[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 20 (Thursday, February 1, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E243]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E243]]
  HONORING WALLACE BROECKER AND COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY'S LAMONT-DOHERTY 
                           EARTH OBSERVATORY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 31, 2007

  Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor Wallace Broecker, a 
geochemist at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory 
for recently being awarded the Crafoord Prize in Geosciences by the 
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Mr. Broecker was honored with this 
prize for his stellar work in studying the role oceans play in the 
carbon cycle. As we debate how to control global warming in this 
Congress, Mr. Broecker's work will better inform us on the best policy 
approach to this global threat.
  Dr. Broecker did his groundbreaking work at Columbia's Lamont-Doherty 
Earth Observatory, which resides in my district. This incredible 
facility is one of the world's leading research centers on how our 
biosphere operates. More than 300 research scientists at the 
observatory research every aspect of our planet including volcanoes, 
earthquakes and global warming.
  To get the data necessary for their work, the observatory has led 
expeditions around the world to collect data. Using their 239-foot 
research vessel, the Maurice Ewing, the observatory has collected 
samples from the ocean floor, studied seismic activity and collected 
ocean soil core samples. Through this work the observatory has amassed 
the world's largest collection of deep-sea and ocean-sediment cores 
from every sea and ocean on the planet.
  The observatory has taken the massive amounts of data they have 
accumulated and created some of the world's most comprehensive 
databases of ocean activity critical to the work of marine 
geoscientists such as Dr. Broecker.
  Madam Speaker, my hat is off to Wallace Broecker for earning this 
fantastic honor. His work and the work of the entire Lamont-Doherty 
Earth observatory is an invaluable resource for other scientists and 
for policymakers as we struggle to balance our economic well being with 
our requirement to be stewards of the environment.

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