HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 20

BY  MURPHY, HEIN, ISENHART, LUKAN, and MOORE

A Resolution to recognize the centennial anniversary of IBM.

   WHEREAS, on June 16, 2011, IBM will celebrate its 100-year anniversary; and
   WHEREAS, in 1911, the Computing Tabulating Recording Corporation was formed, the legendary Thomas J. Watson, Sr. became its general manager and president in the following years, and in 1924, the company was reorganized and renamed the International Business Machines Corporation, later abbreviated as IBM; and
   WHEREAS, in its first century, IBM has created technological discoveries that have transformed our lives, from the first electronic calculator and programmable computers, to the chip powering the leading gaming consoles, to the chess master Deep Blue, to the Jeopardy! champion Watson; and
   WHEREAS, through innovation and technological discovery, IBM ushered in the information age and has improved our world by creating cleaner air and water, better crime-fighting systems for cities, and lower incidence of AIDS, influenza, and other infectious diseases; and
   WHEREAS, today IBM is continuing to shape the world, investing $6 billion annually in research and development, employing globally more than 400,000 employees, and developing the practices and discoveries that are creating a “Smarter Planet”; and
   WHEREAS, IBM is also assisting growing cities around the world including Dubuque, Iowa, to establish solutions to build “Smarter Cities” by reducing traffic congestion and resulting air pollution; digitizing health records to improve patient care; improving access to and quality of education; enhancing surveillance systems to reduce crime rates; sourcing and managing power more intelligently; and improving quality, supply, and access to water; NOW THEREFORE,

   BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, That the House of Representatives congratulates the men and women of IBM for 100 years of dedication and innovation, for their pivotal role in the unparalleled progress in the Twentieth Century, and for the promise of a bright future they offer all of us in the Twenty-first Century.