Date: 2010-03-09
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1055. "Supporting the designation of National Robotics Week as an annual event." introduced by my distinguished colleague from Pennsylvania. Representative DOYLE. Robotics was a term first used by Isaac Asimov. who immigrated to America. wrote science books for children and adults and developed the Three Laws of Robotics. Robotics is rapidly proving to be one of the more effective. compelling. and engaging means for teaching and reinforcing fundamental science. technology. engineering. and mathematic. STEM. concepts. It is also a major vehicle for influencing the Nations youth to pursue STEMrelated careers. which is helping to create a highlyskilled 21st century workforce. Robotics is a key transformative technology that can revolutionize American manufacturing by enabling small and midsized companies to cost effectively combine highly skilled workers and highly adaptable. precise. and reliable equipment to create and make high value products in highstakes industries. Robotics technology is essential to our national defense and homeland security in that it enables the ongoing development and fielding of unmanned air. ground. and maritime systems that today keep our Nations warfighters and protectors out of harms way. and in the long run will serve as a highly effective force multiplier. Robotics technology holds tremendous potential for reducing the cost of health care delivery. stimulating the discovery and development of new procedures and treatments for a variety of diseases and disorders. improving the standard and accessibility of care. providing individuals with disabilities. especially injured veterans. with greater independence and dignity. thus enhancing overall patient outcomes. Robotics is a critical technology capable in the near term of contributing to the economic recovery by creating new jobs. increasing productivity. improving quality. and increasing worker safety. The emerging market for service robotics in various sectors. including health care. national defense. homeland security. energy. manufacturing. logistics. transportation. agriculture. education. consumer goods. and others. is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of nearly 20 percent over the next few years. to become a worldwide $27 billion industry. Robotics has matured into an allencompassing and enabling technology that. as a pillar of 21st century American innovation. is positioned to fuel a broad array of next generation products and applications. transform our society and become as ubiquitous over the next several decades as desktop and mobile computing technology today. The United States has the largest number of academic and research organizations with dedicated programs focused on the advancement of robotics technology. I believe that supporting the designation of National Robotics Week. NRW. as an annual event will encourage all institutions of higher education and companies which utilize robotics technology to hold open houses during NRW to help explain the technology and its related applications. The week will allow schools. clubs. and organizations to organize local competitions. and demonstrate student activities relating to the field of robotics technology. and provide science museums the opportunity to organize demonstrations that help educate and engage the public. NRW will ultimately increase the national awareness of this particular type of technology and its impact on the future of the Nation. The way that fundamental STEMconcepts are taught in the classroom and how they highlight the success that robotics competitions are organized by groups such as For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. or FIRST. are inspiring students to pursue STEMrelated caree rs.