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CONGRESSMAN LIEU LAUNCHES 2018 CONGRESSIONAL APP CHALLENGE

June 4, 2018

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County), who is one of four computer science majors in Congress, announced the beginning of this year's Congressional App Challenge (CAC), a competition for students in middle and high school that encourages students to learn how to code and develop computer literacy. Starting June 4, eligible students of all experience levels from CA-33 are encouraged to enter by coding and submitting their own original apps.

Students should register online by Sept. 10 before submitting their app by Oct. 15. The competition is open to all students who meet the eligibility requirements, regardless of coding experience. The CAC accepts computer programs (or apps) written in any programming language, for any platform (desktop/PC, web, mobile, raspberry Pi, etc.).

Winners are selected by a panel of judges from the community, and are honored by their Member of Congress. Their apps are eligible to be featured on a display in the U.S. Capitol building, on www.house.gov, and on the Congressional App Challenge website.

The CAC was created because Congress recognized that STEM and computer-based skills are essential for economic growth and innovation. By some estimates, the U.S. may be short by many as a million programmers by 2020 even though these are high-paying, high-demand jobs. To maintain American competitiveness, it's crucial that the United States invests in our youth now, and helps them acquire these valuable skills. The CAC encourages students to pursue those skills and recognizes them for their efforts.

Recognizing the racial, gendered, and other disparities in the tech sector, the CAC also focuses on inclusivity and making the Challenge as accessible as possible to people from all backgrounds. Deliberate efforts will be made to include students from all backgrounds, including those traditionally underrepresented in tech.

For further information about the Congressional App Challenge, please visit www.CongressionalAppChallenge.us

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