[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 22 (Wednesday, March 2, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H852-H854]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CONGRATULATING ASME ON THEIR 125TH ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the 
Senate concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 13) congratulating ASME on 
their 125th anniversary, celebrating the achievements of ASME members, 
and expressing the gratitude of the American people for ASME's 
contributions.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 13

       Whereas in 2005, ASME, incorporated in 1880 as the American 
     Society of Mechanical Engineers, celebrates its 125th 
     anniversary as one of the premier professional organizations 
     focused on technical, educational, and research issues of the 
     engineering community;
       Whereas ASME plays a key role in protecting the welfare and 
     safety of the public through the development and promulgation 
     of over 600 codes and standards, including codes governing 
     the manufacture of boilers, pressure vessels, elevators, 
     escalators, petroleum and hazardous liquid pipelines, cranes, 
     forklifts, power tools, screw threads and fasteners, and many 
     other products routinely used by industry and people in the 
     United States and around the world;
       Whereas ASME, through its 120,000 members, works diligently 
     to ensure the provision of quality science, technology, 
     engineering, and mathematics education for young people as a 
     way to foster and encourage the advancement of technology;
       Whereas industrial pioneers and ASME members such as Thomas 
     Edison, Henry Ford, and George Westinghouse helped to build 
     ASME's engineering society even as ASME was helping to build 
     the economy of the United States;
       Whereas ASME members help to ensure the development and 
     operation of quality and technologically advanced 
     transportation systems, including automobile, rail, and air 
     travel;
       Whereas ASME members contribute to research and development 
     that identifies emerging and future technical needs in 
     evolving and multidisciplinary areas;
       Whereas ASME continues to provide quality continuing 
     education programs designed to keep engineers at the cutting 
     edge of technology; and
       Whereas in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the 
     United States of September 11, 2001, ASME members have 
     intensified efforts to develop technologies for homeland 
     security and the protection of the critical assets of this 
     Nation: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That the Congress--

[[Page H853]]

       (1) congratulates ASME on its 125th anniversary;
       (2) recognizes and celebrates the achievements of all ASME 
     members;
       (3) expresses the gratitude of the people of the United 
     States for ASME's contributions to the health, safety, and 
     economic well-being of the citizenry; and
       (4) directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit an 
     enrolled copy of this resolution to the president of ASME.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Missouri (Mr. Akin) and the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Wu) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Akin).

