Rep. Fattah Will Address Mayors, Educators at National Manufacturing and College Readiness Forums

WASHINGTON, July 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA), a leader in Congress on manufacturing innovation and on college readiness/advanced education, will address two national forums including U.S. mayors and GEAR UP educators in the next five days. GEAR UP, a college readiness program has impacted over 12 million students and is Fattah's signature legislative achievement.

Manufacturing:

Fattah will address attendees at the U.S. Conference of Mayors Leadership Meeting on advanced manufacturing in metropolitan economies on Friday July 20 in Philadelphia. Joining him at the forum will be 50 mayors, Patrick Gallagher, Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology and Tom Peterson, Assistant Director of the National Science Foundation to discuss how the federal government, private sector and cities can collaborate to grow advanced manufacturing in the nation's metropolitan economies.

Fattah, a leading advocate in Congress for federal seed money and technical support for manufacturing innovation, especially for small businesses will also discuss his manufacturing innovation agenda in Congress. He is the top Democratic appropriator for manufacturing initiatives and innovation at the Department of Commerce as senior Democrat of the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and related agencies.

GEAR UP and Education

On Monday in Washington, Fattah, the creator of GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs), the nation's largest and most successful college readiness program for students attending high-poverty middle and high school will be joined by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to address the organization's annual convention.

Since 1998, GEAR UP has impacted and established a college-going culture for over 12 million students in 49 states plus Washington D.C. and U.S. territories, with over $4 billion in federal resources.

Fattah will keynote the opening session for 1,400 attendees at the GEAR UP national conference on Monday July 23 at 9 a.m. at the Washington Hilton. It will be Secretary Duncan's first appearance at the conference where it's anticipated he'll discuss the Department of Education's College Savings Account Research Demonstration Project, which falls under GEAR UP to help students establish savings accounts with the intention of increasing their likelihood of attending college.

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah