[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 13, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H894-H896]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1430
       SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL ENGINEERS WEEK

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 917) supporting the goals and ideals of 
National Engineers Week, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 917

       Whereas National Engineers Week has grown into a formal 
     coalition of more than 75 professional societies, major 
     corporations, and government agencies, dedicated to ensuring 
     a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by 
     increasing understanding of and interest in engineering and 
     technology careers among all young students, by promoting 
     pre-college literacy in science, technology, engineering, and 
     mathematics (STEM), and raising public understanding and 
     appreciation of engineers' contributions to society;
       Whereas February 17-23, 2008, has been designated by the 
     President as National Engineers Week and the theme is 
     ``Engineers Make a World of Difference'';
       Whereas National Engineers Week, which was founded in 1951 
     by the National Society of Professional Engineers, is among 
     the oldest of America's professional outreach efforts;
       Whereas National Engineers Week is celebrated during the 
     week of George Washington's birthday to honor the 
     contributions that our first President, a military engineer 
     and land surveyor, made to engineering;
       Whereas for one outreach program alone, the National 
     Engineers Week Future City Competition, more than 1,100 
     schools and 32,000 middle school students participate 
     annually and 7,500 volunteers donate more than 225,000 hours;
       Whereas during National Engineers Week, more than 45,000 
     engineers connect with some 5,500,000 students and teachers 
     in kindergarten through high school as they help students and 
     teachers determine practical applications of their academics 
     and help students discover that STEM subjects can be fun;
       Whereas National Engineers Week activities at engineering 
     schools and in other forums are encouraging all our young 
     math and science students to see themselves as possible 
     future engineers and to realize the practical picture of 
     knowledge;
       Whereas National Engineers Week sponsors are working 
     together to transform the engineering workforce through the 
     better inclusion of women and underrepresented minorities;
       Whereas engineers from all disciplines send a new message 
     to today's youth: engineers change the world, save lives, 
     protect the Earth, and make a world of difference;
       Whereas engineers are working together to mesh diversity 
     and collaboration worldwide, whether reaching for the stars, 
     building global networks, or helping today's young students 
     prepare for their futures;
       Whereas engineers use their professional, scientific, and 
     technical knowledge and skills in creative and innovative 
     ways to fulfill society's needs;
       Whereas engineers have helped meet the major technological 
     challenges of our time--from rebuilding towns devastated by 
     natural disasters to designing an information superhighway 
     that will speed our country into the future;
       Whereas engineers are a crucial link in research, 
     development, and demonstration in transforming scientific 
     discoveries into useful products, and we will look more than 
     ever to engineers and their knowledge and skills to meet the 
     challenges of the future;
       Whereas engineers play a crucial role in developing the 
     consensus engineering standards that permit modern economies 
     and societies to exist; and
       Whereas the 2006 National Academy of Sciences report 
     entitled ``Rising Above the Gathering Storm'' highlighted the 
     worrisome trend that fewer students are now focusing on 
     engineering in college at a time when increasing numbers of 
     today's 2,000,000 United States engineers are nearing 
     retirement: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Engineers 
     Week and its aim to increase understanding of and interest in 
     engineering and technology careers and to promote literacy in 
     science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and
       (2) will work with the engineering community to make sure 
     that the creativity and contribution of that community can be 
     expressed through research, development, standardization, and 
     innovation.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous material on H. Res. 917, the resolution now under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.

[[Page H895]]

