02.12.20

President Signs Hoeven-Cosponsored Legislation to Boost STEM Career Opportunities for Veterans

Senator Joins President at White House for Bill Signing

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven this week joined President Trump at the White House for the signing of the Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act. This bipartisan legislation, which Hoeven cosponsored, will help veterans re-enter the workforce by making them eligible for National Science Foundation (NSF) programs that will help them pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. The bill also directs the NSF to develop a plan to enhance outreach to veterans and establishes an interagency working group to better coordinate federal programs for transitioning and training veterans and military spouses for STEM careers.

“Technology continues to grow as a driver of the economy, and our legislation will better enable veterans to take advantage of the opportunities in STEM fields and be prepared for the jobs of the future,” said Hoeven. “This is about giving veterans better job prospects as they enter the civilian workforce and maintaining our nation’s competitive edge in technology development.”

Hoeven has worked since his time as governor to establish North Dakota as a hub of technology entrepreneurship. To this end, the senator has supported greater access to STEM education, and the bill signed into law this week builds on his recent efforts, which include:

  • Cosponsoring legislation that was signed into law last year to expand NSF STEM initiatives for young children and increase their interest in these fields at an earlier age.
  • Securing strong funding for the federal Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) programs to help ensure adequate support for student and faculty research at universities like NDSU and UND.
  • Advancing legislation to promote college affordability, including the Employer Participation in Repayment Act and the Jumpstart Our Businesses by Supporting Students (JOBS) Act, both of which he cosponsored. 

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