As a participant in the congressional Research Caucus, IEEE-USA sponsored a congressional briefing (July 12) on Science and Technology Policy in Japan and activities of the Japanese Science and Technology Institute.

On July 28, the House of Representatives passed (279-131) the Pension Protection Act (H.R. 4), legislation which includes several key features supported by IEEE-USA including: Stricter funding rules and disclosure requirements for defined benefit plans; the elimination of "wear-away" of previously earned benefits in cash balance plans; and automatic enrollment, investment advice and account diversification rules for company sponsored 401(k) and other kinds of defined contribution plans. Particularly important are the HR 4 provisions that will make permanent the expanded retirement savings contributions limits, portability improvement features and low-income savers credit that were enacted in 2001 and are scheduled to expire in 2010.

In July, IEEE-USA launched an on-line version of the P.E. Breadth Examination Review Course.

During July, IEEE-USA. sponsored a Student Professional Awareness Conference at Drexel University (July 18)
 

On August, 2, IEEE-USA sponsored a workshop on "IT Skills in a Tough Job Market" in Thousand Oaks, CA, organized by the San Fernando Valley Section as a member professional awareness activity.

On August 3, the Senate passed (93 to 5) IEEE-USA-backed retirement security legislation, the Pension Reform Act of 2004 (H.R. 4).  The bill was signed into law by President Bush on August 17.

IEEE-USA's Medical Technology Policy and ad hoc Critical Infrastructure Committees are co-sponsoring a special symposium on "Critical (Medical) Information Protection: A Privacy/Security Information Assurance Debate", as part of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference set for August 30-September 3, 2006 in New York.

During August, IEEE-USA supported a Professional Development Seminar organized by the San Fernando Valley Section (August 2).
 

IEEE-USA spearheaded and coordinated IEEE co-sponsorship (along with SWE, Girl Scouts and EWeek) of a workshop on "Nurturing Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Skills in Young Females in Developing and Developed Countries,” held at the 59th annual United Nations Department of Public Information/NGO Conference in New York (6-8 Sept.).

IEEE joined IEEE's Power Engineering Society in sponsoring the Third International Conference on Critical Infrastructures (CRIS2006), where Dr.Luis Kun, chair of the IEEE-USA Critical Infrastructure Protection Committee, spoke on critial infrastructure protection.

IEEE-USA partnered with the Society of Women Engineers in sponsoring a congressional briefing on the topic "Are More Women and Diversity Needed in the STEM Workforce?" held on Sept. 26.

IEEE-USA is co-sponsoring the Accelerating Innovation 2006 Conference set for Sept. 26-27 at the National Academies in Washington, DC.

IEEE-USA joined with other members of the Task Force on the Future of American Innovation in sponsoring a Competitiveness Advocacy Day congressional reception on Capitol Hill on Sept. 27.

IEEE-USA co-sponsored the Convocation on Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing Regions, States, and Cities, organized by the National Academies Committee on Science, Engineering and Public Policy in Washington.

In Sept, IEEE-USA joined IEEE's New Technology Directions Committee and IEEE Region 5 in releasing a Call for Papers for the IEEE International Conference on RFID 2007, set for March 26-28 next year.

In September, IEEE-USA released an E-Book on Strategic Thinking: A High Tech Strategy Guidebook.

In September, IEEE-USA unveiled a new, updated capabilities brochure for U.S. IEEE members, prospective members, media and decision makers.

In September, IEEE-USA published its 2005 and 2006 Salary Surveys and released the updated IEEE-USA 2006 Salary Service in a new economy package option.

During September, IEEE-USA conducted its biennial Unemployment survey, with results to be reported in 2007.

During September, IEEE-USA supported a Professional Development Seminar organized by the Missouri Slope Section (September 26).

During September, IEEE-USA supported Student Professional Awareness Conferences at Devry University - Arlington (9/20), Capitol College (9/26), and University of Rhode Island (9/29). IEEE-USA also supported the pilot program, Student Professional Awareness Workshop, at the University of California - Irvine (9/30).
 

