Congressman Steve Knight, in partnership with Rep. Elizabeth Esty of Connecticut, introduced the “Women In Aerospace Education Act” on Monday, officials said.

The bipartisan legislation is aimed at supporting the American aerospace industry by enhancing k-12 education initiatives to promote more female participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), officials said.

One of the aims is to encourage a lifelong love of the sciences, and in turn, perhaps more career opportunities, for women, said Knight, R-Santa Clarita, discussing the motivation and purpose behind the newly introduced legislation.

“Creating a large and diverse pool of talent for our aerospace industry just makes sense,” said Knight. “When we engage girls at a young age and show them the possibilities of careers in STEM fields, it sparks a lifelong passion for science and discovery. I’m proud to introduce this legislation with Congresswoman Esty to ensure our nation remains the preeminent leader in this field by helping strengthen the future workforce.”

The Women in Aerospace Education Act is designed to engage girls at a young age to enter fields that have historically been male-dominated.

Esty, D- of Connecticut’s fifth district, explained how this bill will fortify her state’s economy and why the bill is aimed towards females.

“Aerospace has long been a backbone of Connecticut’s economy,” said Esty. “We simply cannot meet our aerospace workforce needs unless we empower and equip more young women to enter this exciting field. We need to provide careers – not just jobs – for women in Connecticut and throughout the country, which is why I’m pleased to work with Congressman Knight on this legislation.”

Under existing law, Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship grants are used by universities to cover the cost of STEM-degree students who go on to teach in rural or lower-income school districts, according to officials.

This bill would encourage universities applying for Noyce grants to incorporate aerospace engineering working and learning experiences at the National Laboratories and NASA Centers into their teacher training experience.

Teachers, once certified, will then enter classrooms with first-hand knowledge of how aerospace projects positively impact students’ lives.

Additionally, this bill directs NASA to strengthen the promotion of NASA internship and fellowship programs towards women.

This would not affect the selection process for these programs, but would instead focus the marketing and recruiting strategies to encourage more women to apply.

As Santa Clarita’s only local radio station, KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and sign up for KHTS email and text alerts today!