[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 33 (Wednesday, February 22, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H2033]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNIZING NATIONAL ENGINEERS WEEK

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ney). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from California [Mr. Kim] is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I rise before the House floor today to 
recognize National Engineers Week which is celebrated from February 19 
through the 25th. Engineers are hardworking people and honest, 
professional, but for some reason an engineer is known as low-key, shy, 
never seeking credit for what they have done. I know them pretty well 
because I am an engineer myself.
  During National Engineers Week, engineers finally decide to go 
public, to increase recognition of the contributions that engineering 
technology makes to the quality of our lives.
  What many people do not know is that engineering is our Nation's 
second largest profession. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 
there are more than 1.8 million engineers in the United States.
  National Engineers Week is also celebrated at the time of George 
Washington's birthday. Many people do not know, but George Washington 
was also an engineer himself. He was a civil engineer, as a matter of 
fact. Also he was a land surveyor. And he was considered our Nation's 
first engineer.
  As President, Washington led a growing society toward technical 
advancements, invention and education. He promoted the construction of 
roads, canals, docks and ports, and development of manufacturing 
resources.
  As a matter of fact, Mr. Washington led the cornerstone of the 
construction of this Capitol Hill building right here, the United 
States Capitol building.
  There is no question that America has the best highway system, best 
water system, best sewer system, best airports, and the best electrical 
system.
  National Engineers Week has been celebrated annually since 1951. It 
is sponsored by the National Engineers Week Committee, a coalition of 
64 engineering societies, corporations and government agencies. This 
year, the event is being chaired by the American Institute of Chemical 
Engineers and the Fluor Corp.
  In addition, the national finals of the National Engineers Week 
Future City Competition are held during National Engineers Week.
  The competition features seven teams of seventh and eighth grade 
students presenting their designs, their imagination for cities of the 
21st century, using computer simulations and scale models. The teams 
were selected in regional competitions around the Nation.
  I must say that I have personally found engineering to be an 
intellectually challenging and professionally fulfilling career.
  Mr. Speaker, I salute all engineers nationwide who have contributed 
their ingenuity and their ideas that has made America the best place to 
live.

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