[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 153 (Tuesday, October 28, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H9832-H9835]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE
ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE CONGRESSIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FELLOWSHIP
PROGRAM
Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 279) recognizing the significance
of the anniversary of the American Association for the Advancement of
Science Congressional Science and Engineering Fellowship Program, and
reaffirming the commitment to support the use of science in
governmental decisionmaking through such Program.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Con. Res. 279
Whereas Congress hosted the American Association for the
Advancement of Science's (AAAS) first Congressional Science
and Engineering Fellows 30 years ago in 1973;
Whereas the AAAS Congressional Science and Engineering
Fellowship Program was the first to provide an opportunity
for Ph.D.-level scientists and engineers to learn about the
policymaking process while bolstering the technical expertise
available to Members of Congress and staff;
Whereas Members of Congress hold the AAAS Congressional
Science and Engineering Fellowship Program in high regard for
the substantial contributions that Fellows have made, serving
both in personal offices and on committee staff;
Whereas the Congress is increasingly involved in public
policy issues of a scientific and technical nature and
recognizes the need to develop additional in-house expertise
in the areas of science and engineering;
Whereas more than 800 individuals have held AAAS
Congressional Science and Engineering Fellowships since 1973;
Whereas the AAAS Congressional Science and Engineering
Fellows represent the full range of physical, biological, and
social sciences, and all fields of engineering;
Whereas the AAAS Congressional Science and Engineering
Fellows bring to the Congress new insights and ideas,
extensive knowledge, and perspectives from a variety of
disciplines;
Whereas the AAAS Congressional Science and Engineering
Fellows learn about legislative, oversight, and investigative
activities through assignments that offer a wide array of
responsibilities;
Whereas AAAS Congressional Science and Engineering
Fellowships provide an opportunity for scientists and
engineers to transition into careers in government service;
and
Whereas many former AAAS Congressional Science and
Engineering Fellows return to their disciplines and share
knowledge with students and peers to encourage more
scientists and engineers to participate in informing
government processes: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Congress--
(1) recognizes the significance of the anniversary of the
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Congressional Science and Engineering Fellowship Program;
(2) acknowledges the value of 30 years of participation by
the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Congressional Science and Engineering Fellows; and
(3) reaffirms its commitment to support the use of science
in governmental decisionmaking through the American
Association for the Advancement of Science Congressional
Science and Engineering Fellowship Program.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) and the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice
Johnson) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers).
General Leave
Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
and to include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 279, the concurrent
resolution now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Michigan?
There was no objection.
Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Today I am pleased that we are considering this resolution
recognizing the 30th anniversary of the Congressional Science and
Engineering Fellowship Program coordinated by the American Association
for the Advancement of Science, better known as AAAS.
This resolution has bipartisan support from 26 cosponsors. It
recognizes a truly valuable educational program that gives scientists a
wonderful opportunity to step out of the lab and into the political
process. By working as legislative assistants in congressional offices,
they get a behind-the-scenes look at how our laws are made, writing
speeches, developing legislation, and serving as liaisons to committees
on which a Member serves. At the same time Members of Congress and
other policy makers gain a valuable new resource to help them better
understand the scientific and technical issues underpinning complex
policy debates.
Six different fellows have served on my staff and each one has used
their unique talents and understanding to help shape my legislative
agenda. One in particular contributed greatly to this Nation at the
time I was rewriting the Nation's science policy at the request of
Speaker Gingrich and Chairman Sensenbrenner. Sharon Hayes played a key
role in the preparation of that report, which has been widely used and
quoted throughout the scientific community.
After 30 years, this program is still going strong. Over 800
scientists have now served Republican, Democratic, and Independent
Members of Congress
[[Page H9833]]
and many are currently working for Congress and the administration.
These individuals have contributed not only their scientific expertise,
but also a fresh perspective to policy making. I urge my colleagues to
recognize the success of this program by supporting this resolution to
honor the AAAS Congressional Fellowship Program.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such
time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 279.
This resolution recognizes the 30th anniversary of the Congressional
Fellowship Program instituted by the American Association of
Advancement of Science. I congratulate the gentleman from Michigan (Mr.
Ehlers) for taking the initiative to develop this resolution.
The AAAS Congressional Science and Engineering Fellowship Program has
provided congressional committees and Members' offices with scientific
and technical expertise that has greatly benefited governmental
decision-making for three decades. The Committee on Science has made
frequent use of AAAS fellows over the life of the program, and several
subsequently have served on the professional staff of the committee.
