[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 85 (Tuesday, June 9, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S6391]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      CONGRATULATING THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS

  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 179 submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 179) congratulating the American 
     Society of Mechanical Engineers on its 125 years of codes and 
     standards development.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or 
debate, and any statements related to resolution be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 179) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 179

       Whereas the American Society of Mechanical Engineers 
     (ASME), which was founded in 1880 and currently includes more 
     than 127,000 members worldwide, is a premier professional 
     organization serving the engineering and technical community 
     through high-quality programs in the development and 
     maintenance of codes and standards, continuing education, 
     research, conferences, publications, and government 
     relations;
       Whereas in 2009, ASME is celebrating its 125th anniversary 
     of codes and standards development, commemorating a rich 
     history of engineering progress, technological safety, and 
     service to industry and government;
       Whereas the ASME codes and standards activity began in a 
     period of rising industrialization in the United States and 
     grew in stature and influence as technology advanced and new 
     industries were born;
       Whereas a significant achievement in the history of ASME 
     includes the issuance of the first ASME Boiler Code in 1914;
       Whereas the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code has since 
     been incorporated into the laws of all 50 States and is also 
     referenced in Canada and other parts of the world;
       Whereas since the publication of its first performance test 
     code 125 years ago, titled ``Code for the Conduct of Trials 
     of Steam Boilers'', ASME has developed more than 500 
     technical standards for pressure vessel technology, electric 
     and nuclear power facilities, elevators and escalators, gas 
     pipelines, engineering drawing practices, and numerous other 
     technical and engineered products and processes;
       Whereas ASME codes and standards and conformity assessment 
     programs are presently used in more than 100 countries;
       Whereas ASME's celebration of its 125 years of codes and 
     standards development is a tribute to the dedicated service 
     of technical experts and staff whose efforts result in 
     internationally accepted standards that enhance public safety 
     and provide lifelong learning and technical exchange 
     opportunities that benefit the global engineering and 
     technology community; and
       Whereas ASME honors the dedicated volunteers who 
     participate in their codes and standards and conformity 
     assessment programs, which today are a global operation 
     involving more than 4,000 individuals: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates ASME on the 125th anniversary of its 
     renowned codes and standards activity;
       (2) recognizes and celebrates the achievements of all ASME 
     volunteer members and staff who participate in the codes and 
     standards programs;
       (3) expresses the gratitude of the people of the United 
     States for the contributions provided by ASME's codes and 
     standards to the health, safety, and economic well-being of 
     the citizenry of this Nation;
       (4) recognizes ASME's focus on global and accessible 
     standards development and their vision for technical 
     competence and innovation;
       (5) recognizes ASME's mission to be the essential resource 
     for mechanical engineers and other technical professionals 
     throughout the world for solutions that benefit humankind; 
     and
       (6) directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit an 
     enrolled copy of this resolution to the president of ASME.

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