[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 131 (Monday, October 17, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H8812-H8815]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE AND POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS OF CHEMISTRY TO
OUR EVERYDAY LIVES AND SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL
CHEMISTRY WEEK
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 457) recognizing the importance and
positive contributions of chemistry to our everyday lives and
supporting the goals and ideals of National Chemistry Week.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 457
Whereas chemistry is at the core of every technology we
benefit from today;
Whereas the power of the chemical sciences is what they
create as a whole; an enabling infrastructure that delivers
the foods, fuels, medicines, and materials that are the
hallmarks of modern life;
Whereas the contributions of chemical scientists and
engineers are central to technological progress and to the
health of many industries, including the chemical,
pharmaceutical, electronics, agricultural, automotive, and
aerospace sectors, and these contributions boost economic
growth, create new jobs, and improve our health and standard
of living;
Whereas the American Chemical Society, the world's largest
scientific society, founded National Chemistry Week in 1987
to educate the public, particularly elementary and secondary
school children, about the role of chemistry in society and
to enhance students' appreciation of the chemical sciences;
Whereas National Chemistry Week is a community-based public
awareness campaign conducted by more than 10,000 volunteers
in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico;
Whereas National Chemistry Week volunteers from United
States industry, government, secondary schools, and
institutions of higher education reach and educate millions
of children through hands-on science activities in local
schools, libraries, and museums;
Whereas the theme of National Chemistry Week in 2005, ``The
Joy of Toys'', was chosen
[[Page H8813]]
to emphasize the chemistry involved in the creation and
production of toys and the role that chemistry has played in
new material development that has helped to make toys safer
and more durable; and
Whereas in recognition of National Chemistry Week,
volunteers across the United States will teach children about
the chemistry involved with the materials, function, and
properties of toys during the week beginning October 16,
2005: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes that the important contributions of chemical
scientists and engineers to technological progress and the
health of many industries have created new jobs, boosted
economic growth, and improved the Nation's health and
standard of living;
(2) supports the goals of National Chemistry Week as
founded by the American Chemical Society; and
(3) encourages the people of the United States to observe
National Chemistry Week with appropriate recognition,
ceremonies, activities, and programs to demonstrate the
importance of chemistry to our everyday lives.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Wu) each will
control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith).
General Leave
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks
and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 457, the resolution now
under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 457, a
resolution recognizing the importance of chemistry and honoring
National Chemistry Week.
The importance of chemistry in our lives cannot be overstated. As H.
Res. 457 recognizes, advances in chemistry impact every one of us, from
the creation of a safer child's toy to the search for potential cures
for cancer. Without a fundamental understanding of the chemistry that
undergirds all modern technologies and products, we would not have the
success of space travel or the promise of nanotechnology.
Those who work in the chemical sciences are as important as the
products that they produce. Chemical scientists are vital to numerous
industries, including the pharmaceutical, agricultural, and automotive
sectors. This large and diverse workforce is composed of millions of
Americans who work to maintain our global leadership in these and other
areas.
In addition, the United States has a history of success in the
chemical sciences. Since 1992, every Nobel Prize in chemistry has
included at least one scientist from the United States. Most recently,
the 2005 Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to two American
scientists for developing a chemical process that has resulted in the
production of cheaper and more environmentally friendly products.
Yet future accolades and our continued global and economic leadership
depend on our ability to inspire the next generation of chemical
scientists and engineers.
It is for this reason that H. Res. 457 celebrates the goals and
ideals of National Chemistry Week. This week, children of all ages will
be exposed to the wonders of chemistry. This year's theme, The Joy of
Toys, was chosen to highlight the impact of chemistry on the creation
and improvement of toys. Why do rubber balls bounce and why do paper
boats float are just some of the interesting questions that will be
explored through hands-on experiments and demonstrations.
{time} 1415
These activities will both educate and inspire participants by
creating a fun atmosphere in which to understand the role of chemistry
in our daily lives.
In conclusion, I thank the American Chemical Society for its ongoing
efforts to educate children and adults about the benefits of chemistry.
