[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 46 (Thursday, April 17, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3384-S3385]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO PATRICK H. WINDHAM

 Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I want to take a few moments to 
remark on the outstanding Senate career of my long time science 
staffer, Pat Windham, whose last day on the Senate Commerce Committee 
staff will be tomorrow. At the end of this month, Pat will be returning 
to the San Francisco area where he grew up. With his wife Arati and 
their cute infant daughter Katie, he will be living within shouting 
distance of Stanford University, his undergraduate alma mater, and 
across the bay from the University of California at Berkeley where he 
received his masters in public policy.
  Pat first came to the Senate in the late 1970's for a 2-year stint on 
the Commerce Committee staff as a congressional fellow in connection 
with his doctoral program at Berkeley. He returned in 1982, when he 
served for 2 years as a legislative assistant on my personal staff. 
Since 1984 he has been the Commerce Committee's resident expert on 
science policy, touching on virtually every science and technology 
issue you can imagine.
  Early in his career here Pat was deeply involved in the ocean and 
coastal issues that are so important to the recreational and commercial 
needs of South Carolinians. On my personal staff he also mastered the 
myriad complexities of the Nation's nuclear energy policy, acquiring 
detailed knowledge of nuclear powerplant technology and waste storage 
problems.

  In his service for the Commerce Committee's Science, Techology, and 
Space Subcommittee, he has had principal responsibility for overseeing 
technology policy and industrial competitiveness. I strongly believe 
that the key to our national economic strength is the link between 
technology and industry. Pat shares this vision, and has made an

[[Page S3385]]

enormous difference to me in developing programs that are targeted at 
forging that link. One such program is the Manufacturing Extension 
Partnership, which facilitates the transfer of manufacturing technology 
directly from the laboratory to the operations of the small- and 
medium-sized firms that carry out the bulk of U.S. manufacturing. 
Thanks in large part to Pat's tenacity in working to steadily improve 
the program, there are now locally run and cost-shared manufacturing 
extension centers in South Carolina and throughout the Nation that 
provide essential technical assistance to thousands of small 
manufacturers.
  Another such program is the Advanced Technology Program [ATP], 
overseen by the National Institute of Science and Technology within the 
Department of Commerce. ATP recognizes the intense investor pressure on 
American companies to cut costs and spend limited research dollars on 
projects with short-term payoffs. It is a peer-reviewed, industry-led 
undertaking that provides matching funds for the development of 
advanced technologies--in areas like electronics, information 
technology, robotics, advanced materials, and biotechnology--that will 
be central to the formation of new industries in the 21st century. Pat 
spearheaded the creation of ATP in the late 1980's, and now that ATP is 
beginning to bear fruit, he has fought tirelessly against efforts to 
undercut its effectiveness.
  During his 17 years of Senate service, Pat has earned wide respect 
and affection from Members of Congress and staff, administration 
officials, and the scientific community for his commitment to the 
development of sound science and technology policy. He has an 
extraordinary capacity to digest large amounts of highly technical 
information in a number of scientific fields and communicate it clearly 
to decisionmakers. Further, in spite of his intense dedication to 
achieving his legislative goals, Pat has made loyal and enthusiastic 
friends among allies and adversaries alike.
  I have no doubt that in his new surroundings Pat will find ways to 
further his splendid contributions to our Nation's industry and 
technological progress. He has certainly been everything I have wanted, 
and more, as a staff professional, and I thank him for his excellent 
work.
  I wish Pat, Arati, and little Katie the best of fortune in all their 
future endeavors.

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