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Kaptur Amendment To Improve STEM Education Among Priorities Included in House Passed NDAA

December 11, 2019

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), voted to pass the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Included in the $738B funding bill are a number of Rep. Kaptur's priorities, including the Congresswoman's bipartisan effort to include the Coast Guard in a Department of Defense program to provide youth STEM education (STARBASE).

"Now more than ever the innovation capacity of the United States—our prosperity and security—depends on an effective and inclusive STEM education system and a ready workforce," said Rep. Kaptur. "Given the Coast Guard's mission of coastal defense and maritime law enforcement, daily activity relies significantly on STEM skills. What better way to expose America's young people to the opportunities of the Coast Guard's mission than increased partnership with America's youth. This legislation will improve Americans' STEM skills while creating a viable pipeline of intellectually prepared young people to serve in our nation's Coast Guard and innovation sector."

Rep. Kaptur looks to build upon her provision of the NDAA by advancing the separate Coast Guard Youth STEM Programs Expansion Act (H.R. 3205) to:

  • Allow the Coast Guard to coordinate with the Department of Education to establish programs to improve STEM knowledge and skills for elementary and secondary school students and faculty;
  • Allow the Coast Guard to cooperate and coordinate with the Department of Defense to establish programs to improve STEM knowledge and skills for elementary and secondary school students and faculty, particularly DOD's STARBASE Program; and
  • Allow the Coast Guard to expand beyond traditional STEM skills to focus on expertise particularly important to their own mission, including limnology, marine science, and oceanography.

Additional priorities reflected in the FY2020 NDAA include:

  • 12 weeks of paid parental leave for federal workers
  • A 3.1% military pay increase
  • Improvements to military healthcare
  • Repeals the military's "Widow's Tax."
  • $300 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, an increase of $50 million
  • Strict sanctions related to the Nord Stream 2/Turk Steam energy pipelines.
  • Improvements to nuclear oversight and strategic deterrence

kaptur.house.gov