[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 70 (Tuesday, May 1, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H4216]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE CAREER AND RESEARCH ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF FRANCES E. ALLEN, 
              THE 2006 RECIPIENT OF THE A.M. TURING AWARD

  (Mr. HALL of New York asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. HALL of New York. Madam Speaker, on a different subject, 
regarding H. Con. Res. 95, I thank my colleague, Ms. Woolsey from 
California, for introducing this resolution honoring Dr. Frances Allen.
  Through her years of groundbreaking work at IBM, Frances Allen has 
been described as a pioneer, teacher, mentor and friend, and I am proud 
to say a constituent of mine in New York's 19th District. Now, the A.M. 
Turing award winner can be added to that last list.
  The A.M. Turing award is considered to be the Nobel Prize of 
computing, and I cannot think of an individual more deserving than 
Frances Allen. Her work has been groundbreaking; not an exaggeration to 
say it's been part of one of the great technological revolutions in 
history.
  Over the course of her career, Frances Allen's long journey took her 
from a teacher of FORTRAN to a nationally recognized leader in computer 
science.
  At IBM's T.J. Watson Research Center in Hawthorne, New York, her 
research and development of program languages and algorithms helped to 
create the theory of optimization and laid the foundation for much of 
today's compilers and high performance computing systems.
  Her work has been a bridge from the theoretical to the practical in 
the computer science.
  Just as her work has been pioneering, Frances herself has been a 
pioneer in advancing the role of women in computer science.
  An Advisory Council Member of the Anita Borg Institute for Women in 
Technology, whose goal it is to increase the participation of women in 
all aspects of technology, she has worked tirelessly to help more women 
enter the field, and has served as a role model for women and men 
hoping to make new breakthroughs in computing.
  In 1989, she was the first woman to be given prestigious title of IBM 
fellow. It would seem fitting then that she is also the first woman to 
receive the A.M. Turing award.
  Described as a strong mentor, and noted for her willingness to lend 
her expertise, advice and experience to anyone, from a struggling 
graduate student to a university president to an industry executive. 
Through it all, she's been willing to stand up for what she believes 
in, and has had a remarkable career.
  Dr. Allen is a great source of pride for the Hudson Valley, and I 
congratulate her for receiving the prestigious A.M. Turing award.

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