  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 917, supporting the 
goals and ideals of National Engineers Week.
  Founded by the National Society of Professional Engineers and 
including more than 100 society, government and business sponsors and 
affiliates, including Boeing and the American Society of Mechanical 
Engineers, National Engineers Week draws upon local and regional 
experts to recognize the contributions of engineers and to promote 
careers in engineering.
  From national and regional engineering competitions, such as the 
Future City Competition, to events such as Introduce a Girl to 
Engineering Day, this week is intended to inspire the next generation 
of American engineers and scientists.
  National Engineers Week takes place next week, just as it does every 
year, to commemorate the birthday of George Washington, one of our 
Nation's greatest engineers. Engineers have helped make our country 
great, from the American Revolution to the development of key modern 
industries, such as the aerospace industry, as well as various 
alternative industries. Engineers are at the forefront of human 
advances because engineers combine creativity with math and science 
training to solve problems. Engineers are not just builders, as they 
are sometimes envisioned, they are problem solvers. This is one of the 
first things I was taught when I was a graduate student at Stanford 
University in the Department of Engineering-Economic Systems. 
Engineering is problem solving.
  I have a unique perspective in Congress as one of fewer than 10 
engineers currently serving. Besides my master's degree from Stanford, 
I earned a bachelor's degree from Northwestern University in mechanical 
engineering. It is of great concern that America has fallen behind 
other countries in producing engineers. When I have toured engineering 
schools, whether it's been at Northwestern University, Stanford 
University, Northern Illinois University or the Illinois Institute of 
Technology, I have heard again and again how few Americans are getting 
engineering degrees, especially graduate degrees in engineering. It is 
great that America has such top universities that we are attracting 
some of the brightest minds from around the world to study here, but we 
are losing more and more of those students when they graduate and go 
back home.
  Engineers in the past helped us build boats across the seas, 
railroads to take us west, and the Internet to communicate across the 
world. Today, we need the innovative capability of engineers more than 
ever to confront the new challenges before us.
  A few years ago, the National Academy of Sciences report entitled 
``Rising Above the Gathering Storm'' raised serious questions about 
America's future technological competitiveness. This report called for 
the Federal Government to take a number of actions, including 
addressing the potential for a shortage of good engineers. I am proud 
that Chairman Gordon and the Science and Technology Committee on which 
I serve as vice chairman answered the report's call and took action to 
bolster America's competitiveness. Last summer, Congress passed and the 
President signed into law the America COMPETES Act. This groundbreaking 
law invests more in education, especially in the STEM fields of 
science, technology, engineering and math, and increases investment in 
critical research and development.
  America COMPETES has created new awards for outstanding early-career 
researchers and new graduate research assistantships in technological 
areas of national need. These investments will greatly benefit our 
Nation's engineers, helping America stay at the forefront of innovation 
and increasing our national, economic and environmental security. 
Indeed, America's engineers are a critical component in developing and 
employing the innovative technologies necessary to carry out many of 
the provisions of the Energy Independence and Security Act, the 
landmark energy law passed at the end of last year.
  Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from South 
Carolina (Mr. Inglis) for his work on this resolution, as well as the 
45 other cosponsors. And I would especially like to thank the engineers 
who have contributed so much to America, especially the 2 million 
engineers in America today.
  I ask my colleagues to support H. Res. 917.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. AKIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House 
Resolution 917. House Resolution 917 supports the goals and ideals of 
National Engineers Week, which will be celebrated this year in just a 
few days, starting February 17.
  The National Society of Professional Engineers established the first 
National Engineers Week in 1951. Through all of the next week, a wide 
range of activities are planned around the theme of ``Engineers Make a 
World of Difference'' in order to increase the understanding of and 
interest in engineering and technology careers and to promote K-12 
literacy in math and science. These activities will also highlight the 
contributions that engineers have made to our society.
  Historically, Engineers Week is celebrated during the week of George 
Washington's actual birthday to honor his contributions to engineering 
as a military engineer and a land surveyor. As our Nation's first 
President, he put our Nation on the path toward technological 
advancements, invention and education.
  We continue down that path today, which has grown exponentially into 
multiple and complex highways of innovation. It is our engineers, 
literally and figuratively, who build those highways and help keep us 
ahead of the innovation curve. From landing a man on the Moon to 
designing bags to carry our groceries, engineers play a role in nearly 
every facet of our lives.
  Just a few weeks ago, the National Science Foundation released the 
2008 Science and Engineering Indicators loaded with statistics on our 
Nation's engineering future. It's essential that we capitalize on 
opportunities such as National Engineers Week to raise awareness of the 
valuable work and contribution of engineers to society to attract young 
people of all ages to this rewarding profession.
  I support the goals and ideals of National Engineers Week, and I urge 
my colleagues to join me with their support.
  With that, Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. AKIN. Madam Speaker, I think it may be appropriate for me to add 
here a little interesting perspective that was not in the script today. 
It's an incident that occurred about 19-plus years ago. It seems like 
just the other day.
  I had just been elected to be a State legislator in the State of 
Missouri, and I was very pleased and proud of that. No one in my family 
had ever run for political office or slid that far down the totem pole 
of life, but I was still looking forward to serving as a State 
representative. And the first thing on my agenda was to go to an early 
morning breakfast with other legislators. I got to the breakfast, but 
it was so early I was there just a little bit late. Just about the time 
I was sitting down at the table, one of the prominent legislators at 
the table said, You know, we ought to have a law against engineers 
serving in the legislature because they are just way too rational for 
the legislative process. And I was just taking my chair when somebody 
said, You're not an engineer, are you? And I said, Yes, I am.
  So I'm thankful to be one of those seven or so engineers that serve 
here in the U.S. House. I do believe that there is always a use for the 
discipline of problem solving that engineering brings. So if there may 
be someone that's young and considering that career in engineering, I 
would advise them very strongly in favor of it, even though it involves 
a certain amount of suffering in undergraduate school.
  With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Missouri for his work on 
this resolution. And as a fellow engineer, I could not agree more that 
we could use a few more engineers here in this body.
  I just wanted to say, I mentioned earlier that I have an engineering 
background, and it really does give a unique perspective. But I think 
one of the

