[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 28, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H453-H456]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY AND ITS 
              EMPLOYEES FOR 100 YEARS OF SERVICE TO NATION

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 27) honoring the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology and its employees for 100 years 
of service to the Nation.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 27

       Whereas the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
     was founded on March 3, 1901, originally as the National 
     Bureau of Standards, and is our Nation's oldest Federal 
     laboratory;
       Whereas, prior to formal establishment in 1901, the 
     National Institute of Standards and Technology's mission was 
     first stated in the Articles of Confederation and the 
     Constitution of these United States, and is as old as the 
     Republic itself;
       Whereas the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
     strengthens the United States economy and improves the 
     quality of life by working with industry to develop and apply 
     technology, measurements, and standards;
       Whereas in the past 100 years, the National Institute of 
     Standards and Technology has helped to maintain United States 
     technology at the leading edge, while also making solid 
     contributions to our economy and international 
     competitiveness;
       Whereas the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
     has served as a behind-the-scenes specialist, with its 
     research, measurement tools, and technical services 
     integrated deeply into many of the systems and operations 
     that, collectively, drive the economy, including 
     manufacturing cells, satellite systems, communication and 
     transportation networks, laboratories, factories, hospitals, 
     businesses, and the extended enterprises of the new economy;
       Whereas the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
     has also made solid contributions to improving our lives by 
     helping develop image processing, DNA diagnostic ``chips'', 
     smoke detectors, automated error correcting software for 
     machine tools, atomic clocks, X-ray standards for 
     mammography, scanning tunneling microscopy, pollution control 
     technology, and high-speed dental drills;
       Whereas the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
     plays a major role in the National Conference on Weights and 
     Measures, the organization of State and local officials who 
     ensure fairness in sales of more than $4,000,000,000,000 
     worth of goods and services--from deli meats to gasoline to 
     railroad freight;
       Whereas National Institute of Standards and Technology 
     research has additionally provided a broad and varied stream 
     of benefits, such as decreases in train derailments as a 
     result of standards ensuring the quality of steel, smoother 
     riding, lower maintenance automobiles as a result of 
     technology that improves the fit of assembled parts, and 
     reductions in sulfur dioxide emissions as a result of 
     improved measurements in the oil industry;
       Whereas the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
     has been a leader in helping small manufacturing companies in 
     all 50 States to modernize and prepare for the 21st Century;
       Whereas the National Institute of Standards and Technology, 
     through its Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Program, has 
     helped define best practices in business, in education, and 
     in health care, and has helped leading companies become even 
     more competitive;
       Whereas the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
     employs about 3,300 people, and operates primarily in 2 
     locations, Gaithersburg, Maryland, and Boulder, Colorado, 
     with some of our Nation's finest and most dedicated Federal 
     scientists, including Nobel Prize winners;
       Whereas the lack of laboratory space led to the 
     establishment of a cryogenic engineering laboratory and radio 
     facilities on land donated by citizens of Boulder, Colorado, 
     in 1950, and the eventual partnership with the University of 
     Colorado of the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics;
       Whereas the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
     is poised to embark on its second century with 2 new state-
     of-the-art laboratories, the Advanced Chemical Sciences 
     Laboratory and the Advanced Measurement Laboratory at its 
     Gaithersburg, Maryland, headquarters, to fulfill its mission; 
     and
       Whereas the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
     is committed to building the advanced science and technology 
     infrastructure needed to ensure future prosperity and the 
     global competitiveness of United States industry in the 21st 
     century and beyond: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) recognizes the historical significance of the 
     centennial of the founding of the National Institute of 
     Standards and Technology;
       (2) acknowledges 100 years of achievement and service by 
     the National Bureau of Standards and the National Institute 
     of Standards and Technology to the United States; and
       (3) reaffirms its commitment to support during the next 100 
     years the research, technological advancements, and 
     discoveries made at the National Institute of Standards and 
     Technology, a crown jewel in the Federal Government.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Maryland (Mrs. Morella) and the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella).


