[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 35 (Friday, February 24, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E423]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL ENGINEER'S WEEK

                                 ______


                        HON. JOHN N. HOSTETTLER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 23, 1995
  Mr. HOSTETTLER. Mr. Speaker, this week marks the 45th year that 
National Engineer's Week has been celebrated, and I would like to take 
this opportunity to recognize the value of engineers in our society.
  National Engineers Week is celebrated during this time of George 
Washington's birthday for a reason. Washington had the educational 
background of an engineer and land surveyor and is considered the 
Nation's first engineer. While President, Washington led a growing 
society toward technical advancements, invention and education. He 
promoted the construction of roads, canals, the U.S. Capitol, docks and 
ports and the development of manufacturing resources. I have been a 
registered professional engineer for only 3 years, but I have seen this 
country's technology and quality of life advance tremendously, largely 
due to its 1.8 million engineers.
  An engineer's skills allow him or her not only to develop wonderfully 
creative ideas, but to bring them to the marketplace where they can 
solve problems and improve our standard of living. This is why we 
should strongly encourage the seventh and eighth graders who compete in 
the National Engineers Week future city competition. The students who 
participate in this national competition present their designs for 
cities in the 21st century using computer simulations and scale models. 
Many of these seventh and eighth graders will likely become the 
talented engineers of the future, and they will go on to lead this 
country well into the 21st century.
  Mr. Speaker, it is encouraging to know that many of my congressional 
colleagues are engineers. This fact alone goes to show that whether 
they are building a stronger bridge, designing a safer car or more 
efficient city, discovering a helpful drug manufacturing process, or 
making policy in our Nation's Capital, engineers contribute to 
advancing our technology, promoting the quality of our lives, and 
improving our society.


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