[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 121 (Tuesday, July 25, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S10661]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                             INVENT AMERICA

 Mr. WARNER, Mr. President, America's hope and America's future 
lies with America's children--the leaders of tomorrow. Our young people 
embody the spirit of the Nation's can-do philosophy. That is why I am 
pleased today to honor ``Invent America!'', an outstanding nonprofit 
education program and invention competition which encourages young 
Americans to be creative and innovative.
  ``Invent America!'' has touched the lives of millions of students 
from kindergarten through eighth grade, providing schools with the 
tools they need to teach problem-solving skills and strong values, all 
through the art of invention. Now funded solely by the private sector, 
the program provides an exciting opportunity for young Americans to 
become young entrepreneurs. It encourages those children to expand the 
horizons of their knowledge and to dare to achieve.
  Now celebrating its 10th year of ``bringing bright ideas out of young 
minds,'' the program's successes are numerous. The National ``Think 
Link,'' a brainchild of ``Invent America!'', offered 50,000 teachers 
across our country simultaneous training via satellite (at no cost) on 
how best to use the program in the classroom. A 12-year old winner in 
the program rode an ``Invent America!'' float in the Rose Bowl Parade 
in recognition of her award-winning invention to recycle cardboard. A 
young man who created a biodegradable golf tee that also fertilizes 
started a brand new business. In fact, several of the new ideas 
discovered through the program are now creating new jobs and new 
industries in America.
  This year, one of the national winners, Kristopher Howard, from 
Tennessee, has been invited to testify before the subcommittee on 
Disability Policy. He invented the ``Handi-Cuff,'' a special device 
which aids the disabled.
  Designed and administered by the nonprofit United States Patent Model 
Foundation, headquartered in Alexandria, VA, ``Invent America!'' is 
funded in part by the Chrysler Corp., Magna International, Motorola 
Corp., Black & Decker and Xerox Corp. Those corporate sponsors are 
hosting competition finalists at a special celebration here in the 
Nation's Capital. The highlight of that celebration takes place 
tonight: the ``Invention-Reinvention'' event at the Smithsonian's Arts 
and Industries Museum, hosted by the Chrysler Corp. The ten best 
student inventors in America will be honored, and their inventions 
exhibited.
  Mr. President, I am delighted to pay tribute to perhaps our Nation's 
most treasured vision: the future of America as seen through a child's 
eyes.


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