                             General Leave

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within

[[Page H454]]

which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Con. Res. 27.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Maryland?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have introduced, along with my 
colleague, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall), H. Con. Res. 27, 
the resolution that honors the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology and its employees for 100 years of service to our Nation.
  A century ago on March 3, 1901, the 56th Congress established the 
National Bureau of Standards, the predecessor to NIST, and created the 
Nation's first Federal laboratory.
  When NBS was originally founded, its mission was to support industry, 
commerce and scientific institutions, as well as all branches of 
government. Prior to this formal establishment, however, the core 
mandate of NBS was first laid out in the Articles of Confederation and 
the Constitution of these United States, thereby making NIST's mission 
as old as the Republic itself.
  NBS was created at a time of enormous industrial development in the 
United States to help support interstate commerce in industries such as 
steel manufacturing, railroads, telephone and electrical power, that 
were technically very sophisticated for their time but lacked adequate 
standards.
  In the first 2 decades of the 20th century, the Federal laboratory 
won international recognition for its outstanding achievements in 
physical measurements, development of standards, and test measures, and 
this tradition continues today.
  In these early years, the research conducted by NIST scientists laid 
the foundation for a number of advances in many scientific and 
technical fields, such as standards for x-ray dosage, fire hose 
couplings, lighting and electrical power usage, temporary measurement 
of molten metals, materials corrosion studies and testing, and 
metallurgy, among others.
  Both World Wars found NIST deeply involved in mobilizing science to 
solve pressing weapons and war material problems, including research 
on, one, the determination of the properties and purities of uranium 
and other critical materials used in nuclear reactors and atomic bombs; 
two, testing and development of standards for material used by industry 
in the production of synthetic rubber; three, the design of two early 
smart weapons, the radio proximity fuse and the Bat, the first fully 
automated guided missile ever used successfully in combat; and, four, 
quartz crystals used in radio equipment, new metal alloys, new 
plastics, and specialized paper for war maps.
  In 1949, the atomic age of time-keeping began at NIST; and ever 
since, the advances in the performance of atomic clocks have supported 
the development of new technologies such as high data rate, 
telecommunications and the global positioning system. During the 1950s 
and 1960s, NIST research helped usher in the computer age and was 
employed in the space race.
  NIST's Standards Eastern Automatic Computer, the first operational, 
internally programmed digital computer in the United States, was a 
marvel at the dawn of the computer era, introducing many firsts and 
early applications of the technology that helped shape the information 
technology boom of the late 20th century.
  In 1966, the need for expanded facilities led NIST to move from its 
aging facilities in the District of Columbia to farmland in what was 
then considered the rural community of Gaithersburg, Maryland, although 
the site is now considered prime real estate in an ever expanding 
Washington suburb.
  In 1988, the National Bureau of Standards was renamed the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology, in recognition of its expanded 
mission to strengthen the United States economy and improve the quality 
of life by working with industry to develop and apply technology, 
measurements and standards.
  NIST scientists continue to make solid contributions to our economy 
and international competitiveness, while serving as a behind-the-scenes 
specialist with its research, measurement tools, and technical services 
integrated deeply into many of the systems and operations that 
collectively drive the economy, including manufacturing cells, 
satellite systems, communication and transportation networks, 
laboratories, factories, hospitals, businesses, and the extended 
enterprises of the new economy.
  NIST has been a leader in helping small manufacturing companies in 
all 50 States to modernize and prepare for the 21st century, as well as 
helping lead companies to become even more competitive by defining best 
practices in business, in education, and in health care through its 
Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Program.
  Mr. Speaker, I am extremely proud to represent NIST's Gaithersburg, 
Maryland, headquarters and some of our Nation's finest and most 
dedicated Federal scientists, including Nobel Prize winners that work 
there. I am also very pleased to note that to better fulfill its 
mission, NIST is embarking on its second century with two new state-of-
the-art laboratories, the Advanced Chemical Sciences Laboratory and the 
Advanced Measurement Laboratory, at its Gaithersburg, Maryland, 
headquarters.
  NIST will now possess the equipment to perform its vital job of 
tackling the awesome technological challenges that face our Nation as 
we begin this new millennium.
  As the former chairman of the Subcommittee on Technology with budget 
authority and legislative oversight over NIST, I have long been 
concerned that NIST laboratory infrastructure had been obsolete and 
required repair. It was clear to me and to others that without state-
of-the-art measurement and calibration equipment, NIST simply could not 
fulfill its mission. NIST laboratories needed to upgrade the facilities 
to meet the increased precision required by an increasingly complex 
technological world, and these two new laboratories further bolster 
NIST's efforts and reputation as the crown jewel of the Federal science 
and technology efforts.
  Of course, we all know that world-class facilities are useless 
without world-class employees, and luckily NIST already has the latter. 
After all, state-of-the-art laboratories are merely enabling tools. 
NIST and our Nation, for that matter, are fortunate to have one of the 
world's finest assemblages of scientific and engineering expertise. It 
is a dedicated workforce that is committed to building the advanced 
science and technology infrastructure needed to ensure future 
prosperity and the global competitiveness of the United States industry 
in the 21st century and beyond.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to recognize the historical 
significance of the centennial of NIST's founding and acknowledge its 
100 years of achievement and service. So I urge passage of this very 
significant resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution and to join my 
colleague, the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella) in honoring the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology and its employees on the 
occasion of its centennial.
  The National Institute of Standards and Technology was chartered by 
Congress on March 3, 1901, as the Federal Government's first physical 
science research laboratory. Scientists, engineers and industrialists 
first advocated the establishment of a standards laboratory, pointing 
to the new challenges facing the U.S. as a rapidly industrializing 
world power.
  Beginning with just a staff of 12, NIST has grown to become a vital 
arm of the Department of Commerce's technology administration. In its 
first 100 years, NIST has partnered successfully with industry, science 
and government to establish the foundations for this country's 
technological advances. The resolution we are considering today 
appropriately calls NIST a crown jewel in the Federal Government, 
emphasizing its contributions to the Nation.
  In particular, I would like to draw attention to the work of NIST's 
laboratories in Boulder, Colorado, in my district. In 1950, to address 
the lack of laboratory space, NIST established a cryogenic engineering 
laboratory and radio facilities on land donated by the citizens of 
Boulder, Colorado. NIST facilities were expanded in the mid-1960s