I know that many of my colleagues have repeatedly sought AAAS fellows
for their personal offices because of the quality of the contributions
they have made. The issues confronting Congress increasingly involve
scientific and technical aspects. Ph.D.-level scientists and engineers
serving as congressional fellows bolster the technical expertise
available to Members and staff by bringing to bear extensive knowledge
and fresh insights and perspectives.
The presence of congressional fellows enhances the public policy
formulation process. In addition, the program provides fellows with a
window of the policy formulation process and the workings of Congress
that they take back to their home institutions. It also provides a
mechanism that many fellows have used to transition to careers in
public service.
Mr. Speaker, the American Association for the Advancement of Science
is to be congratulated for creating this successful and valuable
congressional fellows program. And it is appropriate for us to
recognize the contributions of more than 800 fellows who have
participated in this program since 1973. I urge my colleagues to
support this worthy resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers at this time. I
will reserve the balance of my time.
MS. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to
the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt).
Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 279
to recognize the importance of the American Association for the
Advancement of Science Congressional Fellowship Program. For 30 years,
the fellowship program has brought together Members of Congress with
leading scientific practitioners and scholars in a variety of
scientific fields. And this has provided a level of scientific
expertise not otherwise found on most congressional staffs, and it
presents the congressional fellows with an intimate role in the process
of decision-making in public policy.
{time} 1515
It is hard to find an issue before this body that does not have
significant scientific and technological components, and yet those
components often get short-shrifted. I was an AAAS Fellow 20 years ago,
in fact, the only alumnus of that program yet to serve in this body,
although I am sure that there are some others on the way. I was very
fortunate to take part in that program, and I witnessed firsthand the
important role that scientific expertise can bring to policy decisions.
Since I have been a Member of Congress for the past 5 years, I have
welcomed AAAS Fellows into my staff and fully integrated them into my
staff because of the wealth of knowledge they provide and their ability
to pose questions. Of course, that is the essence of science, to be
able to pose questions. I have benefited from their aptitude, their
ability and their energy; and I will, as long as I serve in this body,
continue to recruit these motivated and high-qualified experts and do
everything I can to make this program a success. It has, in many ways,
benefited America.
Let me mention a few of the Fellows who have served with me. Joan
Rothenberg joined my staff and shared her expertise on food technology
and was integral in developing legislation to provide the public with
scientifically based information on biotechnology.
Katy Makeig provided my staff with technical expertise on geology and
energy and research and development.
At the time our Nation was struggling with the anthrax attacks,
microbiologist Jill Harper worked on my staff on critical issues of
bioterrorism and health and homeland security.
Jeffrey Haeni helped to establish here the Congressional Caucus on
Research and Development which I think will prove to be an important
part of this body.
But it is not so much the specific expertise that these Fellows and
that other science Fellows bring; it is the level of comfort with
science and technology, the familiarity with science and technology
that they bring.
Members of Congress, let me just say, are generally not loath to talk
about subjects in which they are not well trained, except in science.
My colleagues and I will hold forth on economics or international
relations or any number of other things; but when it comes to science,
they say, whoa, that is not for me. I am not a scientist. And as a
result, many of the aspects of science, many of the aspects of the
policy questions before us that involve science and technology do not
get the attention they should. That is why this congressional Fellows
program, this AAAS science program is so important. It is in many
offices the only scientific expertise that is provided. This technical
expertise is very valuable to Congress; and it allows not only these
Fellows to bring scientific expertise here; it allows them to carry
political expertise back to their professions.
So as AAAS celebrates 30 years in the Congressional Fellowship
Program, I encourage all of my colleagues to join me, to join the
sponsor, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers), in recognizing the
notable contributions provided by these Fellows, the political
expertise that they take back to their professions that enriches our
country in so many ways, and to applaud the sponsoring societies for
providing the support for these Fellows. It truly is a public service.
The AAAS seeks ``to advance science and innovation throughout the
world for the benefit of all people.'' The Congressional Fellowship
Program carries that mission beyond the walls of academic institutions
and research laboratories and into the legislative process.
Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt) for his
comments and his co-sponsorship on this resolution. I also thank him
for his sponsorship on the previous resolution on National Chemistry
Week. He and I, as most people know, are the only two physicists in the
Congress and I am told are the only two that have ever served in this
Congress. That, I think, is an indictment of the scientific community
because we should have more scientists in the Congress, but most
scientists tend to shy away from this particular type of activity. But
the Fellows that we are honoring here have filled the gap, as the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt) has so clearly outlined. They
provide some very badly needed scientific advice.
