[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 117 Engrossed in House (EH)]

H. Res. 117

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                     February 12, 2009.
Whereas engineers use their professional, scientific, and technical knowledge 
        and skills in creative and innovative ways to fulfill society's needs;
Whereas engineers have helped meet the major technological challenges of our 
        time--from rebuilding towns devastated by natural disasters to designing 
        an information superhighway that will speed our country into the future;
Whereas engineers are a crucial link in research, development, and demonstration 
        and in transforming scientific discoveries into useful products, and we 
        will look more than ever to engineers and their knowledge and skills to 
        meet the challenges of the future;
Whereas engineers play a crucial role in developing the consensus engineering 
        standards that permit modern economies and societies to exist;
Whereas the 2006 National Academy of Sciences report entitled ``Rising Above the 
        Gathering Storm'' highlighted the worrisome trend that fewer students 
        are now focusing on engineering in college at a time when increasing 
        numbers of today's 2,000,000 United States engineers are nearing 
        retirement;
Whereas the National Society of Professional Engineers through National 
        Engineers Week and other activities is raising public awareness of 
        engineers' significant, positive contributions to societal needs;
Whereas National Engineers Week activities at engineering schools and in other 
        forums are encouraging our young math and science students to see 
        themselves as possible future engineers and to realize the practical 
        power of their knowledge;
Whereas National Engineers Week has grown into a formal coalition of more than 
        70 engineering, education, and cultural societies, and more than 50 
        major corporations and government agencies;
Whereas National Engineers Week is celebrated during the week of George 
        Washington's birthday to honor the contributions that our first 
        President, a military engineer and land surveyor, made to engineering; 
        and
Whereas February 15 to 21, 2009, has been designated by the President as 
        National Engineers Week: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Engineers Week and its 
        aims to increase understanding of and interest in engineering and 
        technology careers and to promote literacy in math and science; and
            (2) will work with the engineering community to make sure that the 
        creativity and contribution of that community can be expressed through 
        research, development, standardization, and innovation.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.