Rep. Napolitano Visits Los Altos Academy, Calls for Increased Math and Science Funding

(Washington D.C.)- On Saturday, May 8, Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano visited the students of the Los Altos Academy of Engineering at their fifth annual open house to view their technical accomplishments and discuss the America COMPETES Act, which increases federal investment in math and science education.

The students displayed several clean energy transportation projects, including a hydrogen internal combustion engine that burns hydrogen instead of gasoline, an electric car, the first hydrogen fuel cell built by high school students, and a solar-powered vehicle that raced across Australia in the World Solar Challenge.

“I commend these young men and women for their remarkable achievements,” Napolitano said. “Too often positive news about our students goes unnoticed and we do not realize how proud we should be. The clean energy research done by these young scientists and engineers is the kind of innovation that will keep our country competitive in the twenty-first century. It is critical that we continue to support science education locally and at the federal level – just look at what our kids can accomplish with the proper support.”

Napolitano pointed to the America COMPETES Act HR 5116 as a key piece of legislation for supporting future innovation. The America COMPETES Act increases national investment in scientific research and in math and science education at all levels, including doubling funding for basic scientific research over the next ten years. Roughly half of GDP growth since World War II has been related to the development and adoption of new technology, and the bill aims to boost U.S. competitiveness and economic strength by laying a foundation for future scientific discoveries. The bill is scheduled to come to a vote tomorrow in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“What these students have accomplished is a sign of what our country can achieve in the future,” Napolitano said. “America has been at the forefront of every major technological innovation of the last one hundred years, and with continued investment and the intelligence of our young people there is no reason why we cannot continue to lead for the next one hundred years.”

LINK: More information on America COMPETES Act
https://science.house.gov/

(###)