I recognized the need for this some years ago before there was a
fellowship program, and I contacted my Congressman and I worked with
him over several years informally advising him on science. His name
happened to be Gerald R. Ford. And I was very pleased when he became
President and he continued to use some of the advice that I had given
him.
The OTA came along and that relieved some of the need for scientific
advice; but as we know, the OTA is no longer with us. And so the
Fellows are extremely important in maintaining the scientific
competence of the Congress, both House and Senate. Many of
[[Page H9834]]
the Fellows have returned to their laboratories where they serve as a
good liaison between the scientific communities and the Congress. Many
others have chosen to stay here; and I have one sitting immediately
behind me, Ms. Amy Caroll, who served as science Fellow and now serves
as my designee on the Committee on Science, particularly the
Subcommittee on Environment, Technology and Standards.
In my office I have a scientist Ellen Burns, who is currently my
employee, but previously served as a science Fellow; and you will find
many former science Fellows in the halls of Congress, in the
administration, playing a very vital role in keeping this Nation's
governing bodies current in science. So this has been a very valuable
enterprise.
I was pleased to be involved in Fellows programs from the very start.
I served on one of the first interviewing boards. We have come a long
way since then because at that time scientists did not even know what
it meant to become involved politically. Now we have a good network,
thanks to the AAAS and the sponsoring societies; and it has been very,
very beneficial to our Nation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for
the resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I urge that this resolution be adopted, and I thank all
of those who have supported it and cosponsored it.
Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in celebration of the 30th
anniversary of the congressional fellows program of the American
Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
The mission of the AAAS is to ``Advance science and innovation
throughout the world for the benefit of all people''. In pursuit of
this mission, in 1973 the AAAS established a fellowship program
designed to provide a unique public policy learning experience for
scientist and to demonstrate the value of science-government
interaction. From an initial cohort of seven Fellows, the AAAS program
has grown over thirty years to include nearly one hundred Fellows each
year, serving in both Houses of Congress and many agencies of the
executive branch. Bringing technical backgrounds that range from
astrophysics to veterinary radiology, AAAS Fellows have made important
contributions to all areas of government policy. Many former Fellows
have remained in Washington at the end of their twelve-month tenure, to
become members of the scientific policymaking community. Others have
returned to scientific careers with an enhanced appreciation of public
policy, sharing this knowledge and experience with colleagues and
students.
I have welcomed over twenty AAAS Fellows into my office since 1979
and have been consistently impressed by their contributions to
policymaking and advising. They have made a significant positive impact
on the quality of life for the people of Massachusetts, the United
States, and the world by instilling a measure of science and humanity
into the decisions we are asked to make in these chambers every day. I
look forward to working with AAAS Fellows for another thirty years.
The following article from the Washington Post provides a useful look
back at 30 years of the outstanding achievements of the AAAS science
policy program.
[From the Washington Post, Sept. 18, 2003]
Bridging This Gap Isn't Rocket Science
(By Rick Weiss)
In his famous 1959 treatise ``The Two Cultures,'' British
scientist and novelist C.P. Snow decried the divide between
scientists and ``literary intellectuals,'' warning that
society's problems will remain largely intractable as long as
scientists eschew Shakespeare and literary types remain
ignorant about the second law of thermodynamics.
Washington has its own version of that cultural divide--
this one involving scientists and politicians. How can the
nation craft policies in such scientifically complex areas as
embryonic stem cell research, global warming, agricultural
biotechnology and ``Star Wars'' missile defense, experts in
both camps moan, when so many politicians know so little
about science and most scientists remain so clueless about
how policy is made?
Enter the AAAS Science and Technology Fellows Program, a
little-known but influential cultural exchange that serves as
a wormhole between the largely alien universes of science and
politics.
The program--coordinated by the American Association for
the Advancement of Science, the nation's largest general
science organization and publisher of the research journal
Science--places about 60 PhD scientists in congressional and
executive branch offices each fall for one-year stints.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this week, the program gives
scientists a chance to explore the world of policy and
politics while allowing lawmakers and administration
officials to take advantage of the fellows' well-wired
brains.
Scientists learn about a kind of sausage-making that never
came up in their PhD food chemistry courses and bureaucrats
get reminded that the universe cannot run on hot air alone.
Sometimes there is even a profound synthesis. In at least
one case, involving a psychology fellow and a Treasury
official, the cross-pollination between science and politics
got so personal as to culminate in matrimony.
