[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 33 (Tuesday, March 9, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H1177-H1180]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         NATIONAL ROBOTICS WEEK

  Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 1055), supporting the designation of National 
Robotics Week as an annual event.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1055

       Whereas the United States has the largest number of 
     academic and research organizations with dedicated programs 
     focused on the advancement of robotics technology;
       Whereas robotics has matured into an all-encompassing and 
     enabling technology that, as a pillar of 21st century 
     American innovation, is positioned to fuel a broad array of 
     next generation products and applications, transform our 
     society, and become as ubiquitous over the next several 
     decades as desktop and mobile computing technology is today;
       Whereas the emerging market for service robotics in various 
     sectors, including healthcare, national defense, homeland 
     security, energy, manufacturing, logistics, transportation, 
     agriculture, education, consumer goods, and others, is 
     expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of nearly 
     20 percent over the next few years to become a worldwide $27 
     billion industry;
       Whereas robotics is a critical technology capable in the 
     near term of contributing to the economic recovery by 
     creating new jobs, increasing productivity, improving 
     quality, and increasing worker safety, and equally capable 
     over time of addressing the longer term labor and healthcare 
     issues expected to result from the 40 percent increase in 
     number of the Nation's elderly over the next 20 years;

[[Page H1178]]

       Whereas robotics technology holds tremendous potential for 
     reducing the cost of healthcare delivery, stimulating the 
     discovery and development of new procedures and treatments 
     for a wide variety of diseases and disorders, improving the 
     standard and accessibility of care, providing individuals 
     with disabilities, especially injured veterans, with greater 
     independence and dignity, and enhancing overall patient 
     health outcomes;
       Whereas robotics technology is proving essential to our 
     national defense and homeland security by enabling the 
     ongoing development and fielding of unmanned air, ground, and 
     maritime systems that today help keep our Nation's war-
     fighters and protectors out of harm's way, and in the long 
     run will serve as a highly effective force multiplier;
       Whereas robotics is a key transformative technology that 
     can revolutionize American manufacturing by enabling small 
     and mid-sized companies to cost effectively combine highly 
     skilled workers and highly adaptable, precise, and reliable 
     equipment to create and make high value products in high-
     stakes industries;
       Whereas robotics is rapidly proving to be one of the most 
     effective, compelling, and engaging means for teaching and 
     reinforcing fundamental science, technology, engineering, and 
     mathematics (STEM) concepts as well as inspiring the Nation's 
     youth to pursue STEM-related careers thereby helping to 
     create a highly-skilled, 21st century American workforce;
       Whereas America's ability to maintain its leadership 
     position and be both globally competitive and cooperative in 
     a wide range of rapidly emerging markets is being currently 
     challenged by other regions, including the European Union, 
     Korea, and Japan, who have committed to making multi-billion 
     dollar, long-term investments in further developing and 
     commercializing robotics technology;
       Whereas there is a strong need to recognize America's 
     leadership in robotics technology, educate the public on 
     robotics technology's broad potential, growing importance, 
     and future impact on American society, underscore the need 
     for increased investment in robotics technology research and 
     development, and inspire the Nation's youth to pursue careers 
     in robotics and other STEM-related fields; and
       Whereas the second week in April each year is designated as 
     ``National Robotics Week'', recognizing the accomplishments 
     of Isaac Asimov, who immigrated to America, taught science, 
     wrote science books for children and adults, first used the 
     term robotics, developed the Three Laws of Robotics, and died 
     in April, 1992: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports the designation of National Robotics Week 
     (NRW) as an annual event;
       (2) encourages institutions of higher education and 
     companies which utilize robotics technology to hold open 
     houses during NRW to help explain the technology and its 
     applications;
       (3) encourages science museums to organize events and 
     demonstrations during NRW that help to educate and engage the 
     public on the utility, importance, and impact of robotics 
     technology;
       (4) encourages schools, clubs, and organizations to hold 
     open houses, organize local competitions, and demonstrate 
     student activities relating to the field of robotics 
     technology;
       (5) encourages activities that advance the use of robotics 
     to revolutionize the way fundamental science, technology, 
     engineering, and mathematics (STEM) concepts are taught in 
     the classroom and that highlight the success that robotics 
     competitions organized by groups such as For Inspiration and 
     Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) are having at 
     inspiring students to pursue STEM-related careers; and
       (6) affirms the growing importance of robotics technology 
     and supports all other efforts to increase national awareness 
     of the technology and its impact on the future of the Nation.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Baird) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BAIRD. 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. 1055, the resolution now under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Washington?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of H.R. 1055, a resolution supporting the 
designation of National Robotics Week as an annual event.
  National Robotics Week is observed the second week of April. Its 
purpose is to celebrate the United States as a leader in robotics 
technology development, to educate the public about how robotics 
technology impacts our society, and to inspire students of all ages to 
pursue careers in robotics and other science, technology, engineering, 
and mathematics fields.
  Robotics technology is an increasingly important technology for 
United States innovation and competitiveness, helping to create new 
jobs and increase productivity. It has potentially transformative 
implications for a broad range of sectors, including health care, 
national defense, homeland security, energy, manufacturing, 
transportation, and agriculture.
  At the same time, as the United States struggles to maintain a highly 
skilled STEM workforce, robotics technology has the ability to inspire 
young people and get them excited about science and technology. It is 
precisely this kind of enthusiasm that robotics technology and robotics 
competitions offer to our children that will encourage them to consider 
careers in STEM-related fields.
  I particularly want to thank and acknowledge the hard work of 
Representatives Mike Doyle from Pennsylvania and Phil Gingrey from 
Georgia for introducing this bipartisan resolution. Representatives 
Doyle and Gingrey are the co-chairs of the Congressional Robotics 
Caucus, and they have made it a priority to educate Members of Congress 
about robotics technology and the important role that it plays in our 
competitiveness.
  I would urge support of this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HALL of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1055, 
supporting the goals and ideals of National Robotics Week, and I yield 
myself such time as I may consume.
  National Robotics Week, which annually occurs during the second full 
week of April, recognizes the transformative role of robotics 
technology, the ability of robotics to inspire and educate, and the 
need to underscore education at all levels. This event celebrates the 
U.S. as a leader in robotics technology, which becomes more prevalent 
in our lives with each passing year.
  The mission of National Robotics Week is to educate the public about 
the social and cultural impacts of robotics technology and to inspire 
students of all ages to pursue careers in robotics and other science, 
technology, engineering, and mathematics-related fields.
  Events are scheduled around the country for this purpose. For those 
who cannot attend in person, the National Robotics Week Web site 
provides other ways for parents and teachers to get involved.
  Affecting numerous sectors of our economy, including national 
defense, robotics will continue to be an emerging market, with 
substantial growth expected. As such it is important for us to 
recognize the many aspects of the specialized field.
  Despite the projected growth, the United States is facing a shortage 
of graduates in STEM-related fields. National Robotics Week is yet 
another tool to help parents and teachers motivate and inspire our 
children to learn about the exciting role robotics plays in our 
everyday world. Somewhere out there, the next Isaac Asimov is receiving 
inspiration. Perhaps it is at a National Robotics Week event.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I would just mention, as my dear friend 
from Texas pointed out, that anybody who has had the opportunity to 
visit some of these nationwide competitions and see the enthusiasm of 
these young people as their robots compete in everything from pushing 
balls around to try to score goals in robotic soccer to mock combat, 
what you really see is people who have really put their hearts and 
minds into something, an enthusiastic learning experience that, as Mr. 
Hall pointed out, will really inspire these people to careers in 
science, technology, engineering, and math.
  We need more of these folks, and this legislation helps champion that 
idea. I again urge its passage.
  I have no further requests for time, and I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. DOYLE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1055, 
legislation to support the designation of National Robotics Week as an 
annual event.
  I introduced this legislation because the increase in the number of 
emerging and potential applications for robotics is astounding, and

