Novi Times

WASHINGTON, DC –On May 18, 2023, Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Rep. Haley Stevens (MI-11), and Rep. Young Kim (CA-40) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Accounting STEM Pursuit Act. This bill will help to establish the accounting profession as a valuable STEM career pathway and encourage diversity in the future of the accounting workforce. 

"As a founding Chair of the House Women in STEM Caucus, there are few issues in Congress that are more important to me than working to promote and advance STEM education pathways for our diverse next generation of leaders and innovators," said Rep. Haley Stevens (MI-11). "This bipartisan bill will work to increase access to high-quality accounting education for K-12 students to improve career awareness and workforce diversity in the field. Our financial institutions and their consumers will benefit tremendously from a strengthened pipeline of talented workers of all backgrounds who are ready to meet the needs of our rapidly changing world."

"STEM education creates opportunities for students, grows our economy, boosts our nation's global competitiveness, and strengthens our national security and workforce across industries," said Rep. Young Kim (CA-40). "Accounting is a valuable skill, and as a small business owner, I am proud to join in introducing a bill to support programs that teach students accounting concepts. I will always support opportunities for students to succeed and achieve their dream." 

"Exposing students to STEM learning in the classroom helps inspire them to consider new career paths in many essential fields," said Senator Rosen (D-NV). "As a former computer programmer and Chair of the Senate Women in STEM Caucus, I'm proud to help introduce this bipartisan legislation to promote and expand access to accounting education programs by recognizing it as a STEM field."

"Mathematics and technology skills can help students unlock countless doors to high-paying, in-demand fields. One of those doors leads to the accounting profession, whose work plays a key role in providing capital markets with confidence and assurance in financial reporting," said Senator Collins (R-ME). "Our bipartisan bill would recognize accounting as a STEM subject and strengthen the pipeline of future accountants, who play such a vital role in our financial system."

This bill adds "activities to promote the development, implementation, and strengthening of programs to teach accounting" to the list of allowable uses of grant funding under the Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grant program with a focus on increasing access to high-quality accounting courses for students through grade 12 who are members of groups underrepresented in accounting careers.

Original source can be found here.