[[Page H455]]

when NIST and the University of Colorado joined forces to create the 
Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics, known as JILA, a 
cooperative effort that has gained widespread recognition in atomic 
physics and other fields.
  This partnership between NIST and the University of Colorado has led 
to some amazing discoveries. Beginning in the 1970s, the discipline of 
cooling and trapping atoms was established in part by experiments with 
electrically charged atoms by researchers at the NIST Boulder campus. 
This work inspired Dr. William Phillips and his team to demonstrate 
both the trapping and the cooling of atoms well below the temperature 
limits generally believed possible. Dr. Phillips was awarded the Nobel 
Prize in Physics in 1997 for this work.
  In 1995, using the same techniques of laser cooling and trapping of 
atoms, scientists at JILA cooled rubidium atoms to less than one-
millionth of a degree above absolute zero.

                              {time}  1115

  This was 300 times lower in temperature than ever achieved before, 
and created a new state of matter predicted decades ago by Einstein and 
the Indian physicist Bose. The Bose-Einstein condensate is widely 
hailed as one of the century's major achievements in physics. This 
research has enabled the design and construction of one of the world's 
most accurate clocks, which is used by NIST, in cooperation with the 
Naval Observatory, to maintain the Nation's time standard.
  This clock, which is called the NIST F-1, is so accurate that it will 
neither gain nor lose a second in 20 million years, something that is 
almost incomprehensible.
  If we think about this precise time information, it is needed by 
electric power companies, radio and television stations, telephone 
companies, air traffic control systems, the Global Positioning System, 
participants in space exploration, the Internet, and navigators of 
ships and planes. All need to compare their own timing equipment to a 
reliable, internationally-recognized standard, which NIST provides.
  Mr. Speaker, these are just some of the contributions NIST has 
provided to the Nation in the half century of their existence. As we 
approach the 50th anniversary of these labs in Boulder, I would like to 
raise my remarks on another issue in regard to the current state of the 
labs.
  Some know, and the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella) just 
mentioned it, NIST celebrated the completion of the NIST Advanced 
Chemistry Science Laboratory in Gaithersburg. After an $80 million 
investment, NIST can now boast another world-class facility in which to 
conduct more world-class research.
  Also at Gaithersburg just last year, ground was broken for the 
Advanced Measurement Laboratory, which has projected costs of over $200 
million.
  Now that Gaithersburg's needs have been addressed, Boulder is next in 
line to receive critical funding for construction and maintenance 
projects. This, according to NIST's published plans, lists construction 
and maintenance project priorities for the labs.
  I am very hopeful that the new administration will recognize the 
value of the Boulder lab's contributions, and the necessity of 
upgrading these facilities so the scientists in Boulder can continue to 
contribute top-flight research. NIST's Boulder campus, as has the 
campus in Gaithersburg, has done much for the Nation and for Colorado, 
and it will continue to do so in the future. But in order to get the 
full value from the asset, we must invest in its upkeep.
  Mr. Speaker, I am glad that Congress is acknowledging today the 
critical role NIST has played in helping build this country's science 
and technology infrastructure in the 20th century. This resolution also 
recognizes that NIST is poised to make significant contributions to 
even greater advances in the 21st century. I will continue to support 
NIST's work, and call attention to NIST's important contributions to 
ensure our ``crown jewel'' gets the credit it deserves.
  As always, I am grateful to my colleague, the gentlewoman from 
Maryland (Mrs. Morella), for working with me on this important 
resolution. Again, I salute NIST on the occasion of its 100th birthday, 
and urge the adoption of this important resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the Committee on Science is meeting on an energy topic. 
Otherwise, there would be many others who have joined in support of 
this resolution who would be here speaking of it. But I think the 100 
years of achievement, looking on into the future, perhaps mentions it 
well.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to add a note to what the gentlewoman from 
Maryland (Mrs. Morella) just said, that when we look at our colleagues 
on the Committee on Science, particularly the gentleman from Michigan 
(Mr. Ehlers), he served at the JILA Laboratory in Boulder a number of 
years ago, and has the direct experience himself with the great 
contributions that these labs have provided. I know he would be here 
today with us if his schedule permitted.
  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to join with the gentleman, who 
represents NIST in Boulder, Colorado, as I represent Gaithersburg, 
Maryland's NIST facilities, in this resolution, which is so important.
  I urge all of our colleagues to support it.
  Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I wish today to support H. Con. Res. 27, a 
resolution honoring the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
and its valuable employees for 100 years of service to our country.
  A century ago, our predecessors here in Congress recognized the 
importance of creating an institution with a mission to work closely 
with private industry to help further our nation's technological 
progress and strengthen its economic performance.
  So strongly did our colleagues feel about the important role in our 
economy that this new entity could play, the Committee on Coinage, 
Weights and Measures that recommended its creation at that time wrote:

