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Special Edition - July
2007
Exciting Week for
Modeling and Simulation on Capitol Hill
This week will be an exciting
one for the Modeling and Simulation industry on
Capitol Hill as legislation impacting the M&S industry will be considered
by Members of Congress, and M&S industry representatives will participate
in the largest M&S event in our nation’s capital. This special edition of
the Modeling and Simulation Caucus Newsletter will highlight these
important advances impacting the M&S industry.
Members of Congress to
Consider M&S Legislation
Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04), Chairman of the Congressional
Modeling & Simulation Caucus, announced that the full House is
scheduled to consider legislation highlighting the importance of modeling
and simulation today, July 16, 2007.
Congressman Forbes introduced H. Res. 487 last month as bipartisan
legislation to formally recognize the contribution of modeling and
simulation (M&S) on our nation’s economic prosperity and national
security. Eight Members of the M&S Caucus, Congresspersons Mike Conaway
(TX-11), Jo Ann Davis (VA-01), Tom Davis (VA-11), Thelma Drake (VA-02),
Tom Feeney (FL-24), Ric Keller (FL-08), Solomon Ortiz (TX-27), and Heather
Wilson (NM-01) have joined as original cosponsors of this legislation.
“I’m thrilled that the House has recognized the importance of modeling and
simulation and has moved this legislation so quickly to consideration in
the full House,” Forbes said.
“This legislation will recognize M&S as a national critical resource that
is providing unparalleled advancements in American competitiveness,
developing new and innovative ways to protect our homeland and our war
fighters, and bringing high-tech jobs and economic prosperity to our
communities.”
This legislation, H. Res.
487:
* Formally honors the contribution of M&S technology to the security and prosperity of the United States;
* Recognizes M&S as a National Critical Technology;
* Acknowledges the significant impacts of M&S on a breadth of fields including defense, space, national disaster response, medicine, transportation and construction;
* Urges Congress to continue to place emphasis on math and science as key disciplines in elementary and secondary education, and encourages the expansion of modeling and simulation within higher education; and,
* Affirms the need to study the national economic impact of this important industry.
Today the scope and influence of M&S reaches well beyond the defense industry. Modeling and simulation has been responsible for the progressive developments in health care, homeland security, construction and transportation. Members of the M&S community come from diverse backgrounds such as psychology, medicine, computer science, mathematics, engineering and physics. Many of the technologies are universally applicable and may be used in multiple fields, including visualization tools, analytical tools, knowledge management and behavioral representations. In addition, M&S provides lower-cost opportunities for joint training and development of operational plans and assessments in dangerous situations, such as warfighting or national disasters. H. Res. 487
was referred to the House Committee on Science and Technology, and on June
22nd, was reported out of Committee by voice vote.
Second Annual Modeling
and Simulation Expo
The Congressional Modeling and Simulation (M&S)
Caucus is joining in hosting the Second Annual M&S Capitol Hill Exhibition
in conjunction with the event sponsor, the National Training and
Simulation Association, this Thursday, July 19, 2007. The expo is the
premier M&S event in the nation’s capital bringing nearly 30 exhibitors
from a myriad of industries to showcase M&S applications and allow
decision-makers in Washington to experience hands-on the ability and
potential of M&S.
The second annual exhibition will include
demonstrations from the medical, defense and engineering fields.
Participants will be able to try their hand at firing a machine gun,
evacuating a major city from an impending hurricane, piloting a fighter
plane, designing their own sky-scraper, and performing hands-on surgery.
When:
Thursday, July 19, 2007 from
8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Where:
Cannon Caucus Room (345 Cannon),
Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C.
Modeling & Simulation e-newsletter
Join the Modeling
and Simulation Caucus email newsletter list by signing up online at
http://randyforbes.house.gov/mscaucus.
In addition, you can stay informed by reading
past issues online.
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