically increase the labor pool available to
high-tech companies.
Yes, progress has been made over the last decade in integrating women
into the scientific and engineering fields. This has been true in the
academic arena and the workforce. The percentage of medical degrees
earned by women rose from 8 percent to 38 percent between 1970 and
1993. Even more impressive, according to the Engineering Workforce
Commission of the American Association of Engineering Societies, the
percentage of Ph.D.s in engineering has increased from 0.4 percent in
1970 to 12.2 percent in 1997. But while such increases are impressive,
in the case of engineering a 3,000 percent increase in just under 30
years, overall, the numbers are still low. As an example, there are
only 8.9 percent of women in electronic engineering, whereas we have
about 11.4 percent of women in the clergy. Kind of unusual.
That is also why I have introduced H.R. 3007. We need to figure out
why women are entering in, and more importantly, staying in, high-tech
professions at rates well below their male counterparts.
There have been various attempts in the past, both by the Federal
Government and private organizations, to address this issue. The
Federal Government in particular has done a good job of collecting
relevant information as far as how many women are pursuing science and
engineering degrees, and how many of these women ultimately end up
entering into the workforce in one of these disciplines. However, we
really have not done a very good job of taking the statistical data
that has been collected and interpreting it in a way that can be used
to develop solutions to the very real problem of the professions at
rates that are well below their male counterparts.
Earlier this year, the Subcommittee on Technology held a hearing on
H.R. 3007. All of our witnesses agreed that we need to do a better job
of coordinating these various attempts to address the issue of women in
science and develop a uniform analysis of the problem and provide
recommendations for dealing with it. Our witnesses felt that this bill
was an important part of that process.
I want to stress to my colleagues that the legislation requires a
commission to be comprised of individuals representing private sector
entities that employ scientists and engineers, as well as
representatives from education and academia, in the same fields. I
think that is important, because we want to make sure that the
recommendations that are put forth by the commission adequately reflect
the needs of the high-tech industries.
In addition, I want to acknowledge that H.R. 3007 was marked up by
the Committee on Education and the Workforce and my colleague, the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) pointed out that in addition to
women, minorities and people with disabilities are also significantly
underrepresented in all areas of science, engineering and technology
development. In fact, while blacks, Hispanics and Native Americans
combined represent about 23 percent of the population, only 6 percent
are scientists or engineers.
So as a result, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) offered an
amendment, which was accepted, to require the commission to also
examine ways that we can encourage minorities and people with
disabilities who are pursuing an education or career in science and
engineering, and I think it is appropriate that the commission

[[Page H7667]]