       No more essential aid could be given to manufacturing, 
     commerce, the makers of scientific apparatus, the scientific 
     work of the government, of schools, colleges, and 
     universities than by the establishment of the institution 
     proposed in this bill.

  And thus the National Bureau of Standards, which we now know as the 
National Institute for Standards and Technology, was created.
  And over the past 100 years, Mr. Speaker, NIST and its employees have 
not let us down. Literally, it is all but impossible to name a major 
innovation that has improved our quality of life with which NIST has 
not had some involvement.
  NIST's federal laboratories have partnered with industry to initiate 
innovations for safer and more fuel efficient automobiles, biomedical 
breakthroughs like breast cancer diagnostics, refrigerant and air 
conditioning standards, analysis of DNA, and calibrations for wireless 
telecommunications systems, among numerous others.
  Activities as far reaching as trading on the New York Stock Exchange 
and space navigation rely on NIST for their work in the area of high-
accuracy timekeeping. In fact, with the newly enhanced NIST-built 
atomic clock that will neither gain nor lose a second in 20 million 
years, the Institute receives millions of requests for accurate time 
via the Internet each and every day.
  NIST has also proven to be a valuable resource to our nation's small 
businesses--the backbone of our economy. NIST's Manufacturing Extension 
Partnership Program, or MEP, provides small manufacturers with a 
network of over 400 centers nationwide that they can rely on for the 
advice and expertise they need to succeed in the ever-changing business 
world.
  NIST is a well-run agency that has supported our nation's economic 
growth by working to develop and apply technology, measurements, and 
standards integral to our ability to compete in today's global 
marketplace.
  As the Chairman of the House Science Committee, I want to acknowledge 
the efforts of my colleagues, Mrs. Morella and Mr. Barcia, the 
Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the Technology Subcommittee last 
Congress. I appreciate their commitment over the past few years to 
ensuring that NIST's laboratory functions have received the budget 
prioritization they deserve. NIST labs continue to be the cornerstone 
of our federal science and technology efforts.

[[Page H456]]

