American Association of Engineering Societies

American Society of Agricultural Engineers

American Society of Civil Engineers

American Society of Mechanical Engineers International, Council on Education

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers- United States of America

International Technology Education Association

National Alliance of State Science and Mathematics Coalitions

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

National Society of Professional Engineers

National Science Teachers Association

Society of Automotive Engineers

The Junior Engineering Technical Society

The Triangle Coalition for Science and Technical Education

Tufts University, School of Engineering

The Honorable Joseph Lieberman
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Mr. Chairman:

The K-12 Science, Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology (SMET) Coalition commends you and Senators Frist, Mikulski, and Bond for introducing the "Tech Talent" bill, designed to increase the United States technically trained workforce. It is imperative to develop a highly skilled workforce to maintain our national security and foster future economic growth. We believe that the journey begins before college.

We are pleased that your legislation encourages universities to partner with community colleges, industry organizations, professional societies and local schools to pave the way for students of all ages and backgrounds to further their interests in science, mathematics, engineering and technology (SMET) coursework and career paths.

In October of this year, the deans of engineering and the deans of education from 50 universities met in concert to develop strategic collaborations to enhance K-12 teacher preparation in SMET and to invigorate engineering education to attract more students to these programs. Collaborations of this type can and should be proliferated across more universities and across all science, mathematic, engineering and technological disciplines.

This bill will help develop and implement innovative approaches to increasing enrollemtns and graduates in key SMET degrees, which is critical to our economy, our national security, and the future job prospects of our children. Providing incentives and rewards to institutions for increasing SMET enrollments and graduates is an excellent approach to jumpstart that process.

We applaud your dedication and foresight in protecting and enhancing America's future workforce.

If we can be of further assistance, please contact Patti Burgio at 202.785.7385 or Laura Kolton at 202.872.4384.