Fattah Embarks on Nationwide Neuroscience, Education and Youth Mentoring Speaking Tour

WASHINGTON, April 25, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA), a Senior Democratic Appropriator for science and youth mentoring funding, will mount a four-state tour April 27^th – May 3^rd, 2013, speaking to national and global leaders and researchers on policy developments in neuroscience, early childhood education and youth mentoring. The tour, which also takes him to the nation's capital, shines the spotlight on his legislative priorities for the 113^th Congress.

Neuroscience
On Saturday, April 27^th, Congressman Fattah will speak at the Future of Law and and Neuroscience Conference hosted by Vanderbilt University's Research Network on Law and Neuroscience in Chicago. The conference will bring attorneys, judges, scientific experts, policymakers and academics together to the growing impact of neuroscience on the legal system.  Fattah, Congress' Senior Democrat for science funding and author of the Fattah Neuroscience Initiative, designed to make game-changing progress in the understanding of and therapies for brain development, cognition, disease and injury, will address the future role of neuroscience in shaping legal practice and policy.

Early Childhood Education
A longtime advocate of high quality education for all students, Fattah is a featured speaker at this year's Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles.  On Monday, April 29^th, he'll join CEOs from the world's top-tier companies, government officials and Nobel laureates to address - The Preschool Mandate:  How Do We Get It Right? - the economic importance of making high-quality pre-school available for every child in America. The architect of GEAR UP, the nation's most successful early college readiness program for low income students, Fattah has led the fight in Congress for a holistic approach to education through a variety of programs from pre-school to graduate school.

Global Partnerships on Brain Research
Fattah travels back to Washington, DC on Tuesday, April 30^th, to speak to attendees at The European Institute – a policy organization solely devoted to the relationship between Europe and the United States.  Fattah's message will focus on the need for greater coordinated neuroscience research between Europe and the U.S.  The goal is to have them work together to fortify a research infrastructure that will enhance their abilities to respond to global health challenges.

Youth Mentoring
The lead Congressional champion for mentoring, Fattah continues his long- time commitment to invest in programs that provide mentoring and character development in youth. On Wednesday, May 1^st, Fattah will be the keynote speaker at The Boys & Girls Clubs of America Annual National Conference in Orlando, Florida.  He has been honored as a champion of mentoring by the organization. The conference hosts 2,500 attendees and the leadership of the organization.

GEAR UP
Throughout his 30-year career as a public servant, Congressman Fattah has been a leader in education reform and resource equity. The architect of GEAR UP – the nation's most successful college readiness program – Fattah will speak to Philadelphia program participants at the Urban League's GEAR UP event on Thursday, May 2^nd. GEAR UP's success is evidenced by the more than 12 million students in 49 states and territories served by the program and the investment of $4 billion in federal resources.

"The opportunity to go to college is critically important for every student," said Fattah. "GEAR UP helps prepare young people so they enter college fully prepared to embrace that opportunity which is the foundation of their success."

Federal Investment in Research
Congressman Fattah wraps up his nationwide speaking tour on Friday, May 3^rd, when he addresses over 500 scientists, engineers and educators at The American Association for the Advancement of Science Annual Technology Policy Forum in Washington, DC. Fattah will speak on the current policy issues affecting researchers and their institutions and what impact the issues have on the federal budget.

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah