[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 132 (Thursday, October 19, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1832-E1833]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  RESOLUTION HONORING NOBEL LAUREATES DR. ERIC R. KANDEL AND DR. PAUL 
                               GREENGARD

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 18, 2000

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
introduce a resolution to honor the American winners of the Nobel Prize 
in Physiology or Medicine for 2000, Drs. Eric R. Kandel and Paul 
Greengard. These two distinguished scientists will share this year's 
award with a third winner, Dr. Arvid Carlsson of Sweden.
  The scientists were recognized by the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska 
Institute for their important contributions to understanding how brain 
cells interact with each other at the molecular level to create moods 
and memories in individuals. Their separate but related pursuits, which 
began in the 1950s, have provided the basis for today's understanding 
of mental illness and neurological disorders, including schizophrenia, 
depression, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's 
disease. This understanding has been essential for the drugs and 
treatments that have been already developed for these afflictions and 
provide the foundation for even more promising research in these areas.
  Last year, the Office of the Surgeon General published Mental Health: 
A Report of the Surgeon General, which noted that although the United 
States leads the world in understanding the importance of mental health 
to the overall health of its people, the nation still has many 
challenges to meet. Today, one in five people in the United States are 
afflicted with some form of mental disorder. Furthermore, mental 
disorder is one of the key contributors to a leading cause of 
preventable deaths---suicide. The federal government, particularly the 
National Institutes of Health (NIH) has provided strong support toward 
research efforts in the mental health area. Indeed, NIH contributed to 
the discoveries made by Drs. Kandel and Greengard through grants and 
research support for over 30 years. As we celebrate the honor bestowed 
by the Nobel Assembly upon Drs. Kandel and Greengard, we should also 
look forward to the challenges ahead, which include not only continued 
scientific research but also improving the delivery of mental health 
services and helping society to overcome ingrained fears and 
misconceptions concerning mental illness.

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