H. Res. 917 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

February 13, 2008. 

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; 
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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; 
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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 
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community can be expressed through research, development, standardization, and innovation. 

Attest: 

Clerk.