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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 7381. Findings and purposes
(a) Findings
The Congress finds the following:
(1) Scientific, technical, and engineering competence is
essential to the Nation's future well-being.
(2) The scientific, technical, and engineering capability at
the Federal laboratories is unmatched throughout the world.
(3) Superb research, development, testing, and evaluation occur
in Department of Energy research and development facilities.
(4) Department of Energy research and development facilities
will play an increasing role in assuring that the United States
remains competitive in world markets.
(5) Improvements in mathematics, science, and engineering
education are needed desperately to provide the trained and
educated citizenry essential to the future competitiveness of the
United States.
(6) The future health and vitality of the economy of the United
States is predicated on the availability of an adequate supply of
scientists, mathematicians, and engineers to provide for growing
needs and to replenish the workforce.
(7) United States college and university enrollment in science,
mathematics, and engineering programs is sharply declining at
undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate levels.
(8) The Federal Government is the largest United States
employer of research scientists, mathematicians, and engineers,
and the Department of Energy has a growing need for scientists,
mathematicians, and engineers at a time when these enrollments
are declining.
(9) Women and minorities are grossly underrepresented in
science and mathematics fields, and this group represents more
than 80 percent of the projected increase in the national
workforce through the year 2000.
(b) Purposes
The purposes of this subchapter are -
(1) to encourage the development and implementation of science,
mathematics, and engineering education programs at the Department
of Energy and at its research and development facilities as part
of a national effort to improve science, mathematics, and
engineering education; and
(2) to provide more efficient coordination among science,
mathematics, and engineering education programs.
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