[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 849 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 849

           Supporting the goals and ideals of Engineers Week.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 12, 2020

 Mr. Lipinski (for himself, Mr. McNerney, Ms. Houlahan, Mr. Tonko, Mr. 
 Krishnamoorthi, Mr. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, Ms. Johnson of Texas, Mr. 
 Larsen of Washington, Mr. Cardenas, Mr. Westerman, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. 
  Weber of Texas, Ms. Stevens, and Mr. Baird) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
 Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of 
                        the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
           Supporting the goals and ideals of Engineers Week.

Whereas engineers employ their scientific knowledge and analytical skills for 
        the betterment of the United States and for the protection of the public 
        health, safety, and welfare;
Whereas the mission of the National Engineers Week Foundation (doing business as 
        DiscoverE) is to sustain and grow a dynamic engineering profession 
        through outreach, education, celebration, and volunteerism as needed to 
        keep the United States a global leader in engineering and engineering 
        education;
Whereas the sponsors of Engineers Week are working together to transform the 
        engineering workforce through greater inclusion of women and 
        underrepresented minorities;
Whereas by engaging young students, parents, and educators in hands-on science, 
        technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) activities, engineers 
        help them discover how they can make a meaningful difference in the 
        world;
Whereas the partnership between engineers and teachers inspires future 
        generations of engineering and technology talent;
Whereas tens of thousands of engineers and engineering students will serve their 
        communities not only through their work but, at this time of year, by 
        reaching into hundreds of local communities;
Whereas the perspective and technical expertise of engineers is vital to solving 
        today's most pressing global challenges--including infrastructure, 
        national security, and environmental sustainability--and the 
        professional engineer's commitment to high ethical standards is 
        necessary for the protection of public health, safety, and welfare;
Whereas ``science creates more opportunity for the next generation'', according 
        to the National Science Board's 2018 Science and Engineering Indicators;
Whereas engineers are a crucial link in research, development, and the 
        transformation of scientific discoveries into useful products and jobs, 
        as the people of the United States look more than ever to engineers and 
        their imagination, knowledge, and analytical skills to meet the 
        challenges of the future;
Whereas the National Science Board's 2018 Science and Engineering Indicators 
        show that the number of students obtaining engineering bachelor's 
        degrees in the United States has increased steadily for the last 15 
        years for which data are available, yet the rates for women do not 
        reflect our national demographics, with only 20 percent of bachelor's 
        degrees in engineering being earned by women;
Whereas the National Science Board's ``Science and Engineering Indicators 2020'' 
        shows that historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, 
        particularly Blacks and Hispanics, ``remain underrepresented in the 
        [science & engineering (S&E)] workforce relative to their overall 
        presence in the workforce and the population'';
Whereas the National Science Foundation's National Center for Science and 
        Engineering Statistics report on ``Women, Minorities, and Persons with 
        Disabilities in Science and Engineering 2017'' shows that women are 
        closing the gap with men in S&E educational attainment but are still 
        underrepresented in S&E occupations;
Whereas only around 4 percent of the Nation's workforce is comprised of 
        scientists and engineers, yet this group disproportionately creates jobs 
        for the other 96 percent;
Whereas DiscoverE has grown into a formal coalition of more than 100 
        professional societies, major corporations, and government agencies that 
        serves as a hub of engineering outreach dedicated to ensuring a diverse 
        and well-educated engineering workforce, promoting literacy in science, 
        technology, engineering, and mathematics, and raising public awareness 
        and appreciation of the contributions of engineers to society;
Whereas Congress has recognized National Engineers Week every year since 1951; 
        and
Whereas February 16, 2020, to February 22, 2020, has been designated as 
        Engineers Week by DiscoverE and the theme is ``Engineers: Pioneers of 
        Progress'', spotlighting the important contributions of the engineering 
        community to our quality of life has always been and will be now and in 
        the future, including awe-inspiring wonders like cloud-busting 
        skyscrapers and human travel to Mars and daily marvels like clean 
        drinking water, computers, and cars: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of Engineers Week to 
        increase understanding of and interest in engineering and 
        technology careers and to promote technological literacy and 
        engineering education;
            (2) recognizes that engineering education is a critical 
        component of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and 
        mathematics) education and essential to improving the United 
        States educational system and economic prosperity; and
            (3) ensures that technological solutions designed by the 
        engineering community can be advanced through research, 
        development, standardization, and innovation.
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