House Affirms Support for Engineers
(Washington, DC) – Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.Res. 117, which supports the goals and ideals of National Engineers Week, by a vote of 422 to 0. The resolution was introduced by the Research and Science Education Subcommittee Chairman Daniel Lipinski (D-IL), who holds engineering degrees from Northwestern University and Stanford University.
National Engineers Week is February 15-21 2009. Today, the House affirmed that it: supports the goals and ideals of National Engineers Week, to increase understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers and to promote literacy in math and science; and 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.
“Engineers play an important role in our society in helping to meet many of technological challenges we face, and it is important that we recognize and celebrate that role,” said House Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN). “Engineers have played a crucial role in our economic growth, especially their role helping to span the gap between scientific discovery and commercial products. Economic estimate that half of our growth in GDP over the past 50 years is related to the development and adoption of new technologies. Having a strong national community of engineers will be a key factor in our nation’s ability to reverse the economic downturn and create the jobs and products of the future.”
“Engineers have built bridges and ships to carry people and goods across water, railways to carry products and passengers across continents, and the internet to carry information around the world,” said Lipinski. “We need the innovative power of engineers more than ever to confront the new challenges before us. They will help us build the bridge to the new energy economy and American energy independence.”
National Engineers Week has grown into a formal coalition of more than 70 engineering, education, and cultural societies, and more than 50 major corporations and government agencies. Its goal is to raise public awareness of the significant, positive contributions to society by engineers, and to encourage young students to see themselves as possible future engineers.
The 2005 National Academy of Science report Rising Above the Gathering Storm highlighted that fewer students are focusing on engineering in college at a time when increasing numbers of today’s engineers are nearing retirement. Celebrations such as National Engineers Week are an important part of highlighting the importance of engineers, and inspiring more students to think about pursing a career in engineering.
(Washington, DC) – Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.Res. 117, which supports the goals and ideals of National Engineers Week, by a vote of 422 to 0. The resolution was introduced by the Research and Science Education Subcommittee Chairman Daniel Lipinski (D-IL), who holds engineering degrees from Northwestern University and Stanford University.
National Engineers Week is February 15-21 2009. Today, the House affirmed that it: supports the goals and ideals of National Engineers Week, to increase understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers and to promote literacy in math and science; and 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.
“Engineers play an important role in our society in helping to meet many of technological challenges we face, and it is important that we recognize and celebrate that role,” said House Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN). “Engineers have played a crucial role in our economic growth, especially their role helping to span the gap between scientific discovery and commercial products. Economic estimate that half of our growth in GDP over the past 50 years is related to the development and adoption of new technologies. Having a strong national community of engineers will be a key factor in our nation’s ability to reverse the economic downturn and create the jobs and products of the future.”
“Engineers have built bridges and ships to carry people and goods across water, railways to carry products and passengers across continents, and the internet to carry information around the world,” said Lipinski. “We need the innovative power of engineers more than ever to confront the new challenges before us. They will help us build the bridge to the new energy economy and American energy independence.”
National Engineers Week has grown into a formal coalition of more than 70 engineering, education, and cultural societies, and more than 50 major corporations and government agencies. Its goal is to raise public awareness of the significant, positive contributions to society by engineers, and to encourage young students to see themselves as possible future engineers.
The 2005 National Academy of Science report Rising Above the Gathering Storm highlighted that fewer students are focusing on engineering in college at a time when increasing numbers of today’s engineers are nearing retirement. Celebrations such as National Engineers Week are an important part of highlighting the importance of engineers, and inspiring more students to think about pursing a career in engineering.