[[Page H1179]]

I believe Americans should know more about the important role the field 
of robotics will play in our national security and economic health in 
the coming decades.
  Robotics has come a long way in the last 20 years, but most Americans 
still think of real-life robots as confined to the assembly line. 
Nothing could be further from the truth.
  Recently, we've seen advanced next-generation robotics playing an 
important role in our military for our national defense. Unmanned 
aerial vehicles today provide life-saving reconnaissance support for 
our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the rocket-armed Predator UAV 
is reportedly the most effective tool we have for attacking the Al-
Qaeda and Taliban leadership and infrastructure. In addition, our 
troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have benefited greatly from the 
development and deployment of mobile robots that detect and disarm 
IEDs--the improvised explosive devices that have posed the greatest 
threat to our troops on the ground in those countries.
  Robotics is growing in economic importance as well. Robots are now 
being used to perform surgeries, fill prescriptions, and deliver 
supplies and materials, in addition to the role they've filled for many 
years working on the assembly line. The Robotics Industry Association 
estimates that nearly 200,000 robots are now used in the United States, 
and it's estimated that more than one million robots are being used 
worldwide. Even during the current economic downturn, orders for 
robotic technology in the pharmaceutical, biomedical, and food and 
consumer goods sectors rose significantly.
  The emerging market for robotics in various sectors, including health 
care, national defense, homeland security, energy, manufacturing, 
logistics, transportation, agriculture, education, and consumer goods, 
is expected to grow at an annual rate of nearly 20 percent over the 
next few years to become a $27 billion industry worldwide, and one new 
study predicts that the personal robotics market for products like the 
Aibo, the iSobot, the Looj, and the Roomba will be worth $15 billion by 
2015.
  It's clear to me that robotics technology will drive much of the 
growth in the world economy in the coming decades, much as computer 
technology did over the last 30 years, and I want America to be the 
world leader in this exciting technology.
  I'm proud to note that the Congressional District I have the honor of 
representing is already a world leader in researching and developing 
robotics technology. In 1999, in fact, the Wall Street Journal 
nicknamed Pittsburgh ``Roboburgh.''
  Carnegie Mellon University has been leading the world in integrating 
robotic technologies into everyday life for over 30 years. Carnegie 
Mellon's Robotics Institute has nearly 350 full and part-time employees 
conducting research in a number of robotics-related fields, including 
space robotics, medical robotics, computer vision, and artificial 
intelligence, to name a few. All told, the Robotics Institute has about 
100 research projects and an annual research budget of $55 million. 
Current projects include a lunar prospector robot for NASA and two USDA 
programs applying robotic technologies to agricultural production.
  Pittsburgh is home to first generation companies like Bombardier 
Transportation and McKesson; and second generation companies such as 
RedZone, Seegrid, Aethon and RE Squared.
  Pittsburgh is also the long-time home of one of the giants of the 
robotics industry, Red Whitaker, distinguished professor of robotics at 
Carnegie Mellon University and the leader of the CMU team that won the 
2007 DARPA Grand Challenge, a cross-country long-distance race for 
robotic cars.
  At the state-level, Pennsylvania has a total of 45 robotics companies 
with over 2,000 employees. Nationwide, the figures are even larger and 
growing dramatically. That is why the Congressional Robotics Caucus was 
established--and why we're discussing National Robotics Week here 
today.
  National Robotics Week is the brainchild of a number of universities 
and companies working to promote the development and adoption of 
robotics technology. The consortium works closely with the House 
Robotics Caucus, which Representative Gingrey and I have the honor of 
co-chairing.
  The Robotics Caucus focuses on key issues facing the nation's 
traditional industrial robotics industry and, perhaps even more 
importantly, those issues critical to newly forming companies, markets, 
and industries based on advances in technology that enable robots to 
perform functions beyond traditional assembly line tasks and operate in 
environments beyond the factory floor. Our goals include: Increasing 
general awareness of robotics industry challenges and issues among 
Members of Congress and policy analysts in federal government; 
educating Members of Congress and congressional staff on current and 
future research, development, and utilization initiatives regarding 
