Rep. Mike Honda, D-Calif., introduced a bill in Congress June 28 proposing to allocate additional funding to STEM initiatives, via a mix of public and private partnerships.

The bill, known as the STEM Innovation Networks Act, authorizes the Department of Education to make grants for initiatives aiming to educate elementary school students and teachers in science, math, technology and engineering fields. Department of Education grants would have to be matched – not less than 30 percent – by private contributions.

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Honda – who has served in Congress for 13 years – is being challenged by former Obama administration official Ro Khanna, who has raised more than $2 million in his bid to capture Honda’s congressional District 17 seat. District 17 is comprised of large swaths of the Silicon Valley: Khanna has amassed significant support from business and technology leaders.

Dan Cohen, a spokesman for Honda’s re-election campaign, told India-West that the congressman has received support from 1,100 donors thus far. Significantly, more than half of Honda’s donors made contributions of less than $100, exemplifying Honda’s grassroots appeal, said Cohen.

Honda has garnered the support of 100 local Silicon Valley leaders, including most of the mayors of cities in District 17, and several Santa Clara county supervisors. Honda also has been endorsed by San Jose, Calif. city councilman Ash Kalra and Dublin, Calif., city councilman Abe Gupta, both Indian Americans. Actor George Takei – “Star Trek” legendary Lt. Hikaru Sulu – has donated $1,500 to Honda’s campaign, according to quarter two FEC reports filed by Honda July 13.