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; 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 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; 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 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 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; 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 That the House of Representatives— (1) supports the goals and ideals of Engineers Week to increase understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers and to promote technological literacy and engineering education; (2) recognizes that engineering education is a critical component of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education and essential to improving the United States educational system and economic prosperity; and (3) ensures that technological solutions designed by the engineering community can be advanced through research, development, standardization, and innovation.

Summary: This resolution supports the goals and ideals of Engineers Week to increase understanding of, and interest in, engineering and technology careers. The resolution recognizes that engineering education is a critical component of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education.