I would also like to thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) and
the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt) for their steadfast leadership
on this important issue. I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing
the importance of chemistry in our daily lives and the positive impact
of National Chemistry Week by voting in favor of H. Res. 457.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 457 to recognize
National Chemistry Week. I want to congratulate the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Holt) for introducing this important resolution which
highlights the importance of chemistry and chemical engineering.
Chemistry and chemical engineering affect the everyday lives of all
Americans. For example, these disciplines contribute to public health
through new biomaterials, drug design, drug delivery techniques, and
gene therapy. For decades, they have also contributed to public health
by helping to keep our water clean and our food pure. In addition, new
structural and electronic materials and advanced technologies that
improve energy utilization and transportation systems improve our work
and home lives. In short, chemistry and chemical engineering contribute
in critical ways to the economic strength, security and well-being of
the Nation and all its citizens.
National Chemistry Week was started as an annual event in 1987 by the
American Chemical Society. It sponsors activities to make elementary
and secondary schoolchildren and the general public more aware of what
chemistry is and its importance to our everyday lives. National
Chemistry Week activities are carried out by local sections of the
American Chemical Society located in all parts of our Nation.
They work with local industry, schools and museums to design hands-on
activities, provide chemical demonstrations and develop exhibits. By
these means, the local organizations provide opportunities to stimulate
the interest of young people in science and in pursuing careers in
science and technology, and the activities of National Chemistry Week
help advance the important goal of increasing public understanding of
science generally.
For 2005, the theme of National Chemistry Week is ``The Joy of
Toys.'' This will emphasize how chemistry has led to safer and more
durable toys through advances in materials science and will also
illustrate chemical principles and concepts through toys.
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the American Chemical Society for its
efforts to establish and sustain National Chemistry Week. I am a
cosponsor of this resolution to recognize the value of chemistry and
the goals of National Chemistry Week. I ask for its adoption by the
House.
Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker I would like to thank the leadership for
bringing this bill to the floor, recognizing the importance of
chemistry in our everyday lives, and supporting National Chemistry
Week. The gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Ehlers, has been a strong
supporter as an original cosponsor of this bill and helped to move it
forward. Mr. Ehlers and I do this again as the two physicists in
Congress, with no irony that again we physicists would be sponsoring
National Chemistry Week.
I stand here before you happy to state that in 2003, the last time
this body recognized the importance of chemistry in our daily lives,
and the importance of National Chemistry Week, I had 3 cosponsors, and
this year I have 21 cosponsors. With the world unfolding as it is, and
with great rapidity, the increase of cosponsors is an indication of the
growing understanding of the importance of chemistry, and science, in
our daily lives.
JOY OF TOYS THEME FOR NATIONAL CHEMISTRY WEEK
The American Chemical Society should be commended for establishing
National Chemistry Week in 1987, to raise the awareness of the
chemistry in our daily lives, now in its eighteenth year. In particular
this year's theme of the ``Joy of Toys'', supports the universality of
chemistry and its creations, for each of us has played, and I hope
continues to play, with toys. Every child on this planet of ours,
regardless of location, does several things growing up: we are innate
explorers of this world, and we play.
To watch children at play re-ignites in us the joy and wonder that we
experienced as we played with toys and created our world understanding.
As we grow and learn our toys match our intellectual growth and our
physical capabilities. The curiosity that toys ignite through the
queries of ``why did it do that? ``and ``how did that happen?''
invigorates the
[[Page H8814]]
exploration and discovery of the world around us. Many scientists and
engineers turn to toys for moments of respite and inspiration.
Innovation in technology at times can be traced back to moments with
toys.
In fact, BusinessWeek Online ran an article with the subtitle
``Toymakers are pushing the boundaries in artificial intelligence,
wireless communications, and virtual realities. And the benefits are
flowing to other industries as well.'' The military, the medical field,
gamers, chemists, chemical engineers, and material scientists all
connect to the toy industry. Chemists and material scientists have
created such material as self-healing plastics, prolonging the life of
toys and many consumer goods.