robotics; serving as a forum where robotics-related policy issues can 
be exchanged, debated, and discussed; and ensuring that our nation 
remains globally competitive as the robotics industry rapidly expands 
and begins to exert a profound effect on the way our citizens live 
their lives.
  Representative Wamp and I established the Caucus in 2007. Today, the 
Caucus has over 30 members from across the country.
  About a year ago, the group of universities and businesses that serve 
on the advisory committee for the Robotics Caucus completed a national 
``road map'' to promote robotics technology.
  One of the steps contained in the road map was to raise public 
awareness of the potential robotics holds for our nation's growth in 
the coming years and encourage young people to pursue science, 
technology, engineering, and math educations essential for maintaining 
U.S. leadership in this important field. The road map identified the 
establishment of an annual national robotics week as a good way to help 
achieve that goal. The week of April 10th to 18th this year will be the 
first of these annual events to raise national awareness of robotics 
technology and its potential impact on the future of the Nation.
  Over the course of that week, robotics companies, museums, schools, 
and universities will hold events to educate the public and get young 
people interested in pursuing careers in fields associated with 
robotics. In Pittsburgh, for example, Carnegie Mellon University and 
the Carnegie Science Center will be holding open houses and other 
events for the public, and there will be a demonstration of an unmanned 
helicopter by SkEyes Unlimited, a local robotics company.
  I introduced H. Res. 1055 earlier this year to recognize the 
observation of National Robotics Week. It's my hope that this 
Congressional resolution will help give National Robotics Week--and the 
important goals it seeks to promote--a higher profile.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.
  Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. 
Res. 1055, a resolution supporting the designation of the 2nd week of 
April as National Robotics Week. As co-chair of the Congressional 
Robotics Caucus and lead Republican sponsor of this resolution, I would 
like to commend my colleague from Pennsylvania, Mr. Doyle, for his 
leadership in robotics and as the chief author of this legislation.
  Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, STEM, education is 
instrumental to our ability to stay at the cutting edge of the global 
economy. Yet, the United States is falling behind the rest of the world 
in the number of students that are graduating from STEM fields.
  Madam Speaker, according to a 2006 Association of American 
Universities study, 50 percent of students in China receive their 
undergraduate degrees in natural science or engineering; in Singapore, 
that number is 67 percent, and 38 percent of South Korea's graduates 
fall into these fields. Unfortunately, the United States is lagging 
behind with a staggering 15 percent of graduates in natural science or 
engineering.
  H. Res. 1055 reflects the support and understanding that the 
promotion of robotics will help inspire current and future students to 
pursue careers in robotics and other various STEM-related fields. In 
addition to simply supporting the designation of National Robotics 
Week, this resolution encourages schools, universities, and other 
robotics companies to use that week as a way to demonstrate the 
impressive and ongoing technological advancements in the field of 
robotics.
  Madam Speaker, as a graduate of Georgia Tech with a degree in 
chemistry, STEM education is an issue that is near and dear to me, and 
I am very happy to see this body consider a resolution that supports 
National Robotics Week. Robotics technology gives students a ``hands 
on'' learning experience and can provide them with the tools to keep 
them engaged in STEM fields with the hope that those students will 
pursue higher education opportunities and careers in those cutting edge 
fields.
  I urge all of my colleagues to support H. Res. 1055.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong 
support of H. Res. 1055, ``Supporting the designation of National 
Robotics Week as an annual event,'' introduced by my distinguished 
colleague from Pennsylvania, Representative Doyle.
  Robotics was a term first used by Isaac Asimov, who immigrated to 
America, wrote science books for children and adults and developed the 
Three Laws of Robotics. Robotics is rapidly proving to be one of the 
more effective, compelling, and engaging means for teaching and 
reinforcing fundamental science, technology, engineering, and 
mathematic, STEM, concepts. It is also a major vehicle for influencing 
the Nation's youth to pursue STEM-related careers, which is helping to 
create a highly-skilled 21st century workforce. Robotics is a key 
transformative technology

