A concurrent resolution congratulating ASME on their 125th anniversary, celebrating the achievements of ASME members, and expressing the gratitude of the American people for ASME's contributions.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 13) congratulating ASME on their 125th anniversary, celebrating the achievements of ASME members, and expressing the gratitude of the American people for ASME's contributions.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. Con. Res. 13.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of Senate Concurrent Resolution 13, a resolution recognizing the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME, on the occasion of its 125th anniversary.

125 years ago, a group of prominent mechanical engineers gathered in the New York offices of the ``American Machinist'' to form what ultimately became ASME, one of the premier professional engineering organizations for technical education and research issues. Since 1880, ASME has worked to advance technological knowledge and facilitate the transfer of information from research to application.

Significant among ASME's many achievements is its efforts to improve the safety and reliability of equipment, especially boilers. In the year that ASME was founded, nearly 160 boiler explosions occurred in the U.S., each of which brought death and injury. During this period of industrial growth, boilers were becoming larger, more numerous and dangerous.

On March 10, 1905, a boiler explosion at the Brockton Shoe Factory resulted in 58 deaths and 117 injuries and completely leveled the factory. Terrible accidents like Brockton drove the creation of ASME's comprehensive Boiler Code, a set of standards to ensure the reliability and predictability of machine design and production. Quickly adopted by most States, this code virtually eliminated boiler explosions in the United States.

Today, ASME has thousands of volunteers working on committees that combine to issue more than 600 standards, ensuring proper specifications for a wide range of manufactured items. From the pressure valve of boilers to the threads on a screw, these standards ensure that equipment fits and holds safely, protecting American workers and the general public.

Some of our most prominent Americans have helped found ASME and many of our greatest innovators have occupied its board. Many will recognize the names of such members as Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and George Westinghouse.

ASME continues this proud tradition more than a century later, engaging men and women of substance in emerging and future technical fields and cultivating the next generation of industrial leaders. In fact, ASME fellows can be found in the Halls of Congress and throughout the administration, providing valuable insight on legislation, regulation, and policies related to technology and the practice of engineering. The ASME members are tireless advocates for quality science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education for students of all ages.

For 125 years of service to the U.S., I want to extend my warmest and heartfelt congratulations and sincere appreciation to President Harry Armen and the members of ASME for their strong and inspired leadership. I look forward to our continued association and future ASME achievements.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I proudly support S. Con. Res. 13, a resolution to recognize the American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME) on the occasion of its 125th anniversary.

Since 1880, ASME has focused upon technical, educational, and research issues as they pertain to engineering. It has played a key role in standardization and safety--developing and promulgating more than 600 codes and standards over its 125-year history.

Significantly, ASME created a comprehensive Boiler Code in reaction to the dangerous widespread boiler explosions that plagued early 20th century America. Following rapid adoption, this code virtually eliminated the scourge of boiler explosions. In updated versions, the code is still in existence today. It serves as a clear example of the value--indeed the necessity--of clear standards to prevent injury and maximize economic output.

Fifty years after its founding, ASME worked to promote precision machining, mass production and commercial transportation--all technologies that triggered enormous productivity gains and opened the nation and the world to American enterprise. Prominent ASME members included pioneers of American technology and industry such as Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and George Westinghouse. At the same time, the human aspect of industrial processes grew into focus: ASME leaders Henry Robinson Towne, Frederick Taylor and James M. Dodge pioneered management practices that reformed labor-management relations.

Today, over 120,000 members comprise ASME, serving the interests of industry, government, academia and the public. ASME members play a key role in providing affordable access to energy and natural resources. Its members work to ensure the quality of scientific research as well as science and technology education. In fact, ASME fellows can be found in the halls of Congress and throughout the Administration providing valuable insight on legislation and helping to shape engineering and technology policy.

Recently, ASME members have risen to the challenge posed by the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Their intensified efforts have developed technologies for homeland security and protected critical assets to our Nation.

On behalf of the 109th Congress, I warmly congratulate ASME for 125 years of service to the United States. I wish to extend my sincere appreciation to President Harry Armen and the members of ASME for their strong leadership and I look forward to future ASME achievement.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of this resolution to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the founding of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, with its 120,000 members worldwide, is a professional organization focused on technical, educational, and research issues of the engineering and technology communities.

The society has a long and distinguished history in the creation of industrial and manufacturing codes and standards that enhance public safety. It began with technical standards for screw threads and now has developed more than 600 standards, including standards in vital areas such as precision machining, nuclear power generation, and petroleum refining.

The diversity and range of the society's activities is reflected in the variety of its technical divisions, including Aerospace, Management, Materials, Power, Production Engineering, Rail Transportation, Textile Industries and most recently, Information Storage and Processing Systems.

The Society conducts one of the world's largest technical publishing operations, holds numerous technical conferences worldwide, and offers hundreds of professional development courses each year. It also sponsors activities to enhance kindergarten through twelfth grade science education and to attract students to careers in science and engineering.

On the basis of its long and beneficial service to the engineering profession and to the welfare of this Nation, it is entirely appropriate that we recognize the accomplishments of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and congratulate the society on its 125th anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I commend this resolution to my colleagues and ask for their support for its passage by this House.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Con. Res. 13, which was submitted earlier today by Senator Sununu.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, en bloc, and that any statements relating to the resolution be printed in the Record.