WASHINGTON, D.C. - At the invitation of President Donald J. Trump, Congressman Roger Marshall, M.D., on Tuesday attended an official White House ceremony for the signing of Senate Bill 153, the Supporting Veterans in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Careers Act. As a member of the Science, Space and Technology Committee and former Army officer, Rep. Marshall was a proud supporter and cosponsor of the House companion bill, which passed in February 2019.

The Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act will promote veteran involvement in STEM education, computer science, and scientific research through better integration of veterans issues within existing National Science Foundation programs and improved program coordination across multiple federal agencies, Marshall said.

“I’m grateful and honored to have been invited today. No one cares more about our veterans than President Trump,” said Marshall. “Working together with Congress, the Trump Administration continues to deliver for veterans across the country, from implementing major reforms at the Department of Veterans Affairs to bridging the gap between veterans seeking training and employment opportunities in our most rapidly expanding industries. The bill signed into law today will keep America at the forefront of technological innovation by ensuring our veterans are equipped with the tools they need to enter into STEM-related fields as they transition back to civilian life.”

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates there will be more than 10 million new STEM-related jobs created in the U.S. between 2016 and 2026. The Department of Defense projects that within the next five years, about 1.5 million members of the U.S. Armed Forces will retire from the military, and research from the Department of Veterans Affairs and other agencies have found that veterans face systemic barriers to STEM careers.