Issue Position: Education - Improving American Competitiveness in the Global Marketplace

Issue Position

As the marketplace become increasingly global, American students are competing worldwide for not only the top jobs, but to keep the United States on the cutting edge of science and technology. Unfortunately recent trends have shown that American students are falling behind in test scores in core subjects like math and sciences, as well as strategic subjects like foreign languages. While we must work to improve the basics, cutting schools programs like arts and music stymies the innovation and creativity that has traditionally spurred the entrepreneurial spirit that has made the United States a global leader.

Congressman Blumenauer is the lead sponsor for the bipartisan bill, H.R. 3637, the "Higher Education Sustainability Act of 2007" aimed at keeping American students on the cutting edge of the green industry. The bill establishes a competitive grant program to fund 25 "Sustainability Education Centers' at colleges and universities across the country. The centers will play a pivotal role in educating current and future leaders in business and government about the linked environmental, economic, and social challenges facing the nation today. This knowledge will help businesses and government more fully embrace sustainability as a way to improve productivity, profits and our future. The legislation has 24 bi-partisan co-sponsor and dozens of endorsers from both the business and education community, and has a counterpart bill currently in the Senate. The Congressman has consistently supported initiatives to increase student competitiveness in areas such as math, science and foreign languages.

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