On Oct. 13, President Bush signed the IEEE-USA-backed Security and Accountability For Every (SAFE) Port Act (H.R. 4954) into law.  The bill seeks to improve maritime and cargo security through use of biometrics, sensors and other technology.

The National Academy of Engineering's Oct. 24-25 workshop on the Offshoring of Engineering: Facts, Myths, Unknowns and Implications, included a panel on "Implications for the Engineering Workforce and Profession," featuring a presentation by IEEE-USA President Ralph Wyndrum.

On Oct. 31, NASA Administrator Michael Griffin announced plans for a final servicing mission to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope in order to extend and improve the observatory's capabilities through 2013.  IEEE-USA had called for serving of the Hubble Telescope in a 2004 position statement.

During October, IEEE-USA supported Professional Development Seminars organized by the Panhandle Section (October 10), Orlando Section (October 13), Baltimore Section (October 15), Montana Section (October 17) and the St. Louis Section (10/25-27/06).

During October, IEEE-USA supported Student Professional Awareness Conferences at the University of Missouri (10/6), University of New Haven (10/6), University of Pittsburgh (10/11), University of Central Florida (10/13), City College of New York (10/20), University of Jamaica (10/20), and SUNY Binghamton (10/27). IEEE-USA also supported Student Professional Awareness Ventures at Cleveland State University (10/2 & 10/10).
 

IEEE/IEEE-USA volunteers and staff will participate in a Design Squad summit on 9 Nov. The summit will highlight the new PBS engineering reality competition program to be aired nationwide during EWeek 2007 and will help participants support Design Squad outreach efforts to youngsters 9-12-years-old.

On Nov. 8, IEEE-USA will be taping an IEEEtv segment on entrepreneurship at the SVASE's "The Art of the Start" workshop in Silicon Valley, featuring an interview with Guy Kawasaki, managing director of Garage Technology Ventures and Apple Computer personality.

On Nov. 14, IEEE-USA kicked off the first of a five part Careers webinar series with a presentation by Dr. Peggy Hutcheson (Odyssey Group) on "Finding a Job That Fits My Skills and Interests."

The IEEE-USA Board of Directors and Assembly will meet on 17 Nov. 2006 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

On Nov. 29, Cliff Wilcox (C.J. Wilcox & Associates) offered a presentation entitled "Interviewing Types and Preparation," as the second installment of IEEE-USA's 2006 Careers webinar series.

During November, IEEE-USA supported a Student Professional Awareness Conference at the University of Kentucky (11/6), California State University, Northridge (11/18), and University of South Florida (11/30).
 

On Dec. 13, Cliff Wilcox (C.J. Wilcox & Associates) offered a presentation entitled "Its' Time for the Interview," as the fourth installment of IEEE-USA's 2006 Careers webinar series.

On Dec. 19, Joseph Kalasky, P.E. offered a presentation on "Professional Ethics - Dominant and Escalating Effects on Employment and Careers" as the final installment in IEEE-USA's 2006 Careers webinar series.

On Dec. 20, President Bush signed into an extension of the federal R&D tax credit through Dec. 31, 2007 as part of the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 (H.R. 6111).  IEEE-USA worked as part of the R&D Tax Credit Coalition to urge Congress to extend the tax credit, which had expired on 31 Dec. 2005.

During December, IEEE-USA supported Professional Development Seminars organized by the Twin Cities Section (December 9), Metro Los Angeles Section and the Montana Section.

During December, IEEE-USA conducted its biennial Consultants Fee survey, with results to be reported in 2007.

During 2006, IEEE-USA supported six Teacher-Engineer Teams working in partnerships to enhance K-12 math & science education: Teacher-Engineer Team: Patricia J. Hollern & Ryan Schwieterman (School: St. Michael; Region 2) Randy Decker & Brad Snodgrass (School: Walker Career Center; Region 4), Karen Maor & Caryn Melrose (School: Hillbrook; Region 6), Jason Hoffman/Scott Thompson (School: West Branch Area High School; Region 2), Jan Cathey/William Robertson (School: Siegel High School; Region 3), and Harry Darrell/William Daly (School: Collins Hill High School; Region 3)