Coalition Issues Statement on Final FY15 Spending Bill

December 12, 2014

The STEM Education Coalition, a broad alliance of more than 600 education, business, and professional organizations issued the following statement today on H.R. 83, the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015:

“The STEM Education Coalition is pleased that the final spending bill for Fiscal Year 2015, passed last night by the House, provides continued support for several critical education priorities, including the Education and Human Resources Directorate at the National Science Foundation and the Math and Science Partnerships program at the Department of Education.  Our Coalition continues to urge Congress to elevate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education as a national priority as reflected through federal spending priorities, education law, and policies to drive innovation.  While we are pleased that this bill addresses a limited number of STEM education priorities, our nation’s education policies cannot be improved through appropriations bills alone.  We urge the House and Senate to move forward in 2015 with the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the Higher Education Act, and other workforce related legislation that could enact meaningful policy changes to benefit and advance STEM education that are long, long overdue.” 

The bill would provide $866 million for the Education and Human Resources Directorate at the National Science Foundation, a $19.5 million increase over FY2014 and $152.72 million for the Department of Education’s Math and Science Partnership program, a $3 million increase.