Rosen Holds Virtual Roundtable with STEM Business Leaders

LAS VEGAS, NV – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, held a roundtable with small business owners from Nevada to discuss the growing STEM workforce.

“It’s no secret that this pandemic has taken a toll on Nevada, and in particular, our economy, small businesses, and workforce have felt the impact,” said Senator Rosen. “As we work through this pandemic, I’ve made it my priority to protect Nevadans and support our small businesses by introducing bills to help increase our STEM workforce and prepare underrepresented communities for successful careers in STEM. I will continue working in Congress to find solutions that will expand and protect our growing STEM workforce in Nevada and throughout the country.”

BACKGROUND: In September, Senator Rosen introduced the STEM Restoring Employment Skills through Targeted Assistance, Re-entry, and Training (RESTART) Act, bipartisan legislation that would provide funding to small and medium-sized STEM businesses to offer robust, paid, mid-career internships, known as “returnships” for mid-career workers seeking to return or transition into the STEM workforce.

In June, Senator Rosen also introduced the PROMOTES Act of 2020, bicameral and bipartisan legislation that would authorize the Secretary of Defense to carry out a program to enhance the preparation of high school students in JROTC for military and civilian careers in all STEM fields, including computer science and cybersecurity.

In July, Senator Rosen also co-sponsored the PROTECT Act, bipartisan legislation to codify and strengthen CISA’s Cybersecurity Education and Training Assistance Program (CETAP).

Last year, Senator Rosen introduced the Building Blocks of STEM Act, bipartisan legislation to create and expand STEM education initiatives at the National Science Foundation (NSF) for young children, including new research grants to increase the participation of girls in computer science. This bill was signed into law in December 2019. 

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