Toys spark the imagination, imaginations fuels innovation. Chemistry
is a science which is the backbone to the health of many industries
including pharmaceuticals, electronics, automotive, agricultural, and
aerospace. A fundamental piece of chemistry is the periodic table of
the elements, a simple chart whose intricacies determine how atoms bond
to create the world around us.
ELEMENTS OFF THE PERIODIC TABLE AND THEIR INNOVATION TECHNOLOGIES
The element hydrogen, the first element on the periodic table and the
most abundant element in the universe, has sparked innovation in fuel
cells. Hydrogen and oxygen are the fundamental elements involved in
fuel cells, an alternative energy source with both low and high
temperature functions. Low temperature fuels cells, which work similar
to batteries, are being developed for cell phones, laptops, and video
cameras. Yet innovations still await the future scientists and
engineers of America, as we do not yet know how to make sufficient
quantities of hydrogen available, and the tasks of making this a
completely clean energy have yet to be fully surmounted to produce
commercial goods.
Fluorine, element #9 on the periodic table, is found in toothpaste
and liquid crystals found in flat-screen televisions, to give higher
resolution, good brightness, and sharp contrast with about half the
power consumption! Yet on the frontier of innovation are organic light
emitting diodes, which would require far less power and allow us to
roll up the screens for our laptops! There is much creativity and
unbounded vision necessary for the new products to follow.
The high tech fiber industry has taken science fiction into fashion
by creating keyboards in shirtsleeves powered by a thermogenerator chip
that converts your body heat into power. More conventionally,
microfibers are found in fabrics advertised to breathe with you and
they stay dry in the rain. Flame-resistant micro fibers found in your
curtains, your couches, and your carpets make your home safer. Chemists
are now adding titanium dioxide to fabric to make the fabric UV
resistant, thus protecting you even further from damaging UV rays. The
innovation continues!
The extent to which chemistry and the products, processes, and
thinking that chemists create and modify affect our daily lives is
undeniable.
CHANGING WORLD & ECONOMY: MOVING AMERICA FORWARD
However, Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate a fundamental science and its
engineering applications, we must not forget how these innovative
processes and products came to us--through the work of Americans and
people who came to America to work.
Today we are facing a world that is described by Thomas Friedman as
flat; that is, the playing field has reasonably flattened, all
countries and companies can be at times perceived as on the same level.
America has to find its place in this new world, and we must do this
rapidly for our economic future.
The goals of National Chemistry week include the invigoration of the
curiosity of our youth in chemistry. We must enliven our students to
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. We need teachers to
share the joy of science, technology, engineering, and math to our
students. We ourselves must reflect the necessity and importance of
these fields, and the teaching of these fields, to the future of
America through legislation and action. Today is a good start to the
action which is required.
We must rise up as nation, similarly to the Sputnik era, where there
was a goal to have a superior technical workforce, second to none in
engineering and science. I raise a hand to move forward with caution,
however, as the Sputnik era, I feel, left behind too many Americans. We
focused on a segment of the population. Now we must aim to create a
scientifically and technically literate nation of citizens who apply
critical, creative, and innovative thinking to their work and their
everyday lives.
INVESTMENTS IN THE FUTURE: EDUCATION, R & D, ATTRACTING BEST &
BRIGHTEST
We begin this through improving our nation's investment in the
future. The prime investment any nation can make in its future is
investing in education. Teachers create our future, through educating
our youth and opening their minds and hearts to the world, and we owe
nothing less to our future, our youth, then to invest fully in them. We
must enable a teaching core whose education and teaching skills are
strong, flexible, and motivating. If we wish our students to rise to
college level and beyond, we should expect nothing less from their
teachers, and offer the same support for teachers to reach the highest
level of educational achievement.
Further investment in America's future must be into research and
development. Each product I mentioned today went through a period of
research and development. The future of America, like its past, will
not be handed to America. As our forefathers did so long ago, we will
work hard and create the country in which we will live. Research and
development is part of the hard work, the investment in the future. We
must additionally make it easier for companies to invest time, energy,
and finances into research and development, as there is often loss with
unsuccessful innovation.
