Congressional Record, Volume 150 Issue 92 (Wednesday, July 7, 2004)

[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 92 (Wednesday, July 7, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H5218-H5219]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF THE WORLD YEAR OF PHYSICS

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 301) supporting the goals and
ideals of the World Year of Physics.
The Clerk read as follows:

H. Con. Res. 301

Whereas throughout history physics has contributed to
knowledge, civilization, and culture around the world;
Whereas physics research has been and continues to be a
driving force for scientific, technological, and economic
development;
Whereas many emerging fields in science and technology,
such as nanoscience, information technology, and
biotechnology, are substantially based on and derive many of
their tools from fundamental discoveries in physics and
applications thereof;
Whereas physics will continue to play a vital role in
addressing many 21st-century challenges related to
sustainable development, including environmental
conservation, clean sources of energy, public health, and
security;
Whereas Albert Einstein is a widely recognized scientific
figure who contributed enormously to the development of
physics, beginning in 1905 with his groundbreaking papers on
the photoelectric effect, the size of molecules, Brownian
motion, and the theory of relativity that led to his most
famous equation, E = mc²;
Whereas 2005 will be the 100th anniversary of those
important scientific achievements; and
Whereas the General Assembly of the International Union of
Pure and Applied Physics unanimously approved the proposition
designating 2005 as the World Year of Physics: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Congress--
(1) supports the goals and ideals of the World Year of
Physics, as designated by the General Assembly of the
International Union of Pure and Applied Physics;
(2) encourages the American people to observe the World
Year of Physics as a special occasion for giving impetus to
education and research in physics as well as to the public's
understanding of physics;
(3) encourages all science-related government agencies and
nongovernmental organizations, the private sector, and the
media to highlight and give enhanced recognition to the role
of physics in social, cultural, and economic development as
well as its positive impact and contributions to society; and
(4) encourages all those involved in physics education and
research to take additional steps, including strengthening
existing and emerging fields of physics research and
promoting the public's understanding of physics, to ensure
that support for physics continues and that physics studies
at all levels continue to attract an adequate number of
students.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) and the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baird)
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 include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 301, the resolution now
under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Michigan?
There was no objection.

{time} 1200

Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that we are considering this resolution
recognizing the importance of physics to our everyday lives. This
resolution supports the goals and ideals of the World Year of Physics
and at the same time celebrates the 100th anniversary of Einstein's
development of the theory of relativity. I am certain we are all
familiar with the equation E=mc2 which, for the first time, recognized
that mass is a form of energy and in fact could be converted into
energy. This was a key factor in discovering nuclear fission and
nuclear fusion.
The resolution recognizes the important contributions of physicists
to technological progress and the health of many industries. I could go
on and on listing all the various benefits that we have developed in
today's world resulting from the work of physicists. Many people do not
realize, for example, that some of the most important developments in
health care come directly from the world of physics. As an example, x-
rays were discovered by a physicist. The CAT scan was developed based
on work that physicists had done. And MRI imaging, which is very useful
for health diagnosis and research, was developed by physicists
resulting from work done on nuclear magnetic resonance, which was
discovered while I was still a graduate student.
In addition, what has developed with lasers is a very important
aspect of what was at first a small, unknown field of research, very
related to the field of research in which I received my doctorate.
Discovery of lasers was the first proof of something that had been
developed years ago theoretically, that photons passing through a
material in an excited state would result in the emission of additional
photons precisely in phase and at the same frequency as the photon that
initiated the emission. That was the heart of developing the laser.
The ramifications and uses of the laser are so numerous that I can
scarcely begin to mention them. They are used in surgery. They are used
in factories to cut steel and to cut out patterns for clothes. In many,
many other areas lasers play an extremely important role.
As I said, I could go on and on talking about the contributions that
physicists have made to technological

[[Page H5219]]

progress in many industries, but this resolution, in addition to
recognizing that, encourages the people of the United States to observe
next year as the World Year of Physics in conjunction with the United
Nations declaration of 2005 as the International World Year of Physics.
As a physicist, I recognize the physics principles that are part of
our everyday lives. From mechanics and gravity to optical technologies
that enable our CD players, physics is all around us. Through physics
we can explore the depths of the universe and black holes, as well as
the tiniest parts of the atom. And what has always fascinated me about
my study of the atomic nucleus and also my readings in cosmology is
that we humans are basically at the center of that scale. We are about
as far removed from the size of an atomic nucleus, as we are from the
size of the universe. I think it is just absolutely marvelous that we
can explore our world in both the smaller and larger directions and
have not reached limits at this point.
This resolution encourages the American public to take note of the
physics used every day and encourages them to learn more about it. I
hope that the American people will observe the World Year of Physics by
supporting physics education and research. I encourage physicists and
educators to engage the public, especially the children, in physics to
inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.
I commend the American Physical Society for promoting the World Year
of Physics. This is a perfect opportunity to recognize and celebrate
the importance of physics in our lives, promote public understanding of
physics, and express our support for physics research and education.
I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 301, supporting the
goals and ideals of the World Year of Physics.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 301 which recognizes
the goals and ideals of the World Year of Physics. I want to
congratulate the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) and the gentleman
from New Jersey (Mr. Holt) for bringing this resolution forward. I also
personally want to say how much I enjoy serving with the gentlemen on
the Committee on Science and what a rewarding experience it is to have
two physicists on the Committee on Science itself. Some of the more
esoteric details we often turn to these gentlemen to help us
understand.
Physics, of course, is the discipline that underpins all of science
in some way, and so much of our technology deals with the most
fundamental understanding of the properties of matter. Emerging fields
such as nanotechnology, information technology and biotechnology are
substantially based on the results of fundamental discoveries in
physics.
The General Assembly of the International Union of Pure and Applied
Physics unanimously approved the proposition designating 2005 as the
World Year of Physics. This will be the 100th anniversary of Albert
Einstein's remarkable series of scientific papers on the photoelectric
effect, the size of molecules, Brownian motion, and, of course, the
theory of relativity itself.
This makes 2005 an appropriate year to recognize the importance of
physics to the advance of civilization and the important role physics
plays in social, cultural and economic development in our society and
throughout the world.
Mr. Speaker, I commend this resolution to my colleagues and ask for
their support for its passage by the House.
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 want to thank my colleague from Washington (Mr. Baird)
and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt) for their work in bringing
this resolution to the floor today.
As I mentioned before, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baird) has
been most helpful in the Committee on Science. The gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Holt) and I, as the two physicists in the Congress, have
worked together closely on many issues, including this one. So I want
to recognize both of them for their work and for their long history in
recognizing the importance of not only physics but science in general.
I urge all of my colleagues to vote for H. Con. Res. 301.
Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, physics is all around us. Physics has been
highly successful in explaining many of the phenomena governing our
natural world; it was a basis for the Renaissance and the enlightenment
of western civilization. Through physics we can explore the diverse
phenomena from the existence of black hole and to the composition of
the atom and nucleus. Understanding mechanics, gravity and propulsion
allowed us to develop machinery, bridges and rockets while knowledge
about electricity and magnetism and matter led to lasers, light bulbs,
telescopes, fiber optics, the internet and the huge market of consumer
electronics.
Physics research creates technological innovations, which drives the
world's economic growth and markets. It has changed human life for the
better. It has made major contributions to cutting-edge technologies
such as Nanotechnology, Biotechnology and Information Technology.
Physics research will help us to solve major new challenges in homeland
security and find new energy sources.
In 2005, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Einstein's theory of
relativity. This resolution is the perfect opportunity to recognize and
celebrate the importance of physics to our lives.
Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Miller of Florida). 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. 301.
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.

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