Editor's Note: The views expressed in this editorial do not necessarily reflect those of RealClearScience.

With Rush Holt’s (D-NJ) recent announcement that he will not be seeking reelection to the House of Representatives, science loses one of its leading champions in the Capitol. This occurs at a time when leading scientific voices are needed in Congress more than ever.

A physicist by training, Dr. Holt’s retirement depletes an already small pool of Congressmen with backgrounds in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM). This short list includes microbiologist Louise Slaughter (D-NY); mathematician Jerry McNerney (D-CA); and physicist Bill Foster (D-IL), as well as a handful of medical doctors and engineers.

Meanwhile, according to the Congressional Research Service, there are currently 211 lawyers and 218 members with business backgrounds in Congress. The relative lack of representation from STEM fields has resulted in laws that stifle innovation and harm America's scientific advantage.

The solution? We need more STEM professionals in every level of government, including Congress. And we need a campaign group to help get them there.

Until now, there was no organized effort to do so. That is why I founded Franklin’s List, a new, nonpartisan political action committee (PAC) dedicated to electing scientists and other STEM professionals to public office. Franklin’s List looks to support qualified candidates – both challengers and incumbents – to run in open or competitive races.

Through this effort, Franklin’s List hopes to increase the scientific literacy of government; cultivate more informed debates on all issues, particularly on science and technology; and ensure that scientific consensus, not partisan denialism, informs public policy.

Why do we need more scientists in Congress? Sadly, the majority of those in elected positions have neither the experience nor knowledge to even ask the right questions to evaluate complex scientific topics. The dissolution of Congress’ Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) in 1995, which until then provided Congressional members and staff with valuable analysis on science and technology issues, compounds the problem. And though Congress pays lip service to science, the research budget is underfunded and continuously threatened with cuts.

For the U.S. to remain economically and technologically dominant, we must aggressively continue investing in scientific research and outreach programs. Electing scientifically savvy politicians and weeding out the anti-science lawmakers from both sides of the aisle is necessary to accomplish this.

And it is the goal of Franklin’s List to help make sure that happens.