WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, released the following statement applauding the advancement of the bipartisan Rural STEM Education Act, Advanced Technological Manufacturing Act, and parts of the Advanced Manufacturing Jobs in America Act, Rosen-led and co-led bills which are all now one step closer to becoming law after passing as amendments she filed to the Endless Frontier Act (S.1260), which was voted out of the committee. Now the bipartisan Endless Frontier Act heads to the Senate floor for a vote.
“I’m proud to see that three bipartisan bills I’ve worked on and supported have been included as amendments to the Endless Frontier Act,” said Senator Rosen. “My bipartisan amendments will strengthen this comprehensive legislation to enhance American competitiveness by promoting high-quality STEM education in rural communities, establishing pilot programs to expand the number of colleges that can successfully compete for federal grants, and supporting worker education, training, development, and entrepreneurship in advanced manufacturing. I look forward to seeing this bipartisan legislation swiftly brought up for a vote on the Senate floor.”
BACKGROUND: The bipartisan Endless Frontier Act would expand the National Science Foundation (NSF) with the establishment of a new Technology and Innovation Directorate within NSF to advance research and development in 10 key technology focus areas, including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum computing, advanced communications, biotechnology, and advanced energy.
The Rosen-co-led the Rural STEM Education Act, bipartisan legislation Senator Rosen introduced with Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) would direct the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support rural STEM education and workforce development through grants for research on teaching STEM in rural schools, barriers rural students face in accessing STEM education, and solutions to improve the participation of rural pre-K-12 students in STEM. The Senate Commerce Committee unanimously adopted a bipartisan Wicker-Rosen Amendment including the text of this legislation.
The bipartisan Advanced Manufacturing Jobs in America Act was originally introduced by Rosen in January 2020 and reintroduced in January 2021. The Rosen-Blackburn amendment adopted by the Commerce Committee was based on the bipartisan bill and will allow for grants for worker education, training, development, and entrepreneurship in advanced manufacturing.
The Rosen-co-sponsored bipartisan Advanced Technological Manufacturing Act, would reauthorize and modernize the National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program, which is focused on improving the education of the skilled technical workforce by supporting partnerships between industry and community colleges, curriculum development, apprenticeships, professional development for faculty, the development of career pathways, and research on effective STEM distance learning. The Senate Commerce Committee unanimously adopted a bipartisan Wicker-Rosen Amendment including the core provisions of this legislation
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