                              {time}  1015


                             General Leave

  Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on S. Con. Res. 13.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Missouri?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of Senate Concurrent 
Resolution 13, a resolution recognizing the American Society of 
Mechanical Engineers, ASME, on the occasion of its 125th anniversary.
  125 years ago, a group of prominent mechanical engineers gathered in 
the New York offices of the ``American Machinist'' to form what 
ultimately became ASME, one of the premier professional engineering 
organizations for technical education and research issues. Since 1880, 
ASME has worked to advance technological knowledge and facilitate the 
transfer of information from research to application.
  Significant among ASME's many achievements is its efforts to improve 
the safety and reliability of equipment, especially boilers. In the 
year that ASME was founded, nearly 160 boiler explosions occurred in 
the U.S., each of which brought death and injury. During this period of 
industrial growth, boilers were becoming larger, more numerous and 
dangerous.
  On March 10, 1905, a boiler explosion at the Brockton Shoe Factory 
resulted in 58 deaths and 117 injuries and completely leveled the 
factory. Terrible accidents like Brockton drove the creation of ASME's 
comprehensive Boiler Code, a set of standards to ensure the reliability 
and predictability of machine design and production. Quickly adopted by 
most States, this code virtually eliminated boiler explosions in the 
United States.
  Today, ASME has thousands of volunteers working on committees that 
combine to issue more than 600 standards, ensuring proper 
specifications for a wide range of manufactured items. From the 
pressure valve of boilers to the threads on a screw, these standards 
ensure that equipment fits and holds safely, protecting American 
workers and the general public.
  Some of our most prominent Americans have helped found ASME and many 
of our greatest innovators have occupied its board. Many will recognize 
the names of such members as Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and George 
Westinghouse.
  ASME continues this proud tradition more than a century later, 
engaging men and women of substance in emerging and future technical 
fields and cultivating the next generation of industrial leaders. In 
fact, ASME fellows can be found in the Halls of Congress and throughout 
the administration, providing valuable insight on legislation, 
regulation, and policies related to technology and the practice of 
engineering. The ASME members are tireless advocates for quality 
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education for 
students of all ages.
  For 125 years of service to the U.S., I want to extend my warmest and 
heartfelt congratulations and sincere appreciation to President Harry 
Armen and the members of ASME for their strong and inspired leadership. 
I look forward to our continued association and future ASME 
achievements.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of this resolution to 
commemorate the 125th anniversary of the founding of the American 
Society of Mechanical Engineers. The American Society of Mechanical 
Engineers, with its 120,000 members worldwide, is a professional 
organization focused on technical, educational, and research issues of 
the engineering and technology communities.
  The society has a long and distinguished history in the creation of 
industrial and manufacturing codes and standards that enhance public 
safety. It began with technical standards for screw threads and now has 
developed more than 600 standards, including standards in vital areas 
such as precision machining, nuclear power generation, and petroleum 
refining.
  The diversity and range of the society's activities is reflected in 
the variety of its technical divisions, including Aerospace, 
Management, Materials, Power, Production Engineering, Rail 
Transportation, Textile Industries and most recently, Information 
Storage and Processing Systems.
  The Society conducts one of the world's largest technical publishing 
operations, holds numerous technical conferences worldwide, and offers 
hundreds of professional development courses each year. It also 
sponsors activities to enhance kindergarten through twelfth grade 
science education and to attract students to careers in science and 
engineering.
  On the basis of its long and beneficial service to the engineering 
profession and to the welfare of this Nation, it is entirely 
appropriate that we recognize the accomplishments of the American 
Society of Mechanical Engineers and congratulate the society on its 
125th anniversary.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend this resolution to my colleagues and ask for 
their support for its passage by this House.
  Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I proudly support S. Con. Res. 13, a 
resolution to recognize the American Society of Mechanical Engineering 
(ASME) on the occasion of its 125th anniversary.
  Since 1880, ASME has focused upon technical, educational, and 
research issues as they pertain to engineering. It has played a key 
role in standardization and safety--developing and promulgating more 
than 600 codes and standards over its 125-year history.
  Significantly, ASME created a comprehensive Boiler Code in reaction 
to the dangerous widespread boiler explosions that plagued early 20th 
century America. Following rapid adoption, this code virtually 
eliminated the scourge of boiler explosions. In updated versions, the 
code is still in existence today. It serves as a clear example of the 
value--indeed the necessity--of clear standards to prevent injury and 
maximize economic output.
  Fifty years after its founding, ASME worked to promote precision 
machining, mass production and commercial transportation--all 
technologies that triggered enormous productivity gains and opened the 
nation and the world to American enterprise. Prominent ASME members 
included pioneers of American technology and industry such as Thomas 
Edison, Henry Ford and George Westinghouse. At the same time, the human 
aspect of industrial processes grew into focus: ASME leaders Henry 
Robinson Towne, Frederick Taylor and James M. Dodge pioneered 
management practices that reformed labor-management relations.
  Today, over 120,000 members comprise ASME, serving the interests of 
industry, government, academia and the public. ASME members play a key 
role in providing affordable access to energy and natural resources. 
Its members work to ensure the quality of scientific research as well 
as science and technology education. In fact, ASME fellows can be found 
in the halls of Congress and throughout the Administration providing 
valuable insight on legislation and helping to shape engineering and 
technology policy.
  Recently, ASME members have risen to the challenge posed by the 
terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Their intensified efforts have 
developed technologies for homeland security and protected critical 
assets to our Nation.
  On behalf of the 109th Congress, I warmly congratulate ASME for 125 
years of service to the United States. I wish to extend my sincere 
appreciation to President Harry Armen and the members of ASME for their 
strong leadership and I look forward to future ASME achievement.
  Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. AKIN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by

[[Page H854]]

the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Akin) that the House suspend the rules 
and concur in the Senate Concurrent Resolution, S. Con. Res. 13.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate concurrent resolution 
was concurred in.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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