look into these issues as well and support efforts to ensure that all
Americans have a chance to excel as we make the shift from an
industrial age to an information age.
By addressing the problem now, countering the barriers which face
women, minority, and disabled scientists and engineers, we can help to
ensure that our labor force and the U.S. is ready to meet the
challenges of the 21st century.
I am pleased to report that H.R. 3007 was passed by the Committee on
Education and the Workforce, has been endorsed by the Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the IEEE-USA; the American
Association of Engineering Societies, the National Society of
Professional Engineers, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers,
the Association of Women and Science, and in addition, it has been
listed as one of the top 7 priorities for women by the Congressional
Caucus for women's issues of this session.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all of my colleagues for working
together in a bipartisan manner on this important legislation. In
particular, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), the
chairman of the Committee on Science; and the gentleman from California
(Mr. Brown), the ranking member of the Committee on Science; as well as
the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Technology, the gentleman
from Virginia (Mr. Boucher); and the vice chairman of the Subcommittee
on Technology, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Gutknecht), for their
support of H.R. 3007. Also, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr.
Goodling); the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay); the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Fawell); and the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Mrs. Mink), for
bringing this bill to the floor today.
I look forward to working with them and my Senate counterparts to
have this bill signed into law before the conclusion of the 105th
Congress. I urge all of my colleagues to pass this important measure. I
want to recognize some staff that have worked emphatically on this
particular bill. Sandy Zimmit in particular, Richard Russell and others
from the Committee on Science.
Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am delighted today to rise in support of H.R. 3007,
establishing a commission on the advancement of women in science,
engineering and technology development. The commission, to be comprised
of 11 members, would examine the barriers that women face in science,
engineering and technology, and present recommendations on how to
overcome such barriers.
I commend the author of this legislation, my colleague from Maryland
(Mrs. Morella), for her initiative and her tenacity in working on this
issue and her determination to help expand opportunities for women in
the fields of science, engineering and technology. We have worked
together on many initiatives, particularly in the area of educational
and employment opportunities for women. I am pleased to support her
legislation and pleased to represent the minority on the Committee on
Education and the Workforce who endorse this legislation.
The House approved this legislation several years ago, and I remember
having the privilege to manage that bill on the floor at that time. I
am pleased that we are working again on a continuation of this issue.
The commission, if created, will address an area critical to the
future success of women in our society. With the rapid increase of jobs
in the fields of science, engineering and technology, women must be
poised to assume a greater role in this employment arena. While we
debate the issue of whether we need to raise immigration limitations in
order to fill technology jobs, we should also be looking at ways to
fill these jobs with those who are currently underrepresented in that
industry, including women and minorities. We may be able to fulfill our
needs in this industry with our current population if they are probably
trained and encouraged to enter this field.
There is abundant evidence that girls and women face barriers in the
areas of science, engineering and technology. In some cases, these
barriers are at the most basic levels, including elementary and
secondary education. The 1992 report, ``How Schools Shortchange
Girls,'' published by the American Association of University Women,
cited several reports in which girls did not do as well as boys in math
and science tests and included evidence that girls were not encouraged
to pursue studies or careers in math and science.

{time} 1445

Even though girls did well in these subject areas, they were not
encouraged to pursue such studies.
Other issues that may deter women from these fields include sexual
harassment, employment discrimination, lack of opportunities for
postgraduate studies, difficulties in obtaining financial assistance,
lack of access to computers and other technology, and the lack of
active recruitment.
There are many complex issues involved, and I believe this commission
is needed to learn more about barriers that women face in science and
technology. We need sound policy recommendations to increase
opportunities for women in science, engineering, and technology.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3007.
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as she may consume to
the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).
Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Hawaii for
yielding to me.
Madam Speaker, I rise to strongly support H.R. 3007 and to thank and
congratulate the gentlewoman from Maryland for her hard work in
pressing this bill forward.
I rise also on behalf of the bipartisan Women's Caucus to express the
strong support of the women of Congress for this particular bill.
The Women's Caucus is 21 years old this year. When you get to be 21,
the Caucus decided that it is time to have your own must-pass agenda.
The Caucus chose seven bills, all of them consensus bills, and
presented those bills to the majority and minority leadership as bills
that we thought would make every Member of this body proud.
I am delighted that this is the third of those bills to pass. Women's
contraceptive choices for Federal employees has been one. It was not
the first. The first was Provisions of the Violence Against Women Act.
Tomorrow, Madam Speaker, the Mammography Quality Standards Act, another
of the bills that the Congressional Women's Caucus urged on this body,
will come to the floor.
I am pleased that the Commission on the Advancement of Women in
Science, Engineering, and Technology Development Act now includes also
minority and disabled people because this bill comes to the floor at a
most propitious time.
There are bills at this time to increase the number of technological
workers that would be imported from abroad because of a shortage that
all can see throughout the country of such workers. Some oppose those
bills because they want such jobs to go to our own workers.
At the same time, we must concede that the shortage is created by the
failure of our own workers to be prepared in sufficient numbers for
these jobs. So that in order to keep the jobs in this country, some
have come forward to say let us import workers for these jobs.
The gentlewoman has focused on one of the reasons for this dilemma in
looking to underutilize parts of our population. Women who are now
almost half of the work force are far less than half of those
represented in science and engineering, yet they come from the same
homes, the same backgrounds, the same communities.
We see similar disparities for minorities and disabled people. Surely
as we enter a period when technology is the overriding need of the work
force, we do not want to leave underrepresented people who would have
such skills to offer if they could only be uncovered. So we must begin
by finding out why and then finding out what can be done about this
dilemma.
This bill in my judgment uses the most efficient way to go at this
problem. It is a vehicle designed to find what the facts are and then
to get something done.
The commission consists of people from industry and from education.
Now those are the people directly responsible for filling this gap.
Important

