Standardization News

Representatives from Obama Administration and Congress Among Featured Speakers

John Holdren

ASTM International co-sponsored the 2012 Engineering Public Policy Symposium with 33 other engineering societies that represent more than two million engineers around the world. The symposium took place in Washington, D.C., on May 17 and served as a forum to highlight key issues related to research and development. Featured speakers included representatives from the Obama administration, U.S. Congress and industry.

John Holdren, Ph.D., director, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, served as the keynote speaker, and he spoke about the administration's emphasis on research and the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership. Patrick Gallagher, Ph.D., director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology and under secretary of commerce for standards and technology, spoke about the importance of standards for manufacturing industries and the role that NIST serves in supporting public-private partnerships to maintain a robust standards development system.

Rep. Judy Biggert (R-Ill.) and Rep. Rush Holt (D-N.J.) were presented with awards for their work in supporting the engineering and scientific community through their roles as co-chairmen of the Congressional Research and Development Caucus. Biggert and Holt have been leaders in developing science, engineering and technology policies. They have also supported and proposed legislation for research funding and education to promote U.S. technological leadership and economic prosperity.