Supporting the goals and ideals of "IEEE Engineering the Future" Day on May 13, 2009, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, let me thank the gentleman from Tennessee, the Chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology, for his hard work and his kindness and for letting me have this bill on the floor so promptly.

I also thank my colleague from Florida for his introduction and kind words.

This legislation, which I introduced with my good friend Chairman Gordon, obviously congratulates the IEEE on its 125th anniversary and recognizes

May 13, 2009, as the IEEE Engineering the Future Day.

My colleagues, IEEE is a renowned international not-for-profit professional organization whose core purpose is to foster technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity.

As mentioned, with more than 210,000 members in the United States and more than 375,000 members in over 160 countries, the IEEE is the world's largest professional society for the advancement of technology. Their membership includes engineers, scientists and other professionals whose technical interests are rooted in electrical and computer sciences, engineering and related disciplines.

The IEEE as we know it today was formed by the merger of the Institute of Radio Engineers, which was founded in 1912, and the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, which was founded on May 13, 1884 by renowned inventor and distinguished entrepreneur Thomas Edison. Other notable past presidents of the IEEE and its founding institutions include well-known scientists Alexander Graham Bell, Charles Steinmetz, Lee De Forest, William Hewlett and Ivan Getting.

The IEEE's name was originally an acronym for the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. Today the organization's scope of interest has expanded into so many related fields that it is simply referred to as the letters IEEE.

Through its global membership, IEEE is a leading authority on areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power and consumer electronics, among others. Most IEEE members are electrical engineers, computer engineers and computer scientists, but the organization's wide scope of interest has attracted engineers in a lot of other disciplines, including mechanical and civil engineering as well as biologists, physicists and mathematicians.

The IEEE's constitution defines the purpose of this organization as, quote, scientific and educational, directed toward the advancement of the theory and practice of electrical, electronics, communications and computer engineering, as well as computer science, the allied branches of engineering and the related arts and sciences, all encompassing.

My colleagues, in pursuing these goals, the IEEE serves as a major publisher of some 144 scientific journals and magazines and a sponsor of more than 300 conferences annually. It is also a leading developer of industrial standards that support many of today's products and services, with an active portfolio of nearly 1,300 standards and projects under development in a broad range of disciplines, including electric power and energy, biomedical technology and health care, information technology, information assurance, telecommunications, consumer electronics, transportation, aerospace, and most importantly, nanotechnology, the wave of the future.

IEEE also develops and participates in educational activities such as accreditation of electrical engineering programs in all of our institutes of higher learning in this country. To foster an interest in the engineering profession, IEEE serves student members in colleges and universities around the world with more than 1,600 student branches in almost 500 student branch chapters at colleges and universities in 80 countries.

The goal of the IEEE educational program is to ensure the growth, the skill and knowledge in the electricity-related technical professions and to foster individual commitment to continuing education among IEEE members, the engineering and scientific communities, and, of course, the general public.

As mentioned by the distinguished chairman, I am an electrical engineer. I was a member of IEEE in college, and I'm now presently a member. I was an aerospace engineer in the Air Force, a captain in the Air Force during launching of satellites from Vandenberg Air Force Base. I'm very proud of the background I have. It sometimes helps me in trying to understand the intricacies in analysis here in Congress.

So I urge my colleagues to join me and recognize the simple and powerful contributions and impact the IEEE has in this country and its members and engineering and technology professionals who have made accomplishments here in the United States and continue to support their goals and ideals of IEEE engineering, the future day, on May 13, 2009.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to support this resolution put forth by my colleague Representative Cliff Stearns. H. Res. 413, ``Supporting the goals and ideals of `IEEE Engineering Future' Day on May 13, 2009'' will recognize the importance of engineering and technology in meeting the nation's most pressing challenges.

This institution has a rich history, which traces its roots to the founding of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE) on May 13, 1884. The renowned inventor and entrepreneur Thomas Alva Edison was the founder of AIEE. Other notable presidents of the IEEE and its founding organizations include Alexander Graham Bell, Charles Proteus Steinmetz, Lee De Forest, William R. Hewlett, and Ivan Getting.

Through its global membership, IEEE is a leading authority on areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power, and consumer electronics among others.

As technologies and the industries increasingly transcended national boundaries, IEEE kept pace and became a truly global institution. Over the years, IEEE used the innovations of the practitioners it represented to enhance its own excellence in delivering products and services to members, industries, and the public at large. Publications and educational programs were delivered online. IEEE's member services such as renewal and elections were also delivered online.

The IEEE publishes nearly a third of the world's technical literature in electrical engineering, computer science and electronics. This includes about 130 journals, transactions and magazines and over 400 conference proceedings published annually. In cooperation with John Wiley and Sons, Inc., the IEEE also produces technical books, monographs, guides and textbooks. IEEE journals are consistently among the most highly cited in electrical and electronics engineering, telecommunications and other technical fields.

IEEE is the world's largest technical professional society. By 2008, IEEE had 375,000 members in 160 countries and more than 210,000 members in the United States. The United States must continue its efforts to maintain its leadership in science, technology, and innovation as revolutionary advances in information technology, biotechnology, nanotechnology, and other fields are reshaping the global economy.