But perhaps the best measure of the program's success is
the ubiquity of former fellows inside the Beltway today. Ten
of about 50 staff members on the House Science Committee--
including the committee's deputy chief of staff--are former
fellows, as is one member of Congress: Rep. Rush D. Holt (D-
N.J.). Other former fellows include the deputy director of
the Department of Homeland Security's Advanced Research
Projects Agency; the new chief science adviser at the State
Department; and the deputy associate director of technology
at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Perhaps no fellow is as appreciative of the program as
psychologist Karen Kovacs North, now assistant dean for the
School of Public Policy and Social Research at the University
of California at Los Angeles. She met her husband in 1994
while on her AAAS stint in the office of Rep. Edward J.
Markey (D-Mass.).
``We met banning Chinese assault weapons,'' she said.
Specifically, she first got Erik North, a Treasury
official, in her cross hairs when he and some colleagues went
to Markey's office to work with her on the wording of the
pending Clinton importation ban.
``They came over with a bunch of guns and it scared the
hell out of me,'' Kovacs North recalled. After months of work
together, with the ban written and passed, it was dinner for
two, long talks into the night ``and the rest,'' Kovac North
said, ``is Hollywood history.''
They married in Malibu, Calif., in 1997. C.P. Snow would
have cried with happiness.
Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 279 that
recognizes the 30th anniversary of the American Association for the
Advancement of Science (AAAS) Congressional Science and Engineering
Fellowship Program.
Each year, this fine program brings to Capitol Hill talented
individuals representing the natural, physical, and social sciences and
all fields of engineering. Since its inception in 1973, over 800 AAAS
Fellows have participated in this year-long experience in Congress.
This program is a remarkable partnership between Congress and the 30
or so participating professional societies that select and fund the
Fellows. At no cost to Congress, these Fellows offer their substantial
expertise and experience to various personal offices and committees in
return for the opportunity to be immersed in the legislative process.
I have been fortunate enough to work with many AAAS fellows over my
Congressional career. Without exception, they have been valuable
additions to my staff. I especially appreciate the real world
perspective they bring to us. While I've legislated in health care for
several decades, I've never been trained in any of the health care
disciplines. Having professionals on my staff who can provide that
expertise has proved extremely beneficial and has probably helped keep
well meant, but poorly designed legislation from becoming law on more
than one occasion.
In my office, a fellow is treated exactly as other members of my
staff. They have issue areas of expertise and perform all of the duties
necessary to move those issues forward. Fellows have performed many
tasks. One initiated innovative legislation to update Medicare's mental
health coverage--which we are still attempting to enact years later. A
more recent fellow developed legislation to restructure the Individuals
with Disabilities Act so that we could meet our federal commitment to
fully fund the education of students with disabilities. I could go on
and on with examples of their contributions. The AAAS fellows in my
office are always focused on health policy and are often psychologists.
I know I speak for myself and many other members of my staff in saying
that we have found that background useful personally as well as
professionally.
The AAAS Fellowship program is a shining example of a collaborative
program that benefits all whom participate. The fellows get a strong
understanding of the legislative process and Congress gets the benefit
of someone with real world expertise in areas in which we legislate.
I want to commend the AAAS for establishing this program and
providing the infrastructure and organization that helps maintain its
excellence. This program brings much needed scientific expertise to the
halls of Congress and helps develop a cadre of scientific
[[Page H9835]]
professionals knowledgeable about public policy and the legislative
process. I look forward to continuing to work with AAAS fellows. Over
the years, they have become an integral part of my staff. Thanks again
to AAAS for maintaining this valuable resource for Congress.
Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res.
279, recognizing the significance of the 30th anniversary of the
American Association for the Advancement of Science Congressional
Science and Engineering Fellowship Program. I congratulate Mr. Ehlers
for introducing it.
The AAAS has literally incalculable contributions to this institution
and the nation. It has enabled scientists to have a better
understanding of the governing process--both the fellows themselves and
scientists with whom they interact--and it has improved the governing
process by enabling Congressional offices to better understand
scientific information and scientists.
The fellows program has also been an entry point for many of the best
staff we have on Capitol Hill. We recognize the value of the AAAS
program daily on the Science Committee, where ten of our staff members
began their careers on the Hill as fellows. To take just three
prominent examples, the minority chief of staff, Bob Palmer, and both
my deputy chiefs of staffs, John Mimikakis and Peter Rooney, were AAAS
fellows. Hopefully everyone will view that as an advertisement for the
program.
I look forward to the speedy passage of this resolution and to the
continued success of the AAAS program of the fellows themselves.
Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Schrock). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res.
279.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was
agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________