WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced legislation this week to establish a “Congressional Science Competition” for high school students. The bill specifically allows Members of Congress to hold academic competitions in the sciences among high school students and is modeled on the current Congressional Arts Competition.
“At a time when American students lag in scientific achievement and technology jobs are being outsourced overseas, we need to take steps to help our students develop an interest in science,” said Rep. Schiff. “High school science competitions are often a young person’s first exposure to the wonderful world of science.”
Currently, Congressional offices are authorized to hold annual competitions for high school artists, however, House rules do not permit similar competitions in the sciences. Schiff’s legislation would follow the model of the very successful arts competition.
Under his bill, the House Science Committee would designate a theme for each year’s science competition. Members of Congress who chose to participate would encourage individual high school students to enter the competition with a project that best meets the spirit of that year’s theme.
The bill was introduced with the bipartisan support of Reps. Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), John Culberson (R-TX), Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), Tom Allen (D-ME), Rick Boucher (D-VA), Leonard Boswell (D-IA), Robert Brady (D-PA), Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), Joe Crowley (D-NY), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Phil English (R-PA), Lane Evans (D-IL), Sam Farr (D-CA), Bob Filner (D-CA), Raul Grijalva (D-TX), Ralph Hall (R-TX), Melissa Hart (R-PA), Alcee Hastings (D-FL), Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX), Holt, Jackson-Lee, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Kennedy, Kind, Lee, Zoe Lofgren ((D-CA), Ed Markey ((D-MA), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Michael McNulty (D-NY), Jose Serrano (D-NY), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Nick Smith (R-MI), Ellen Tauscher (D-CA), Tom Udall (D-NM), and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA).
“The Congressional Science Competition will stimulate scientific discovery among students in much the same way that the existing Arts Competition has encouraged artistic accomplishments,” said Schiff. “Congress has a clear interest in ensuring that America’s great scientific past and present continues into the future.”
Schiff has a long history of involvement in promoting science among young people. Each year, he hosts a Congressional Science Forum series in conjunction with Caltech to give students the chance to learn about educational and career opportunities in math and science from the personalized view of a scientist. The forums have spanned such subjects as physics, biology, chemistry, and math and lecturers have included Dr. Ed Stone, former Director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Dr. Lucy Jones, Scientist-in-Charge, U.S. Geological Survey, and Dr. Sally Ride, the first American woman in space.
Rep. Schiff represents California’s 29th Congressional District, including the communities of Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, East Pasadena, East San Gabriel, Glendale, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena and Temple City.