IEEE's core purpose is to foster technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity. As a leader in the development of international standards that support many of today's products and services, with an active portfolio of nearly 1,300 standards and projects under development, this non profit organization attracts the best and brightest to use their skills and experience and apply technology to benefit society and help solve humanitarian issues. In addition, IEEE provides learning opportunities within the engineering sciences with the goal of ensuring the growth of skill and knowledge among the technical profession as well as a forum for professionals to interact, collaborate, and generate new ideas and concepts.

This Congress should recognize that IEEE is essential to the global technical community and to technical professionals everywhere. The IEEE is universally recognized for the contributions of technology and of technical professionals in improving global conditions. I congratulate IEEE on its 125th anniversary and support the goals and ideals of `IEEE Engineering the Future' Day and I urge my colleagues to support them as well.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 413) supporting the goals and ideals of ``IEEE Engineering the Future'' Day on May 13, 2009, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 413, the resolution now under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

I rise today in support of H. Res. 413, supporting the goals and ideals of IEEE Engineering the Future Day on May 13, 2009.

I want to thank my good friend from Florida (Mr. Stearns) for working with me to introduce this resolution. Mr. Stearns holds a degree in electrical engineering and served in the Air Force as an aerospace engineer. So I think his sponsorship of this resolution is very appropriate.

The IEEE is the world's largest technical professional society, with more than 375,000 members worldwide, including 210,000 in the United States. It is made up primarily of engineers, scientists, engineering professors, computer and technical professionals. The organization's core purpose is to foster technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity.

IEEE supports programs that improve K-12 science, technology, engineering and mathematics education and technical literacy. Its vast library of technical publications, worldwide conferences and global standards make it a powerful force for technological leadership.

To celebrate its 125th anniversary, IEEE will hold the IEEE Engineering the Future Day tomorrow, May 13, 2009, to recognize the contributions and impact that IEEE, its members, and the engineering and technological professions have made, and to raise public awareness of the diverse opportunities available in different technological fields.

I ask my colleagues to help pass H. Res. 413, to recognize the importance of engineering and technology in meeting our Nation's most pressing challenges; congratulate IEEE on its 125th anniversary; and support the goals and ideas of the IEEE Engineering the Future Day on May 13.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my friend from Florida (Mr. Stearns), a cosponsor of this resolution.

We have no further speakers. I reserve the time.

Madam Speaker, I will conclude by thanking Mr. Stearns, my friend from Florida, for introducing this resolution. 125 years is a long time in the history of this country, and certainly to originate out of Thomas Edison demonstrates this is a very important organization. I thank Mr. Stearns for bringing this to our attention.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 413, which recognizes the goals and ideals of IEEE Engineering the Future Day. IEEE traces its roots to the founding of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE) on May 13, 1884, at a time when

the ability to harness electricity for useful purposes was in its infancy. Since then, electrical power has become central to our way of life, and technologies based on electronics have become ubiquitous. The AIEE evolved to reflect these changes, first by joining with the Institute of Radio Engineers to become the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and later by shortening the organization's official name to IEEE in recognition of the fact that technical fields were transcending traditional definitions and boundaries. Still, the overarching goal of the organization--to apply technology and innovation for the benefit of humanity--has remained constant from the beginning. IEEE has become a global professional organization with 375,000 members in 160 countries. It sponsors hundreds of conferences and professional meetings annually, maintains an electronic library of technical publications, develops international technical standards, hosts educational and professional development programs, and provides a forum for professional interactions and collaborations. As we look to the future, we will rely increasingly on science, engineering, and technology to help us meet our energy challenges, safeguard our environment, grow our economy, and improve our quality of life. I hope that IEEE's Engineering the Future Day will raise awareness about how science and technology affects our daily lives and about the many opportunities available to technical professionals. I congratulate IEEE and its members on the organization's 125th anniversary and past achievements, and I look forward to all of its future contributions.

Madam Speaker, I would yield myself as much time as I may consume.

I rise today to support House Resolution 413, supporting the goals and ideals of IEEE Engineering the Future Day on May 13, 2009.

IEEE, as the Chairman has said, is a nonprofit organization and the world's leading professional association for the advancement of technology. It's a leading authority on areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers, telecommunications, biomedical engineering, electrical power and consumer electronics, just among many.

Today IEEE has more than 375,000 members, including nearly 80,000 student members in more than 160 countries around the world. These members rely on IEEE as a source of technical and professional information. They rely on them for resources and also for a number of different services.

IEEE Engineering the Future Day will be held by IEEE tomorrow, May 13, 2009, to recognize the contributions and impact that that organization, its members, and engineering and technology professionals have made over the last 125 years, and to raise public awareness, Madam Speaker, of the diverse opportunities available in many, many different technological fields.

Madam Speaker, I would then ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution, honoring this special day and anniversary.

At this time I will reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, after listening to the words of the sponsor, I don't think anything else needs to be said, so I will yield back the remaining part of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.