[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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