[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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