[[Page H7668]]

fact finding will be an important part of the commission; how to
recruit and retain minorities and women and disabled people.
Such other matters, as what kinds of model programs are there in
education and in industry that are already successfully recruiting and
retaining minorities and women will, through this commission, be made
available to others throughout the country.
This is an innovative piece of legislation that will cost virtually
nothing but is likely to produce a great deal for our country. I am
pleased that this important bill has come to the floor at the request
of the Congressional Women's Caucus among others who recognize the
great good it can do. I once again congratulate the gentlewoman from
Maryland (Mrs. Morella) for her initiative.
Mr. FAWELL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 3 minutes.
Madam Speaker, I wish to commend the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs.
Morella) for her leadership in putting all of this legislation together
and being deeply concerned about the identifying factors that
contribute to the underrepresentation of women and minorities and
individuals with disabilities in science and technology, an area in
which I know the gentlewoman from Maryland has a vast background in. So
my congratulations to the gentlewoman from Maryland for being the
leading figure here to bring this legislation before us.
Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of this legislation, a bill to
establish the Commission on the Advancement of Women in Science,
Engineering and Technology Development Act.
The bill establishes an 11-member commission whose purpose would be
twofold, first to identify factors contributing to the
underrepresentation of women and minorities and individuals with
disabilities in the fields of science, engineering, and technology;
second, to identify both successful and unsuccessful university and
employment policies and practices used to recruit, to retain, and to
advance high-tech careers for women and minorities.
Within 1 year, the commission would be required to transmit to
Congress and the governors a report containing recommendations on how
Federal, State, and local governments, schools, universities, and
private industry can encourage women, minorities, and individuals with
disabilities to enter the fields of science, engineering, and
technology development.
The bill is reported out of both the Committee on Science and the
Committee on Education and the Work Force, made several streamlining
changes to the introduced bill in order to strengthen the commission.
In addition, this bill includes language to ensure that States are
active participants in the commission's selection process by allowing
the Chairman and the Vice Chairman of the National Governors
Association to appoint four of the 11 commission members.
The bill has been expanded to cover not only women but minorities and
individuals with disabilities as well, as I had previously indicated.
The bill, as altered, permits the President to select one member of the
commission and, in addition, allows the minority leaders of the House
and the Senate to each select one member of the commission.
This change will still only permit 11 individuals to sit on the
commission and should be noted that the Speaker of the House and the
Senate majority leader get to choose two members each.
Other than the aforementioned changes, this bill is identical to H.R.
3007 as reported out of the Committee on Science.
Finally, I am pleased to note that the bill has received the
endorsement of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers,
the National Society of Professional Engineers, Women in Technology,
and the Association of Women in Science.
I simply urge my colleagues support of this legislation.
Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Boehlert).
(Mr. BOEHLERT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. BOEHLERT. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding to me.
Madam Speaker, over the past dozen years, technology has reshaped the
face of our economy and our society. From transportation to health care
to manufacturing to education, all sectors have been transformed. We
can only expect that the dynamic growth in high technology industries
and the jobs that they will produce will continue well into the 21st
Century.
That is good news. But, unfortunately, while we have made significant
progress in recent years to bolster our high-tech work force by
integrating women and minorities and people with disabilities, their
numbers remain pathetically low.
For example, women represent nearly 50 percent of all U.S. workers
but they comprise only 22 percent of the entire science and engineering
workforce. We can and must do better.
In our increasingly technological society, education in science and
engineering is critically important. H.R. 3007 will help us identify
how best to bolster the enrollment of women, minority and people with
disabilities in science and engineering programs in our universities,
and how to boost and retain their numbers in our workforce.
