Title: Supporting the goals and ideals of Engineers Week.
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

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

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 124 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 124

           Supporting the goals and ideals of Engineers Week.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 14, 2017

 Mr. Lipinski (for himself, Mr. Collins of New York, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. 
Cardenas, Mr. Costa, Ms. Esty, Mr. Al Green of Texas, Ms. Jackson Lee, 
     Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Mr. Kilmer, Mr. Larsen of 
   Washington, Mr. McNerney, Mrs. Murphy of Florida, Ms. Norton, Mr. 
    Peters, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Rush, Mr. Ryan of Ohio, Mr. Swalwell of 
   California, Mr. Tonko, and Ms. Clarke of New York) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Science, 
 Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Education 
 and the Workforce, 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;
Whereas the mission of DiscoverE (formerly the National Engineers Week 
        Foundation) 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 math, 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 engineers have helped meet the major global challenges of our time, 
        including providing state-of-the-art transportation and information 
        technology infrastructures, enhancing national security, and developing 
        the clean energy technologies needed to power the people of the United 
        States into the future;
Whereas most people in the United States continue to say that the benefits of 
        science outweigh the potential harms, that the Federal Government should 
        fund research, and that ``science creates more opportunity for the next 
        generation'', according to the National Science Board's 2016 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;
Whereas the National Science Board's ``Science and Engineering Indicators 2010 
        and 2012'' shows that while the number of students obtaining engineering 
        degrees in the United States has reached an all-time high, the rates for 
        women do not reflect our national demographics, with only 19 percent of 
        Bachelor's degrees in engineering being earned by women;
Whereas the National Science Board's ``Science and Engineering Indicators 2016'' 
        shows that historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, 
        particularly Blacks and Hispanics, continue to display lower S&E 
        participation rates relative to their presence in the U.S. population 
        comprising about 10 percent of workers in S&E occupations;
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 4 percent of the Nation's workforce is composed of scientists and 
        engineers, 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 math, and raising public awareness and 
        appreciation of the contributions of engineers to society; and
Whereas February 19, 2017, to February 25, 2017, has been designated as 
        Engineers Week by DiscoverE and the theme is, ``Engineers Dream Big'', 
        spotlighting the important contributions of the engineering community to 
        our quality of life now and in the future, especially in the areas of 
        energy, water, and food sustainability: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, 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.
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