While our community is home to some of the best schools and colleges in the nation, it’s important to make sure that the next generation is given the tools it needs to succeed. That’s why Representative Ed Royce is a leader in promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education in our class rooms, as they will prepare young people for the jobs of the future. Especially when it comes to the STEM fields, our current educational infrastructure is not rising to meet the need. By 2020, there will be an estimated 1.4 million computing jobs, but only about 400,000 computer science graduates to fill those spots.
That’s why Representative Royce voted for the STEM Education Act which strengthens ongoing STEM education efforts at our federal science agencies and ensures that the subject of computer science is included in these efforts. This bill was signed into law with Representative Royce’s support.
Due to his interest in promoting in the subject, Representative Royce was also chosen to be the Co-Chair of the Congressional App Challenge. The Challenge is a nationwide contest that encourages local students to use STEM skills and build a mobile phone app from scratch.
Representative Royce has also tackled the rising cost of a college education and how to keep college affordable for California families. He authored the Simplifying the Application for Student Aid Act, legislation that would allow students to use family income data from two years prior to the date of the FAFSA application, instead of one year prior financials. Students can therefore apply for federal aid earlier in the college application process, and make more informed decisions about what they can afford. Representative Royce also voted yes on the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act of 2013 to avoid a hike in student loan interest rates.