[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 82 (Thursday, June 10, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1232]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     DR. HAROLD P. FURTH: A SCIENTIFIC LEADER AND A GREAT AMERICAN

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                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 10, 1999

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Harold P. Furth 
who has been appointed an Emeritus Professor of Princeton University, 
effective July 1st.
  Dr. Furth, who served for 10 years as the director of the Princeton 
Plasma Physics Laboratory, has been a world leader in our nation's 
effort to recreate on earth the fusion process that powers the stars. 
As Dr. Furth has long understood, fusion can provide an abundant, safe, 
and environmentally attractive energy source to meet America's long 
term needs.
  Dr. Furth conceived of the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR), the 
world's most successful fusion experiment, and oversaw its design and 
scientific program. TFTR achieved all of its research objectives, 
including the production of world-record amounts of fusion power in 
1994. Discoveries made on TFTR increased substantially the basic 
understanding of fusion. These results are providing the insights 
necessary for the success of advanced fusion experiments now underway.
  Beyond his renowned scientific prowess, I have for years admired his 
adept leadership in the science community. During the last year in 
which Dr. Furth was the Director of the Princeton Plasma Physics 
Laboratory, I was privileged to serve as the Assistant Director. As a 
scientific director, he established the right symbiotic relationship 
between theory and experiment. Dr. Furth's knowledge of all aspects of 
the field of fusion science and plasma physics and his erudite manner 
have made him a truly outstanding leader of the fusion community.
  As a Congressman now, I deeply appreciate his ability to lead both in 
the details of a major scientific program and his ability to provide 
direction for the field as a whole. His shrewd judgment allows him to 
be an effective steward of our nation's resources. He continues to show 
extraordinary ability to gauge all aspects of the fusion program, 
scientific, political, and economic, and to see the proper direction of 
the program.
  We will continue to rely on the outstanding contributions of 
Americans such as Harold Furth as the foundation for our national 
security and economic well-being in the 21st century.

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