West OC Times

Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA) and Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA) have led a coalition of 16 House members in urging Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to restore funding for the Department of Defense (DoD) STARBASE Program. This program provides STEM education for elementary and secondary students on 90 military installations nationwide.

Currently, STARBASE operates with $53 million in annual federal funding. However, the U.S. Senate's draft Department of Defense Appropriation Act (S.4921) proposes reducing this amount to $20 million annually. In contrast, Steel and Carbajal have secured an additional $7 million annual increase in the House version by utilizing existing DoD resources.

“With its national reach and broad record of success, STARBASE has been a key tool in the DoD’s ongoing national effort to close the STEM achievement gap with other nations. As S.4921 reaches the Senate Floor for a vote, we encourage the Senate to support $60 million in funding for the STARBASE program and request the Senate to recede to the House’s bipartisan version in conference,” wrote the lawmakers.

Evaluations indicate that STARBASE participants show significant improvement in their understanding, interest, and ability in math and science, leading to increased enthusiasm for pursuing STEM education.

“STARBASE is providing life-changing educational opportunities for military families at Joint Force Training Base Los Alamitos and bases across the country,” said Rep. Michelle Steel, who represents Joint Force Training Base Los Alamitos. “The funding level proposed by the Senate is insufficient for the stability of STARBASE programs across the country. I will continue fighting to maintain and enhance funding to support a quality education for America’s military children.”

"Our next generation is critical to keeping our nation on the cutting edge of technological innovation, scientific breakthroughs, and exploration of new frontiers as large as the universe and as small as the atom," said Rep. Carbajal. "That's why programs like STARBASE are indispensable. Through STARBASE, the DoD has helped deliver high-quality STEM education to more than 1,200 schools across our nation–including to students on the Central Coast–inspiring our future inventors, explorers, and pioneers. I'm proud to be working with Congresswoman Steel to ensure Congress continues to support this program."

Steel and Carbajal serve as co-chairs of the STARBASE Caucus, a bipartisan group focused on supporting DoD’s youth STEM Education program nationwide.

The DoD STARBASE program aims to foster essential math and science skills among elementary and secondary school students while promoting positive relationships between military bases and local communities. Evaluations show significant improvements in students' understanding of chemistry, engineering, math, physics, and technology.

Nationwide data indicates that STARBASE is one of the most cost-effective federal programs; it cost an average of $328 per student in 2017. During the 2021-2022 school year alone, it served over 79,618 students from 1,558 schools across 611 districts with contributions from over 10,435 volunteers valued at more than $3.88 million.

There are six STARBASE locations in California.

Last year saw Reps Steel and Carbajal relaunching the bipartisan Congressional STARBASE Caucus which focuses on supporting this vital program.

###