Fattah's Week: Leadership Activities for Jobs, STEM Education, Women and Veterans

WASHINGTON, May 15, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Fattah leadership agenda for jobs, science, education, veterans and women's empowerment will be at the forefront of activities this week for Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA-02) in the Nation's Capital.

Fattah's activities follow in the wake of last week's House passage of the appropriations bill for Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies. Fattah served as Democratic floor leader through two post-midnight House sessions on the bill as Ranking Member (senior Democrat) on the House Appropriations Committee's CJS Subcommittee.

TUESDAY May 15

Fattah begins his Washington week by participating in the 2012 GI Film Festival GI Spirit Award and Heroes of the Vietnam War special Congressional reception with actor Joe Mantegna. (Capitol Visitors Center, Tuesday, 5:30 p.m.) Next week, on May 23, the Congressman will host and sponsor the Fattah Veterans Conference at the Community College of Philadelphia at 10 a.m., to provide Philadelphia area veterans with access to services and benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs and other agencies. See http://vetbenefits.eventbrite.com to register and learn more.

WEDNESDAY May 16

Fattah renews his advocacy for embattled postal workers as he participates in a meeting with the Pennsylvania State Association of Letter Carriers at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill. Fattah is fighting to retain post offices and postal service jobs in the face of cutback efforts. (Hyatt Regency, 400 New Jersey Avenue NW, Wednesday at 8 a.m.)

Then the Philadelphia Congressman will participate in a briefing on how to honor and protect the legacy of African American Astronaut Dr. Ronald E. McNair, focusing on how the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program has been cut by more than one-third. The program, a quarter-century success story, prepares low-income, first-generation and minority undergraduates for careers in academia. It was enacted shortly after McNair, who logged 191 hours in space, was killed in the January 28, 1986 explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (Room 2226, Rayburn House Office Building, Wednesday at 2 p.m.)

THURSDAY May 17

Fattah will spotlight the role and career potential for women in science, technology, engineering and math – the STEM subjects – at a Congressional briefing by the Society of Women Engineers. The Society is working with the National Science Foundation (funded through Fattah's CJS subcommittee) and industry partners to improve its STEM outreach on engineering for girls of all races and ethnicities. (Room 2325, Rayburn HOB, Thursday at noon.)

FRIDAY May 18

In Philadelphia, Fattah meets with teenage girls in seventh through ninth grades in the "Emerging Young Leaders" program focusing on STEM education, organized through the CORE Scholars program (Friday in Philadelphia).

MEDIA ADVISORY INFORMATION - Coverage is invited for many of these activities. For details, contact [email protected] or [email protected].

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah