Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson met with the Eugene McDermott Scholars from the University of Texas at Dallas to discuss the importance of research, STEM education, and to provide an overview of the legislative process.
As the Ranking Member on the House Science, Space, and Technology committee, Congresswoman Johnson centered much of her conversation on the growing importance of STEM education. “The U.S. has a demand for high-skilled workers, and the job of my colleagues and I is to provide the resources our students need to excel in these innovative careers,” said Congresswoman Johnson.
The McDermott Scholars program was founded by Mrs. Margaret McDermott, the widow of Texas Instruments Founder, Eugene McDermott, in honor of his work to promote education. Through its programming, McDermott Scholars are provided with rigorous and personalized education, as well as intensive extracurricular activities. More than 40 of students in the existing cohort are National Merit Scholars, and over 20 served as their high school's valedictorians.
During the subsequent Q&A session, one student asked “If Democrats and Republicans were as combative as they seem on television?” To which Congresswoman Johnson replied, “we all have our disagreements from time to time, but it rarely leaves the floor, bipartisanship is one of the most important components of an effective congressional body, and I make a conscious effort to keep this in mind at all times.”