[[Page H896]]

most important things about National Engineers Week is the inspiration 
that we are looking to provide.
  I remember when I was a kid growing up in Chicago, I was always 
fascinated by the way things work, especially mechanical things. I 
remember with my high school calculus and physics teachers, Father Thul 
and Father Fergus, they were the ones who really helped mold this 
childhood fascination into an interest in engineering. And I have seen 
a lot of the work that is done in National Engineers Week to try to 
provide this inspiration for students who are out there today.
  I think this is very critical, as we face so many problems going into 
the future with energy, that we try and take care of global warming and 
so many other issues that we face. We need to have more engineers in 
this country to help us solve these problems. National Engineers Week 
is a great place to help provide inspiration so we have more engineers. 
And this resolution provides some more inspiration out there, 
hopefully, for some students who are watching this, listening to this, 
reading this later on, that we do need more engineers. I want to 
encourage that.
  I ask my colleagues to vote in support of H. Res. 917.
   Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I would like to 
express my support for H. Res. 917, supporting the goals and ideals of 
National Engineers Week.
  Engineers are important to Texas.
  The petrochemical, space, high-tech and transportation industries are 
integral to Texans' livelihoods.
  In fact, Texas ranks first in the nation in industries such as 
petrochemical, computer, and organic chemical manufacturing. Engineers 
have contributed to that success.
  As a Member of the House Committee on Science and Technology, I am 
glad to see my colleague, Mr. Lipinski, offer this resolution. It is 
important to acknowledge engineers for the valuable work that they do. 
The Texas Society of Professional Engineers works to foster a diverse 
and skilled workforce.
  I want to commend the Society for its work to empower students by 
educating them about careers in engineering, providing materials for 
use in classrooms, participating in after-school programs, 
disseminating scholarship information, and holding math and science 
competitions.
  I would also like to thank the Chairman of the House Committee on 
Science and Technology, Chairman Gordon, for his leadership on issues 
of national competitiveness.
  I support this resolution and urge my colleagues to support it also.
  Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, I am proud to support H. Res. 917, and I 
thank my colleague Mr. Lipinski for introducing this resolution. As a 
mathematician who spent much of my career working as a renewable energy 
engineer, I am particularly honored to advocate for the passage of this 
legislation. H. Res. 917 supports the goals and ideals of National 
Engineers Week, a valuable opportunity to recognize the importance of 
the work engineers perform.
  Engineers are responsible for many of the vital technological 
breakthroughs that improve the quality of life for Americans and people 
around the globe. American engineers and businesses lead the world in 
innovation, but unfortunately we are no longer producing as many 
engineers as our international competitors. Without a sustained 
national effort to train a new generation of engineers, our country is 
at risk of losing our competitive edge.
  I am proud of the work of the 110th Congress to reinvest in the 
science, technology, engineering, and math education programs that will 
train the next generation of American engineers. In addition, the 
America COMPETES Act, which was passed last summer, is a signature 
bipartisan achievement that marks a major milestone for science, 
technology, engineering, and math education in our country. More work 
remains to be done, however, and I hope all of my colleagues will join 
me in a bipartisan effort to support engineering in America.
  I would like to thank my colleagues again for their support of H. 
Res. 917, and I look forward to watching as American engineering 
continues to thrive.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 917.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. AKIN. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

                          ____________________