Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson proudly represents Florida’s 24th Congressional District. It is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse districts in the nation and includes parts of northwest Miami-Dade and southern Broward counties.
Recognizing her record of service and productivity, in 2010 voters overwhelmingly elected her to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. As a former educator, elementary school principal, community leader, school board member, state legislator, and founder of the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project, Congresswoman Wilson earned a reputation as a “Voice for the Voiceless.” Her tenure in Congress, now in its fourth term, also has been marked by her signature spirit of unrelenting advocacy on behalf of the less fortunate.
I am proud to serve as a member of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee and as the Ranking Democratic Member of the Subcommittee on Technology. In these roles, I am working to ensure our nation maintains its competitive edge in technology, advocating to increase diversity in fields including scientific research and engineering, and fighting to bring high-paying aerospace and technology jobs to Florida.
Our nation's sophisticated science and technology programs have provided the foundation of our economic strength. But we cannot take this for granted. Over the last decade, the U.S. lost nearly 6 million manufacturing jobsand closed down at least 40,000 industrial facilities.
This has terrible consequences for our living standards. We need to keep up investments in programs to advance our understanding of medicine, alternative energy, ecosystems, and engineering. I'm proud to work with our partners in the education sector—including Miami-Dade College and Florida International University—to ensure that Florida is leading the way on scientific research. The only way our nation can overcome restore its economic promise is through learning and innovation. As a lifelong educator, I am committed to ensuring we are successful in these pursuits.