This bill has been endorsed by the IEEE, the Institute of Electrical
and Electronics Engineers, the Association of Women in Science, the
National Society of Professional Engineers, the American Society of
Mechanical Engineers and the American Association of Engineering
Societies. These groups recognize that every sector of the population
must be represented in their industry. I strongly support this bill and
urge my fellow Members to support it as well. It is good for science,
good for the workforce and our economy and good for the future
technological vitality of America.
Finally, I thank the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella) for her
leadership, for providing the inspiration and the incentive to get this
bill moving. I would say to the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs.
Morella), the House, the Nation, owe you a debt of gratitude.
Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased that we are
considering today H.R. 3007, the Commission on the Advancement of Women
in Science, Engineering, and Technology Development Act, introduced by
Representative Morella, and of which I am proud to be co-sponsor. This
bill is essential to America's continued global competitiveness in
developing innovative science and technological advances.
With science and technology being kept components of our nation's
economic dominance in the world, we have to keep up in fostering and
mining the talents of all our children, both male and female. Since
females currently make up very few of our nation's scientists,
engineers, and technological innovators, we have a responsibility to
steer our businesses, colleges, and communities in a direction that
will encourage women to participate in each of these areas.
This legislation represents a critical, positive step towards
attracting more women to the study and pursuit of careers in science,
engineering, and technology. Fields which have historically been
dominated by men. It creates a Commission that will identify over a 1-
year period, the factors responsible for the relative lack of women
pursuing educations and careers in these disciplines. The Commission
will then transmit to Congress their findings and recommendations for
encouraging increased female participation in these fields.
I want to commend Mrs. Morella for her work on H.R. 3007 in the
Science Subcommittee on Technology as well as all of my colleagues on
the full Science Committee. This is a worthwhile bill that deserves the
support of every Member, and I encourage my colleagues on both sides of
the aisle to vote in favor of this legislation.
Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3007,
which would establish the Commission on the Advancement of Women and
Minorities in Science, Engineering, and Technology Development.
I applaud my good friend Congresswoman Morella for authoring this
important piece of legislation.
I also thank my colleague on the Committee on Education and the
Workforce for amending the legislation during markup to expand the
scope of the Commission to minorities.
Historically, women have been underrepresented in scientific
occupations.
Barriers to their pursuit of such careers are often found early in
their education, when encouragement to achieve in math and science is
much more prevalent for boys than for girls.
However, those women who do choose a career path in the sciences or
engineering also encounter obstacles later in life, when they
experience discrimination, harassment, lower salaries, and limited
opportunities for advancement as compared to their male counterparts.
Minorities face similar obstacles throughout their lives.

[[Page H7669]]

Although blacks, Hispanics and native Americans represent 23 percent
of the population, only 6 percent are scientists or engineers.
While the prospects for increasing the representation of women and
minorities in these fields are improving, much work still needs to be
done.
The Commission on the Advancement of Women and Minorities in Science,
Engineering, and Technology Development would focus attention on the
barriers to the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women and
minorities in the fields of science and engineering and issue
recommendations to break down these barriers and promote equal
opportunity.
Later this week, we will consider legislation to expand the H-1B
program, because high-tech employers are desperate for workers.
It is my contention that we should also be dedicating ourselves to
increasing, the opportunities for Americans to pursue these careers.
I believe that H.R. 3007 is an important step in this direction, and
I urge my colleagues to support its passage.
Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. FAWELL. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Fawell) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 3007, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to
establish the Commission on the Advancement of Women and Minorities in
Science, Engineering, and Technology Development.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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