Recently, SWE Executive Director and CEO Karen Horting traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with congressional staff and reinforce SWE’s policy priorities ahead of the organization’s upcoming Congressional Outreach Days.
During her visit, Horting met with staff in the office of Representative Luz Rivas (D-CA) to discuss key issues affecting the engineering workforce and to thank the congresswoman for restarting the bipartisan House STEM Education Caucus. The caucus plays an important role in bringing lawmakers together to advance policies that strengthen STEM education and expand opportunities for students across the country. During the meeting, Horting highlighted several of SWE’s key policy priorities that will also be central to conversations during the organization’s upcoming Congressional Outreach Days.
One priority discussed was the STEM RESTART Act, bipartisan legislation designed to help experienced STEM professionals return to the workforce after career breaks. Women leave STEM careers at disproportionately high rates due to life changes, caregiving responsibilities, workplace bias, and structural barriers — resulting in the loss of valuable engineering talent. The legislation would establish competitive grants to support reentry programs that help professionals refresh their technical skills, rebuild professional networks, and transition back into high-demand roles.
Horting also emphasized the importance of sustained federal investment in STEM education programs that help build the next generation of engineers. Early exposure to STEM subjects and hands-on learning experiences can spark interest in engineering careers and strengthen the future workforce pipeline.
The conversation also highlighted the critical role of federal research agencies in driving innovation and economic growth. Robust, predictable funding for these agencies supports cutting-edge research while also expanding participation in engineering and STEM careers.
The meeting also served as an opportunity to thank Rep. Rivas for her leadership in relaunching the bipartisan House STEM Education Caucus, which provides an important forum for lawmakers focused on strengthening the nation’s STEM ecosystem.
As SWE prepares for its annual Congressional Outreach Days, visits like this help reinforce that the engineering community has strong allies on Capitol Hill who recognize the importance of investing in STEM education, research, and workforce development.
SWE members will soon be bringing these conversations directly to Congress, sharing their expertise and advocating for policies that support women in engineering and strengthen the nation’s innovation workforce.