  With construction underway on NIST's much needed Advanced Measurement 
Laboratory located at its Gaithersburg campus, we can also be assured 
that the Institute's lab system will continue to shine well into the 
next century. This new state-of-the-art laboratory will allow NIST's 
world class scientists to make precision measurements under stable 
conditions with tight control of vibration, temperature, humidity, air 
cleanliness, and electrical power.
  I want to thank Congresswoman Morella and Congressman Udall for 
introducing this resolution today. But most of all I want to thank NIST 
and its employees for their 100 years of service to our nation.
  I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 27.
  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I support H. Con. Res. 27, Honoring the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Its Employees 
for 100 Years of Service.
  The National Institute of Standards and Technology is our Nation's 
oldest Federal laboratory, with a mission that dates back to the 
founding of our Republic. NIST employs about 3,300 people, with some of 
our Nation's finest and most dedicated Federal scientists, including 
Nobel Prize winners.
  In the past 100 years, NIST has helped to maintain United States 
technology at the cutting edge, while also making contributions to our 
economy and international competitiveness. Many advances can be traced 
to the assistance of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, including satellite systems, communication and 
transportation networks, image processing, DNA diagnostic ``chips'', 
smoke detectors, automated error correcting software for machine tools, 
atomic clocks, X-ray standards for mammography, scanning tunneling 
miscroscopy, pollution control technology, high-speed dental drills, 
laboratories, factories, hospitals, businesses, and the extended 
enterprises of the new economy.
  I am concerned, however, that the President's proposed budget may cut 
funding for some NIST programs, including the Advanced Technology 
Program and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
  I am also troubled by potential proposed cuts in other science 
programs, such as an apparent decision to cut the Energy Department's 
budget to $19 billion, roughly $700 million below current levels. At a 
time when our states, including California, are facing great challenges 
in providing sufficient energy, and at reasonable prices, we should not 
be cutting funding for programs, such as those which explore renewable 
energy sources.
  America has been on a course of jobs and prosperity, developed by the 
hard work of the American people over the last eight years. We should 
not change course. We still have much work to do in our communities, to 
encourage research and development, foster small business development, 
launch new high-tech revolutions. We must create new jobs, provide 
educational opportunities, ensure that all who are willing to work can 
advance.
  Therefore, as the Congress today celebrates the work of NIST and its 
proud traditions, let us resolve not unilaterally to disarm our nation 
of the finest minds and resources, which have led to an economic and 
technological renaissance. Our nation is the admiration of the modern 
world. People come here to learn in our universities, work in our 
corporations, and find a better life. Let us resolve to continue our 
fight to keep America number-one in scientific innovation and job 
creation.
  Mr. BARCIA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 27 
honoring the National Institute of Standards and Technology on its 
centennial.
  Chairwoman Morella has already described many of the important 
activities that NIST performs. I just want to add that though NIST is 
often un-noticed inside the beltway, its work is widely recognized and 
utilized in industry and homes across America.
  For example, in my home state of Michigan, with its strong 
manufacturing base, NIST measurement standards and reference materials 
are widely used in our automotive and chemical industries. However, 
NIST's products go well beyond our industrial base.
  Basic research by NIST scientists have resulted in a Nobel Prize and 
the synthesis of the Bose-Einstein Condensate--dubbed the molecule of 
the century. In addition, NIST is probably the only Federal research 
laboratory to receive an Emmy--for its pioneering work to develop 
closed captioning technology used in television.
  I want to take this time to thank NIST employees for their hard work 
and dedication, often with much less recognition than their 
counterparts at other federal laboratories. On a personal note, I would 
like to also express my thanks to all NIST employees for talking to me 
about their work and improving my understanding of the important work 
performed at the Boulder and Gaithersburg facilities.
  On behalf of the Science Committee, I want to commend you for the 
outstanding work done in the last one hundred years. You've set high 
standards for future NIST employees to match in the next one hundred.
  Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. 
Con. Res. 27, which honors the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology and its employees for 100 years of service. Chairwoman 
Morella has already highlighted many of NIST's achievements. I want to 
speak about the philosophy and hard work of NIST's employees.
  The Constitution gives the Federal government the responsibility to 
``fix the standard of weights and measures.'' In 1901, the National 
Bureau of Standards (NSB) was formally established. Little could the 
Founding Fathers, or President McKinley who signed the original 
legislation, have guessed at the scope of activities that agency would 
have to undertake.
  Initially NBS set simple standards such as the length of a foot, the 
weight of a pound, and the volume of a gallon. Today, NIST, the 
successor agency to the NBS, is involved in measurement activities 
including time measurement accurate to a loss of a second every 20 
million years which is important to the global positioning system, 
setting the length of nanometer essential to the semiconductor 
industry, and accurate measures of X-ray emissions used to calibrate 
hospital equipment. These are just a few examples of NIST measurement 
and standards activities that support many of the daily services we 
rely upon.
  NIST has been successful because it is responsive to the needs of 
industry. NIST is one of the few federal agencies that work in 
partnership with industry to develop the measurement tools that are the 
basis for the development of new technologies. NIST constantly re-
invents its research mission to meet industry's evolving needs. Many in 
Congress complain that Federal agencies are unresponsive to their 
customer's needs--and this complaint is true some of the time. But 
NIST's record proves that an agency can serve its customers and further 
the public's interests in reliable standards for products.
  I urge my colleagues in joining with me supporting this resolution 
honoring NIST employees.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 
27.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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