IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 849 

Supporting the goals and ideals of Engineers Week. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 12, 2020 

Mr. LIPINSKI (for himself, Mr. MCNERNEY, Ms. HOULAHAN, Mr. TONKO, Mr. 

KRISHNAMOORTHI, Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma, Ms. JOHNSON of 

Texas, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, Mr. CA ́RDENAS, Mr. WESTERMAN, 

Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. WEBER of Texas, Ms. STEVENS, and Mr. BAIRD) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on 

Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 

Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 

the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of Engineers Week. 

Whereas engineers employ their scientific knowledge and analytical skills for the betterment of the United States and 

for the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare; 

Whereas the mission of the National Engineers Week Foundation (doing business as DiscoverE) is to sustain and 

grow a dynamic engineering profession through outreach, 

education, celebration, and volunteerism as needed to 

keep the United States a global leader in engineering and 

engineering education; 


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•HRES 849 IH 

Whereas the sponsors of Engineers Week are working together to transform the engineering workforce through 

greater inclusion of women and underrepresented minorities; 

Whereas by engaging young students, parents, and educators 

in hands-on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) activities, engineers help them discover 

how they can make a meaningful difference in the world; 

Whereas the partnership between engineers and teachers inspires future generations of engineering and technology 

talent; 

Whereas tens of thousands of engineers and engineering students will serve their communities not only through their 

work but, at this time of year, by reaching into hundreds 

of local communities; 

Whereas the perspective and technical expertise of engineers 

is vital to solving today’s most pressing global challenges—including infrastructure, national security, and 

environmental sustainability—and the professional engineer’s commitment to high ethical standards is necessary 

for the protection of public health, safety, and welfare; 

Whereas ‘‘science creates more opportunity for the next generation’’, according to the National Science Board’s 2018 

Science and Engineering Indicators; 

Whereas engineers are a crucial link in research, development, and the transformation of scientific discoveries into 

useful products and jobs, as the people of the United 

States look more than ever to engineers and their imagination, knowledge, and analytical skills to meet the challenges of the future; 


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•HRES 849 IH 

Whereas the National Science Board’s 2018 Science and Engineering Indicators show that the number of students 

obtaining engineering bachelor’s degrees in the United 

States has increased steadily for the last 15 years for 

which data are available, yet the rates for women do not 

reflect our national demographics, with only 20 percent 

of bachelor’s degrees in engineering being earned by 

women; 

Whereas the National Science Board’s ‘‘Science and Engineering Indicators 2020’’ shows that historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, particularly Blacks 

and Hispanics, ‘‘remain underrepresented in the [science 

& engineering (S&E)] workforce relative to their overall 

presence in the workforce and the population’’; 

Whereas the National Science Foundation’s National Center 

for Science and Engineering Statistics report on 

‘‘Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in 

Science and Engineering 2017’’ shows that women are 

closing the gap with men in S&E educational attainment 

but are still underrepresented in S&E occupations; 

Whereas only around 4 percent of the Nation’s workforce is 

comprised of scientists and engineers, yet this group disproportionately creates jobs for the other 96 percent; 

Whereas DiscoverE has grown into a formal coalition of more 

than 100 professional societies, major corporations, and 

government agencies that serves as a hub of engineering 

outreach dedicated to ensuring a diverse and well-educated engineering workforce, promoting literacy in 

science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and 

raising public awareness and appreciation of the contributions of engineers to society; 


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•HRES 849 IH 

Whereas Congress has recognized National Engineers Week 

every year since 1951; and 

Whereas February 16, 2020, to February 22, 2020, has been 

designated as Engineers Week by DiscoverE and the 

theme is ‘‘Engineers: Pioneers of Progress’’, spotlighting 

the important contributions of the engineering community to our quality of life has always been and will be now 

and in the future, including awe-inspiring wonders like 

cloud-busting skyscrapers and human travel to Mars and 

daily marvels like clean drinking water, computers, and 

cars: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the goals and ideals of Engineers 

3 Week to increase understanding of and interest in 

4 engineering and technology careers and to promote 

5 technological literacy and engineering education; 

6 (2) recognizes that engineering education is a 

7 critical component of STEM (science, technology, 

8 engineering, and mathematics) education and essen9 tial to improving the United States educational sys10 tem and economic prosperity; and 

11 (3) ensures that technological solutions de12 signed by the engineering community can be ad13 vanced through research, development, standardiza14 tion, and innovation. 

Æ 


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