We must make our country an attractive location for the best and
brightest scientists and engineers to live and to work. We must invest
in infrastructures including that of research and development, the
institutions and physical structures, the U.S. Patent office, the U.S.
Department of Immigration, and in the National Science Foundation.
In closing, Mr. Speaker, I am encouraged at the level of support for
National Chemistry Week, and the ideals and standards which the ``Joy
of Toys'' represents. I also stand before you all with the expectation
that we will carry forward these ideals and invest in America's future
through education, research, development, and creative vision.
Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, today, I am pleased that we are considering
this resolution recognizing the importance of chemistry in our everyday
lives. This resolution supports the goals and ideals of National
Chemistry Week. It recognizes the important contributions of chemical
scientists and engineers to technological progress and the health of
many industries. In addition, it encourages the people of the United
States to observe National Chemistry Week, which, this year, is October
16-22.
Two weeks ago, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to three
organic chemists--one of them a former Michigan State University
professor--for their work to reduce hazardous waste in forming new
chemicals. Their method of organic synthesis, called ``metathesis'',
allows carbon bonds to be broken and reformed to create new compounds.
Their pioneering work has resulted in more efficient, safe and cleaner
methods of synthesizing new materials and is appropriately classified
as ``Green Chemistry.''
One of these three Nobel Prize winners, Richard Schrock of MIT, noted
he became interested in chemistry when he was given a chemistry set as
an 8-year-old, and at first liked to ``blow things up.'' His experience
parallels the 2005 theme of National Chemistry Week, ``The Joy of
Toys,'' which was chosen to highlight the valuable role curiosity plays
in developing critical thinking.
I believe there are three main motivations for doing science: (1) The
practical need to control, (2) the intellectual urge to understand, and
(3) the aesthetic need to enjoy. I believe that the third of these
motivations is the strongest, the one that drives the curiosity of
young people and future chemists. That enjoyment is often stimulated by
the process of playing: the simple action of enjoying a toy that does
something fun or unexpected.
When a child plays with a toy, unexplainable behavior leads to
questions about the underlying nature of a machine and drives a child
to perhaps, like the Nobel Prize winner, deconstruct a toy in an effort
to understand it. Getting to the bottom of how something works is, at
its very nature, a scientific enterprise. Natural curiosity drives
innovative thinking, improvements, and discovery. At a time when our
workforce is in great need of increased scientific and mathematic
literacy, it is important to stimulate children's interest in the
chemical sciences so that they will consider careers in these fields
and potentially discover the innovations of the future. What better way
to stimulate interest than something fun?
Toys not only make us laugh, they give our minds a chance to view the
world in a different way. Chemists provide the substance of toys
through materials chemistry and ensure their safety for contact with
our skin and in our children's mouths through analytical testing.
I commend the American Chemical Society for establishing National
Chemistry Week in 1987. During this year's National Chemistry Week,
volunteers from across the United States will engage children in
understanding how toys work. Chemistry is used by the pharmaceutical,
biotechnology, agricultural and plastics industries to produce drugs,
advanced plastics, herbicides, fuel additives and other substances.
Chemistry supports our economic infrastructure and improves our lives--
and it is fun!
I urge my colleagues to support this resolution recognizing the goals
and ideals of National Chemistry Week.
[[Page H8815]]
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of
H. Res. 457. This bill recognizes the importance of chemistry in our
everyday lives and supports the goals and ideals of National Chemistry
Week.
The theme of National Chemistry Week for 2005 is ``The Joy of Toys.''
This seemingly comical name belies the hard work and amazing
developments in materials science that have gone into the production of
safer and more durable toys for children of all ages.
Children have a wide array of choices when it comes to modern toys.
Gone are the days of making one's own toys out of sticks and stones.
Chemistry has yielded materials that are non-toxic and harbor fewer
germs than before. Chemistry has helped develop crazy-shaped materials
in colors that change, depending on temperature.
I admire the work of countless chemists, engineers and materials
scientists that has produced marvels for the delight of children and
the benefit of society.
Mr. Speaker, today I am happy to celebrate National Chemistry Week
and urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 457.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Petri). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith) that the House suspend
the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 457.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. 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.
____________________