ASME Cosponsors Fourth Annual STEM Capitol Hill Day

ASME Cosponsors Fourth Annual STEM Capitol Hill Day ASME Cosponsors Fourth Annual STEM Capitol Hill Day (Left to right) ASMEs Loretta McHugh, Melissa Carl, Julie Bachmann Kulik, and Eduardo Barrientos were among the more than 80 in attendance at the 2013 Capitol Hill Day last month. Last month, ASME co-sponsored the 2013 Diversity and Inclusion Fuels neuheit in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Capitol Hill Day, which was organized by the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). The event, now in its fourth year, differs from other science and technology advocacy days on Capitol Hill because it focuses solely on the need to strengthen the diversity of the STEM workforce. This years Capitol Hill Day events consisted of training for participants and a Capitol Hill reception on March 20, followed by a Capitol Hill breakfast and Congressional visits on March 21. The event was made possible by a grant from the S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation. SWE President Alyse Stofer (left) presented Phil Hamilton, former ASME Associate Executive Director of Strategy and Outreach, with the 2013 SWE Presidents Award. Hamilton, who retired from ASME in January, was recognized by SWE for his leadership and commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in STEM fields, and for his help in fostering an enduring partnership between ASME and SWE. SWE President Alyse Stofer served as the moderator for the forum, which attracted 84 participants, including three ASME leaders Loretta McHugh, member of the ASME Foundation Board and the Committee on Organization and Rules Julie Bachmann Kulik, chair of the Philadelphia Section and member of the Energy Committee and the Board on Research and Technology Development and Eduardo Barrientos, vice president elect, Affinity Communities. Kulik and Barrientos are also members of the ASME Diversity and Inclusion Strategy Committee. The instructional portion of the meeting included a training session focusing o n how to advocate successfully on Capitol Hill. This session featured an overview of current public policy issues related to women and STEM and a discussion of the current tight fiscal climate on Capitol Hill. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) discussed her new bill, the STEM Opportunities Act of 2013, during Capitol Hill Day. Several congressional and administration champions of STEM and diversity-related issues also received awards. These advocates included the Honorable Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), recipient of the 2008 SWE Presidents Award the Honorable Richard Hanna (R-NY) the Honorable Donna Edwards (D-MD) the Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) and the Honorable Patricia Falcone, associate director for National Security and International Affairs at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. At the reception, Rep. Johnson also announced the introduction of her new bill, the STEM Opportunities Act of 2013, which combines two bills that she h ad introduced in past Congresses, the Broadening Participation in STEM Education Act and the Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Act.Read more about the 2013 Diversity and Inclusion Fuels Innovation in STEM Capitol Hill Day, or contact Melissa Carl, manager of Government Relations, by e-mail at carlmasme.org for more information.