The health and longevity of our Nation's, citizenry, economy and environmental resources depend in large part on the acceleration of scientific and technological innovations, such as those that improve health care, inspire new industries, protect the environment, and safeguard us from harm. Maintaining America's historical preeminence in the STEM fields will require a concerted and inclusive effort to ensure that the STEM workforce is equipped with the skills and training needed to excel in these fields. President Obama believes that now is a time of opportunity - that we can build a true "all hands on deck" effort to move America forward and address this challenge. During the President's first term, the Administration used multiple strategies to make progress on improving STEM education.