Connecticut Post
By Peter Urban, Staff Writer
WASHINGTON - Rep. Christopher Shays introduced legislation Thursday aimed at recruiting young scientists, engineers and other specialized professionals into government service.
Shays wants to establish a "Roosevelt Scholarship" program that would help pay for graduate-level study in exchange for a civil service commitment in a targeted, mission-critical occupation. The federal government may face a shortage of scientists, engineers, physicians, mathematicians, economists and other specialized rofessionals as about a third of federal workers now employed in these jobs is set to retire in the next five years, he said. "To attract tomorrow's leaders to public sector positions, we need to provide resources, like tuition assistance, in order for these jobs to compete with the salaries available to top-notch employees in the private sector," Shays said. The Roosevelt Scholars program would provide full tuition, support for room and board, and a stipend for graduate study. In exchange for this support, Roosevelt scholars would complete an internship with a federal agency and, upon graduation, complete a minimum of three years of civil service. Shays co-authored the legislation with Rep. David Price, D-N.C., who is co-chair of the Congressional Service Caucus. "In the face of a dwindling professional workforce, we must act now to recruit the scientists, engineers, and other high-level experts who make our government work," Price said. "Our initiative would mobilize the country's colleges and universities to address this very acute challenge." Original Article: http://www.connpost.com/localnews/ci_9348423
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