On Tuesday, March 22, 2016, the House will consider H.R. 4755, the Inspiring the Next Space Pioneers, Innovators, Researchers, and Explorers (INSPIRE) Women Act, under suspension of the rules. H.R. 4755 was introduced on March 16, 2016, by Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA) and was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
H.R. 4755 requires NASA to develop a plan for facilitating and supporting retired astronauts, scientists, engineers, and innovators to engage with K-12 female STEM students in an attempt to inspire young women to consider participating in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and to pursue careers in aerospace.
NASA GIRLS and NASA BOYS are virtual mentoring programs using commercially available video chat programs to pair NASA mentors with young students anywhere in the country. NASA GIRLS and NASA BOYS gives young students the opportunity to interact and learn from real engineers, scientists, and technologists.[1]
Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) jobs are generally believed to be crucial to America’s innovative capacity and global competitiveness. Yet women are vastly underrepresented in STEM, holding less than 25 percent of the nation’s STEM jobs, despite making up nearly half of the U.S. workforce and half of the college-educated workforce.[2] H.R. 4755 requires NASA to develop a plan to engage with young women in an attempt to inspire them to consider participating in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and to pursue careers in aerospace.
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[1] See NASA Website, About NASA GIRLS and BOYS
[2] See Department of Commerce Report, Women in STEM: A Gender Gap to Innovation
A Congressional Budget Office (CBO) cost estimate is currently not available.
For questions or further information please contact John Huston with the House Republican Policy Committee by email or at 6-5539.