[[Page H1180]]

that can revolutionize American manufacturing by enabling small and 
mid-sized companies to cost effectively combine highly skilled workers 
and highly adaptable, precise, and reliable equipment to create and 
make high value products in high-stakes industries.
  Robotics technology is essential to our national defense and homeland 
security in that it enables the ongoing development and fielding of 
unmanned air, ground, and maritime systems that today keep our Nation's 
war-fighters and protectors out of harm's way, and in the long run will 
serve as a highly effective force multiplier. Robotics technology holds 
tremendous potential for reducing the cost of health care delivery, 
stimulating the discovery and development of new procedures and 
treatments for a variety of diseases and disorders, improving the 
standard and accessibility of care, providing individuals with 
disabilities, especially injured veterans, with greater independence 
and dignity, thus enhancing overall patient outcomes. Robotics is a 
critical technology capable in the near term of contributing to the 
economic recovery by creating new jobs, increasing productivity, 
improving quality, and increasing worker safety.
  The emerging market for service robotics in various sectors, 
including health care, national defense, homeland security, energy, 
manufacturing, logistics, transportation, agriculture, education, 
consumer goods, and others, is expected to grow at a compound annual 
growth rate of nearly 20 percent over the next few years, to become a 
worldwide $27 billion industry. Robotics has matured into an all-
encompassing and enabling technology that, as a pillar of 21st century 
American innovation, is positioned to fuel a broad array of next 
generation products and applications, transform our society and become 
as ubiquitous over the next several decades as desktop and mobile 
computing technology today. The United States has the largest number of 
academic and research organizations with dedicated programs focused on 
the advancement of robotics technology.
  I believe that supporting the designation of National Robotics Week, 
NRW, as an annual event will encourage all institutions of higher 
education and companies which utilize robotics technology to hold open 
houses during NRW to help explain the technology and its related 
applications. The week will allow schools, clubs, and organizations to 
organize local competitions, and demonstrate student activities 
relating to the field of robotics technology, and provide science 
museums the opportunity to organize demonstrations that help educate 
and engage the public. NRW will ultimately increase the national 
awareness of this particular type of technology and its impact on the 
future of the Nation. The way that fundamental STEM-concepts are taught 
in the classroom and how they highlight the success that robotics 
competitions are organized by groups such as For Inspiration and 
Recognition of Science and Technology, or FIRST, are inspiring students 
to pursue STEM-related careers.

                              {time}  1430

  Mr. HALL of Texas. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BAIRD. I would urge passage, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baird) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1055.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________