2001 L Street, N.W., Suite 700

Washington, DC 20036

IEEE Engineering the Future Day, 125th Anniversary Recognized by U.S.
House of Representatives

WASHINGTON (13 May 2009) -- The U.S. House of Representatives passed a
resolution last night supporting the goals and ideals of "IEEE
Engineering the Future Day," which IEEE is celebrating today in
recognition of its 125th anniversary.

House Resolution 413, which passed 409-0, was introduced by Rep. Cliff
Stearns (R-Fla.). Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.), chairman of the House Science
and Technology Committee, was the lead cosponsor.

Stearns was a student member of IEEE while earning his degree in
electrical engineering from George Washington University.

"I was an aerospace engineer in the Air Force, a captain in the Air
Force during [the] launching of satellites from Vandenberg Air Force
Base," Stearns said on the House floor Tuesday. "I'm very proud of the
background I have. It sometimes helps me in trying to understand the
intricacies in analysis here in Congress."

Gordon spoke Tuesday about some of the myriad accomplishments of IEEE
members.

"Who could imagine the world today without electricity, light bulbs,
computers, radios, TVs, wireless communications, the Internet and all
those electronic devices that inform us, entertain us and help make
our
lives more enjoyable?," Gordon said. "Health care has improved because
we have x-rays, MRIs, laser surgery, sonograms, arthroscopic cameras
and
pacemakers.

"We can thank electrical and computer engineers for these lifesaving
technologies."

See http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c111:2:./temp/~c1119fBz4G::
for the full resolution. (Include the colons at the end.)

In addition to Gordon, original cosponsors included Reps. Vernon
Ehlers
(R-Mich.), Ralph Hall (R-Texas), Daniel Lipinski (D-Ill.), Frank
Pallone
(D-N.J.) and Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.). Ehlers is a physicist and
Lipinski an engineer. Pallone's district includes IEEE's Operations
Center in Piscataway, N.J. Hall is the ranking Republican member of
the
House Science and Technology Committee, and Rohrabacher is a member.
Gordon managed the resolution for the Democrats and Mario Diaz-Balart
(R-Fla.) for the Republicans.

IEEE Engineering the Future Day, which falls on IEEE's official
anniversary date, recognizes the contributions and impact that IEEE
members and engineering and technology professionals have made for the
benefit of humanity. IEEE traces its beginning to the founding of the
American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE) on 13 May, 1884.
AIEE
merged with the Institute of Radio Engineers in 1963 to form IEEE.

The House resolution recognizes IEEE for many contributions,
including,
among others, its "vast library of technical publications," worldwide
conferences, "international standards that support many of today's
products and services,” and for providing "learning opportunities
within
the engineering sciences." The resolution concludes by saying the
"United States must continue its efforts to maintain its leadership in
science, technology, and innovation: Now, therefore, be it /Resolved,/
That the House of Representatives (1) recognizes the importance of
engineering and technology to meeting our Nation's most pressing
challenges; (2) congratulates IEEE on its 125th anniversary; and (3)
supports the goals and ideals of 'IEEE Engineering the Future' Day."

You can find out more about IEEE 125th anniversary activities at
www.ieee125.org <http://www.ieee125.org/>.

IEEE-USA advances the public good and promotes the careers and public
policy interests of more than 210,000 engineers, scientists and allied
professionals who are U.S. members of IEEE. IEEE-USA is part of IEEE,
the world's largest technical professional society with 375,000
members
in 160 countries. See http://www.ieeeusa.org <http://www.ieeeusa.org/

IEEE-USA Public Relations Manager

Phone: 1 202 530 8356

E-mail: c.mcma...@ieee.org <mailto:c.mcma...@ieee.org>