[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 46 (Thursday, April 23, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3541-S3542]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DOMENICI (for himself and Mr. Bingaman):
  S. 1978. A bill to designate the auditorium located within the Sandia 
Technology Transfer Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as the ``Steve 
Schiff Auditorium''; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


          the steve schiff auditorium designation act of 1998

  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, it is a real honor today to introduce 
legislation, together with Senator Bingaman, to honor Representative 
Steve Schiff. This legislation designates a special auditorium at the 
Sandia National Laboratories as the ``Steve Schiff Auditorium.'' Steve 
spoke in this Auditorium on several occasions, as part of his long 
service to the people of New Mexico.
  I think everyone knows that Steve Schiff exemplified all that was 
good about public service: integrity of the highest order, deep and 
fundamental decency, and an acute and open mind. He went about his 
business quietly, but with wonderful efficiency. He was great at 
telling stories, usually about himself. He was a model for all 
politicians to admire.
  Steve came to New Mexico from Chicago, where he was born and raised. 
He served the people of New Mexico in different capacities since 1972, 
when he graduated from the Law School at the University of New Mexico. 
Before election to Congress in 1988, he served as District Attorney for 
eight years.
  One of Steve's favorite local programs was his Tree Give-Away 
Program. For eight years, Steve held a Saturday tree give-away day at 
the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. He gave away more than 115,000 
trees. Through those trees, he shared his own hope, faith, and love. 
Those trees now flourish throughout the Albuquerque area in New Mexico 
as lasting symbols of this man. In a similar way, his legislative 
achievements continue to serve the American people as another reminder 
of this great American.
  Along with those trees and his legislation, the Steve Schiff 
Auditorium will serve as a lasting memorial. I am happy and honored to 
have been a part of his life.
  I think he would be pleased that this major facility at Sandia 
National Laboratories, an auditorium where many events occur, many 
events he has sponsored, that he desires that we talk about in our 
Federal Government as it pertains to nuclear weapons and research, that 
it be designated after him.
  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I feel very honored today to rise with 
my colleague, Senator Domenici, to introduce legislation to honor 
Representative Steven H. Schiff, who died last month. This bill names 
the Auditorium in the Technology Transfer Center at Sandia National 
Laboratories as the Steven H. Schiff Auditorium. I have visited 
Sandia's Technology Transfer Center (TTC) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 
It is a beautiful building dedicated to furthering collaborations 
between the fine staff of scientists and engineers at Sandia and their 
counterparts in American universities and industry.
  It is altogether fitting that we dedicate the TTC Auditorium to the 
memory of Steven Schiff. Steve was a strong champion of collaborations 
and making the resources of our national laboratories available to US 
industry to help us compete in the global economy.
  Mr. President, Sandia National Laboratories has 6,000 employees. The 
lab is one of the nation's premier national security facilities with 
major responsibilities for our nation's energy research and development 
projects. Part of Sandia's mission includes technology transfer. The 
emphasis is on partnerships between industry and the lab to collaborate 
on emerging new technologies.
  Today, Sandia's vast technical expertise is being applied to solve a 
variety of technical problems that will benefit working Americans. A 
number of exciting collaborations between Sandia's engineers and 
private industry have come about as a direct result of Steve's efforts. 
Some of these collaborations include projects to improve 
microelectronics and computers, airline and airport safety, lightweight 
materials for automobiles, robots for advanced manufacturing, and 
automobile tires that are safer and provide consumers better fuel 
economy. Madam President, I could go on and on.
  Perhaps the one area of Sandia's work that Steve was the most proud 
of was the lab's application of its 20 years of experience in state-of-
the-art physical security technologies to the important areas of 
fighting crime and terrorism. Today, Sandia's vital and highly visible 
programs are helping to assure the safety and security of every 
American. In particular, Steve's efforts were instrumental in creating 
a satellite facility of the National Institute of Justice at Sandia. 
This linkage was especially satisfying to Steve because of his 
leadership positions on both the House Science and Judiciary 
Committees.
  In a short time, Sandia's efforts for the Department of Justice and 
the FBI are helping to combat crime and terrorism. These programs are 
having a major impact on the safety and security of all Americans. 
These efforts are truly one of Steve Schiff's greatest legacies to New 
Mexico and the nation.
  I'd like to cite just a few examples of Sandia's programs for the 
National Institute of Justice. Because of Steve's efforts, Sandia was 
able to play a vital role in disarming a bomb left in the unabomber's 
cabin. Sandia also has a school safety and security program

[[Page S3542]]

that has dramatically increased the safety of high school students in 
Belen, New Mexico. I had a chance to visit the school, and it is truly 
remarkable what Sandia has accomplished there. Another example of 
Sandia's innovative technologies is the development of a ``smart gun'' 
that can only be fired in the hands of someone authorized to use it. 
And Sandia is developing explosive detectors for increased airport 
security and new ways of detecting illegal drugs.
  Perhaps the culmination of Steve's efforts was last August, when 64 
of the world's top bomb squads came to Operation Albuquerque '97 for 
hands-on experience with the latest science and methods for disabling 
terrorist bombs.
  Madam President, using our national laboratories' unique resources to 
save lives and protect the safety of ordinary people is surely a proper 
memorial for Steve Schiff. Naming the auditorium at Sandia National 
Laboratories in his honor is another. I am proud to co-sponsor this 
legislation, and I thank my colleague, Senator Domenici, for his 
efforts.
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