From the Office of Utah Congressman Jim Matheson

MATHESON NEWS
Second Congressional District

For Further Information
Alyson Heyrend: (801) 455-5593 (cell)
www.house.gov/matheson

March 29, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Matheson Supports Bill Giving Scholarships to Math, Science Teachers

Washington D.C.-Congressman Jim Matheson today supported a bill in committee to advance math and science education by increasing the ranks of highly-qualified science and math teachers in grades K-12.  Matheson is a member of the House Science and Technology Committee which today marked up H.R. 362-the "10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds" Science and Math Scholarship Act.

The bill enacts the top recommendation of the National Academies report on U.S. Competitiveness issued in 2005-improve education by investing in science and math teachers.

"We all know how inspiring an excellent teacher can be in our children's lives," said Matheson.  "This legislation helps encourage our best and brightest educators to become the math and science teachers that will encourage our kids to pursue those academic subjects, and careers."

Matheson noted that the National Academies' report-Rising Above the Gathering Storm-warned that without immediate action, the U.S. may not be able to maintain global leadership in innovation and education.

"To build a world-class science and technology workforce, we need a world-class math and science education system.  This legislation expands an existing scholarship program that helps universities recruit top education candidates for a math and science teaching career, improves teacher training in math and science and improves undergraduate education in these fields," said Matheson.

#  #  #

Alyson Heyrend
Communications Director
240 East Morris Ave. #235
South Salt Lake, UT 84115
(801) 486-1236 (phone)
(801) 455-5593 (cell)
(801) 486-1417 (fax)