WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., April 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering, Inc. (NACME), the leading supporter of minority higher education in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), announced today that its newly formed Public Policy Committee, comprised of NACME Board of Directors, will meet with top representatives from the White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs and Members of Congress to discuss key issues facing the U.S. and minorities in STEM education. The event will take place on April 6-7 in Washington, D.C.

Keynote speakers will discuss the overall status of STEM education in the U.S. today; ways to leverage the America Competes Act for students; workforce issues; and the federal role in ensuring tools for underrepresented (African American, Latino and Native American) minorities in STEM disciplines.

Participants include:

• Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D, TX), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology; House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
• Rep. Frederica Wilson, (D-Fl), Member of the Science, Space and Technology Committee; Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee; Technology and Innovation Subcommittee
• Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL), Member of the House Appropriations Committee; Third most Senior Democrat on the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
• Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), Subcommittee member on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies; Subcommittee on the Financial Services
• Dr. Linda Rosen, Change the Equation, CEO
• Bill Valdez, Associate Director,  Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists, Acting Director Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, Department of Energy
• Greg Nelson, Associate Director  Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs
• Dr. Carl Wieman, Associate Director, Office of Science and Technology, Nobel Prize Winner

"This is an exciting time for policy deliberations focused on maintaining U.S. competitiveness in STEM," said Dr. Irving Pressley McPhail, NACME president and CEO. "NACME is uniquely positioned to contribute to this discussion after almost four decades of leadership in STEM education and careers, with the goal of achieving an engineering workforce that looks like America. NACME's governance structure— which maximizes the power of public-private partnerships in K-12 education, higher education, business and industry, and government—is a best practice that should be supported and replicated."

In attendance from the NACME Board of Directors are representatives from major corporations and educational institutions including Marathon Oil as the sponsor company, Arcadis, AT&T, Cisco, DuPont, ExxonMobil, Florida A&M University, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Northrop Grumman and UPS, among others. Together they strive to build a STEM talent pool that is reflective of the country's diverse population.

About NACME:

Since its inception 37-years-ago, NACME has stayed true to its mission: To ensure American resilience in a flat world by leading and supporting the national effort to expand U.S. capability by increasing the number of successful African American, American Indian, and Latino women and men in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and careers.

NACME alumni hold leadership positions in industry, medicine, law, education and government. With funding from corporate and individual donors, NACME has supported more than 22,000 students with more than $124 million in scholarships and other support, and currently has more than 1,300 scholars at 50 partner institutions across the country. NACME is also implementing a middle school through community college strategy to increase the proportion of underrepresented minority students in STEM disciplines.

SOURCE National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering, Inc.