Policy Resolution TST-15-11
WHEREAS, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) recognizes that technology jobs are key to the prosperity of the United States workforce;
WHEREAS, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce jobs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are growing at almost twice the rate of non-STEM jobs (17 percent to 9.8 percent);
WHEREAS, African Americans must have access to these jobs in order to gain the full benefits of the future economy;
WHEREAS, large technology companies are a primary source of STEM jobs;
WHEREAS, opportunities to learn and access STEM-related skills must be equal;
WHEREAS, large technology companies have become dominant players in the United States economy, and are continuing to grow;
WHEREAS, the jobs that large technology companies provide are among the most lucrative in the country in terms of both pay and benefits;
WHEREAS, the leaders of these companies will increasingly define the future of the United States economy and consumers nationwide;
WHEREAS, according to a 2011 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, African Americans are under-represented in STEM occupations, accounting for about 8 percent or less of jobs in computer and mathematical occupations (6.9 percent), life, physical, and social science occupations (7.4 percent), and architecture and engineering occupations (5.2 percent);
WHEREAS, the Council of Graduate Schools’ reports from 2007 to 2012 show impressive strides toward diversity: among U.S. citizens, there was a 1.4 percent average annual increase in total enrollment of Asian/Pacific Islanders in computer and information sciences, a 12.3 percent increase in Latino enrollment, and an average annual increase of 18.8 percent in enrollment for African Americans;
WHEREAS, these proportions are even lower in the critical tech and leadership sections of these companies;
WHEREAS, African Americans make up 13.2 percent of the American population and 6.6 percent of the population of California, where many large tech companies are located;
WHEREAS, the low percentage of African Americans in non-tech positions speaks to a larger problem than tech-qualified applicants;
WHEREAS, the lack of African Americans employed by these companies hurts both African-Americans, by failing to extend critical opportunities to a marginalized population, and the companies themselves, by failing to incorporate the perspectives of African Americans in a way that would boost company products and profit;
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of both groups to maximize partnerships to further cooperative success;
WHEREAS, it is within the means of these technology companies to extend outreach and partnerships within the African-American community to develop a more diversified workforce; and
WHEREAS, Intel launched its Blueprint for Extraordinary Performance leadership development program, in 2009, that targets mid-level African American and Latino employees who meet monthly to receive leadership development training and guidance, and to practice what they learn, so Intel can retain and develop employees of color.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) calls on technology companies to broaden their efforts to promote workplace diversity, recognizing that it is the best way to form mutually beneficial partnerships that broadens the voice African Americans have in this crucial sector of the economy;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NBCSL encourages its members to find ways to foster discussions ultimately connecting local communities with social media and tech companies to develop more direct pipelines for the hiring of women and people of color;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NBCSL applauds the steps taken by Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to increase STEM education at the their institutions;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NBCSL members support collaborating with HBCUs and Minority-Serving Institutions and their computer science and engineering programs to both highlight and strengthen their capabilities to produce competitive students;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NBCSL members advocate to bolster STEM programs in local public school systems which would lead to increased interest in such fields;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NBCSL applauds the steps already taken by the U.S. Department of Education to aid people of color and other underrepresented populations in pursuing careers in STEM fields, and urges the Department to expand its targeting of these underrepresented populations; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, and other federal and state government officials as appropriate.
- SPONSORS: Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter (SC), Representative John King (SC), Representative Joe Armstrong (TN), Representative Alan Williams (FL), Representative Laura V. Hall (AL), Representative Carl Anderson (SC), Senator Floyd McKissick, (NC) and Senator Geraldine Thompson (FL)
- Committee of Jurisdiction: Telecommunications, Science, and Technology Policy Committee
- Certified by Committee Chair: Delegate Michael Vaughn (MD)
- Ratified in Plenary Session: Ratification Date is December 12, 2014
- Ratification is certified by: Representative Joe Armstrong (TN), President