[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 159 (Thursday, November 11, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2378]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        NATIONAL CHEMISTRY WEEK

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                       HON. SHERWOOD L. BOEHLERT

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 10, 1999

  Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, this week is National Chemistry Week. I 
rise on this occasion to recognize the thousands of American Chemical 
Society members who are volunteering their time this week--not only 
across the nation, but around the world as well--to teach all of us 
about the exciting ways that chemistry and chemical engineering benefit 
our country and improve our everyday lives.
  This is the 12th year that the American Chemical Society has led the 
celebration of National Chemistry Week. And I'm especially excited that 
in my home district, the 23rd District of New York, volunteer chemists 
and chemical engineers of the American Chemical Society's Norwich 
Section will host an open house for 4th, 5th, and 6th graders Chenango 
County schools. There they will teach practical chemistry using a full 
range of hands-on activities, so they can see and explore and learn for 
themselves how chemistry works. Last year, the Norwich Section won 
national recognition for its Chemistry Week event, which was attended 
by 250 people from all over Chenango County.
  This year National Chemistry Week culminates a 52-country 
International Chemistry Celebration that featured ``A Global Salute to 
Polymers.'' In the United States alone, no less than 51 companies, 10 
universities, 2 museums, and 17 individual scientists were saluted for 
the innovative products they created that have changed our lives.
  During National Chemistry Week members of the American Chemical 
Society will conduct events in communities around the country along the 
theme ``Celebrating Polymers.'' For instance, kids will be asked to 
carry out activities using sodium poly-acrylate, a widely used 
absorbent with applications ranging from horticulture to construction 
to disposable diapers. After seeing how poly-acrylate works, students 
will be challenged to think up other ways it can be applied to other 
real-life problems. More activities using sodium polyacrylate are 
available in the fall issues of the ACS student magazines WonderScience 
and Chem-Matters.
  Mr. Speaker, our ability to improve the quality of our lives, make 
educated decisions in an increasingly technological world, and compete 
successfully in the global economy depends critically upon our 
understanding of sciences like chemistry.
  So please join me and the 160,000 chemists, chemical engineers, and 
allied professionals of the American Chemical Society in highlighting 
the fact that every single aspect of our lives is in some way a result 
of chemistry in action.




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