Washington D.C. ---- 

        Madame Speaker, I rise to show my strong and enthusiastic support for H. R. 362 and H. R. 363. Both of these bills are extremely timely and worthwhile pieces of legislation that will provide much needed assistance to my constituents, and to the country as a whole.

        As we advance forward in this new century, it is of the utmost importance that we prepare our young people for the challenges that lay ahead. Addressing issues such as global climate change and making our nation more energy efficient require that we train our students to become the scientists, mathematicians, and engineers of the future.

        In the district that I represent, families are yearning for more schools that focus on math and science. Such curriculums offer greater opportunities to help prepare our students to attend college and graduate school in these areas and to secure jobs in the new millennium in the fields of bio-fuels, biotechnology, and bio-defense.

        I have personally been involved in trying to secure more funding to address these concerns and bring science and math-oriented schools into my district.

        Additionally, with the selection of Chicago as a potential host for the 2016 Olympics, our great city will need to fulfill the demand for more civil engineers, technicians, and architects. We will need to construct new buildings, roads, and stadiums, and we would like to utilize the limitless talent of Illinois’ most skilled and well trained mathematicians, scientists and engineers. 

        H.R. 362 and H.R. 363 will help address the needs of my community, as well as the many challenges that this great country faces. I urge all of my colleagues to support these bills, and with that I yield back my time.