H.Res. 703 — Introduced in House

IV 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 703 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 31, 2014 Ms. Duckworth submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration RESOLUTION Establishing an academic competition in the field of robotics among students in Congressional districts. 1. Short title This resolution may be cited as the Robotics Competition Resolution of 2014. 2. Findings The House of Representatives finds as follows: (1) STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields and knowledge have been integral to the development of civilization over the centuries. (2) The competitiveness of the United States in the field of robotics in particular is vital to a strong, thriving economy in a world of continuous and rapid technological advancements and needs. (3) Robots serve myriad functions that humans cannot, including reducing exposure to toxins and increasing accuracy and speed on assembly lines, thereby reducing risk to members of the military and first responders, among others. (4) Robotics technology research and development should be a priority of the United States, especially in encouraging students of all ages to pursue careers in robotics and other STEM fields. (5) The robotics industry is positioned to fuel a broad array of next-generation products and applications in fields as diverse as manufacturing, health-care, national defense and security, agriculture, and transportation. (6) The global economy demands that the United States continue to lead the world in innovation, creativity, and robotics-related advancements. (7) Bringing together Members of Congress and their younger constituents to participate in activities that will result in a deeper appreciation for robotics will foster enthusiasm for education in the sciences. (8) The support which students will gain through Congressional recognition of their work on robotics-related projects will encourage them to pursue career paths in robotics, continuing the leadership of the United States in robotics technology development. (9) It is appropriate for the House of Representatives to institute a new and worthwhile competition to encourage students to participate in robotics studies and research. (10) It would be appropriate to initially challenge students to develop robots that serve certain functions in everyday life. 3. Congressional competition in robotics (a) Establishment of competition There is hereby established an academic competition in the field of robotics which shall be held each year among students in each Congressional district. (b) Regulations The competition under this resolution shall be carried out in accordance with such regulations as may be prescribed by the Committee on House Administration, except that the regulations shall permit the office of a Member to seek guidance from outside experts in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—for the purposes of establishing criteria for the selection of competition judges and for the judgment of competition submissions.