Congressmen Doyle and Wamp Launch Congressional Caucus on Robotics

Caucus will educate Congress on impact of robotics industry on consumers, industry, and the economy

WASHINGTON, DC – June 20, 2007 –   Pennsylvania Congressman Mike Doyle and Tennessee Congressman Zach Wamp today announced the formation of a bi-partisan Congressional Caucus on Robotics.  The caucus will focus on key issues facing the nation’s traditional industrial robotics industry as well as issues critical to growing companies, markets, and industries based on recent technological advances that enable robots to perform functions beyond traditional assembly line tasks and to operate in environments beyond the factory floor.  A kick-off event is being planned for mid-September.

“Robots are now being used well beyond traditional industrial automation applications like assembling automobiles,” said Congressman Mike Doyle.  “Today, they are also being used to defend our nation, perform surgery, fill prescriptions, deliver supplies and materials, and even as tools to educate our children, so it is important that we create a forum by which Congress can familiarize itself with the impact this first great technology of the 21st century is likely to have on the lives of all Americans.”

“The increase in the number of emerging and potential applications for robotics is astounding,” added Congressman Zach Wamp.  “Microsoft Corporation (NYSE: MSFT) chairman Bill Gates has stated his belief that the robotics industry is developing in much the same way that the computer business did 30 years ago.  Forming a bipartisan caucus now will enable Congress to get a better grasp on many of the challenges and issues likely to emerge and help ensure that the United States can maintain global leadership as the robotics industry undergoes considerable expansion in the coming decade.”

The preliminary, proposed goals of the bipartisan Robotics Caucus will include, but are not limited to:

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• Increasing general awareness of robotics industry challenges and issues among Members of Congress and policy analysts in the federal government;
  
• Educating Members of Congress and congressional staff on current and future research, development, and utilization initiatives involving robotics;
  
• Serving as a forum where robotics-related policy issues can be discussed and  debated;  and
  
• Ensuring that our nation remains globally competitive as the robotics industry rapidly expands and begins to exert a profound effect on the way our citizens live their lives.

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About Congressman Mike Doyle
Mike Doyle (D-PA14) is currently serving his seventh term in Congress representing the 14th District of Pennsylvania, which includes the city of Pittsburgh as well as communities in the western, southern, and eastern portions of Allegheny County.  His top priorities include revitalizing communities in the 14th District through economic development and high-tech initiatives, creating jobs, preserving Social Security and Medicare, providing better public education, establishing a long-term national energy strategy, and fostering a better climate for our high-tech community.
Congressman Doyle serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee which is one of only four exclusive committees in the House. There he sits on the following three subcommittees: 1) Energy and Air Quality; 2) Telecommunications and the Internet; and 3) Oversight and Investigations.  He also serves on the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct and the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, where he serves on the committee’s Health Subcommittee.
About Congressman Zach Wamp
Known for his leadership, tenacity and energetic style, Congressman Zach Wamp (R-TN3) serves with seniority as a member of the influential House Appropriations Committee, which funds all discretionary spending by the federal government.

Congressman Wamp serves as the Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of Appropriations. The Subcommittee funds the operations of Congress and the Capitol, including the Capitol Police, the Library of Congress, the Capitol Visitor’s Center and the budgets of all Members of Congress and House Leadership. He is also the second most senior Republican on the Energy and Water Subcommittee of Appropriations, possibly the most important subcommittee in Congress for the State of Tennessee, because it funds all Oak Ridge operations, as well as the replacement of the Chickamauga Lock on the Tennessee River.
 

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