[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 70 (Tuesday, May 1, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H4220-H4221]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING NOBEL PRIZE RECIPIENTS IN SCIENCE
Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 316) recognizing the accomplishments of Roger
D. Kornberg, Andrew Fire, Craig Mello, John C. Mather, and George F.
Smoot for being awarded Nobel Prizes in the fields of chemistry,
physiology or medicine, and physics.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 316
Whereas, according to the National Academies landmark
report ``Rising Above the Gathering Storm'', the United
States is in peril of losing its global competitive edge
unless we make substantial investments in science, math,
research, and innovation;
Whereas breakthroughs in scientific research are the
building blocks of a productive, competitive, and healthy
society;
Whereas the Nobel Prize is a prestigious international
award administered annually by the Nobel Foundation in
Stockholm, Sweden, and has since 1901 recognized the world's
most outstanding achievements in physics, chemistry,
physiology or medicine, literature, and peace;
Whereas on December 10, 2006, in Stockholm, Sweden, the
following five American scientists were awarded the three
Nobel Prizes for science. The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was
awarded to Roger D. Kornberg from Stanford University in Palo
Alto, California, for his studies of the molecular basis of
eukaryotic transcription. The Nobel Prize in Physiology or
Medicine was awarded to Andrew Fire from the Stanford
University School of Medicine in Palo Alto, California, and
Craig Mello from the University of Massachusetts Medical
School in Worcester, Massachusetts, for their discovery of
RNA interference through gene silencing by double-stranded
RNA. The Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to John C. Mather
from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and the
University of Maryland and George F. Smoot, a National
Science Foundation grantee from the University of California
at Berkeley for their discovery of the blackbody form and
anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background radiation;
Whereas American scientists have not swept the Nobel Prize
science awards since 1983;
Whereas Roger D. Kornberg, Andrew Fire, Craig Mello, John
C. Mather, and George F. Smoot have represented the United
States and have served as unofficial ambassadors of science
overseas; and
Whereas the accomplishments of these scientists are
significant achievements in the field of scientific research
and further promote the United States among the world leaders
in science: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes Roger D. Kornberg, Andrew Fire, Craig Mello,
John C. Mather, and George F. Smoot for advancing scientific
discovery and dedicating their careers to scientific
research;
(2) recognizes the National Science Foundation and the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration for their
support of the physics Nobel Prize winners; and
(3) congratulates the achievement of Roger D. Kornberg,
Andrew Fire, Craig Mello, John C. Mather, and George F. Smoot
for being awarded Nobel Prizes in science.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. McNerney) and the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Smith)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
include extraneous material on H. Res. 316, the resolution now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Gordon and Ranking
Member Hall for their support of this resolution and working so quickly
to ensure that we recognize a very deserving group of scientists on
their important achievements.
{time} 1300
The scientists will be honored tomorrow at a luncheon here in
Washington, so the timing of this bill is perfect. I appreciate the
opportunity to describe this legislation that highlights the
contributions of American scientists.
H. Res. 316 is significant not only because it applauds the
breakthroughs of scientific work, but the bill also draws attention to
many issues that we frequently work on in the Science and Technology
Committee, putting a spotlight on scientific discovery as a way to get
young people interested in fields they might otherwise ignore.
For the first time in more than 20 years, U.S. researchers have swept
the scientific categories of the Nobel Prize by winning the awards for
chemistry, physiology and medicine, and physics. It is fitting that we
recognize the contributions of these individuals, and I am pleased we
are doing so here today.
In December of last year, the Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to
Roger Kornberg from Stanford University in my home State of California;
the physiology prize went to Andrew Fire, who also works at Stanford in
the School of Medicine; and the physics award went to John Mather from
NASA's Goddard Space Center and to George Smoot from the University of
California at Berkeley. Mr. Smoot also has the distinction of adding
his name to the list of more than 170 grantees from the National
Science Foundation who have been granted the Nobel Prizes over the
years.
I am sure that with the improvements we will be making in the NSF
program tomorrow and the Congress' dedication to expanding education
opportunities, Mr. Smoot will certainly not be the last recipient of
NSF funding to receive the Nobel Prize.
H. Res. 316 officially recognizes the accomplishments of these
scientists and their contributions to improving society.
Madam Speaker, I can't think of a better way to honor these
individuals, and I commend them for helping the U.S. sweep the Nobel
Prizes in science for the first time in 30 years.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Madam Speaker, I rise to add my whole-hearted
thanks and admiration for the skill
[[Page H4221]]
and effort shown by the five individuals we are honoring here today.
Since 1901, the Nobel Prize has recognized the world's finest minds in
the fields of physics, chemistry, physiology and medicine, literature
and peace. In 2006, five American scientists were chosen for this
prestigious award. These five men join 763 previous men and women and
19 organizations recognized at the pinnacle of their fields.
Roger Kornberg received the Nobel Prize in chemistry for his studies
on transcription, a fundamental cellular process that uses information
encoded in genes to produce proteins. Dr. Kornberg's award comes 47
years after his father, Arthur Kornberg, received the 1959 Nobel Prize
in physiology and medicine. In 2006 that prize was awarded to Andrew
Fire and Craig Mello for their influential work on RNA interference, a
process that uses RNA to control the production of proteins.
John Mather and George Smoot share the Nobel Prize in physics for
their pioneering work in cosmology, discovering fluctuations in the
cosmic microwave background that help explain the formation of
galaxies, stars, and the Earth itself.
Drs. Roger Kornberg, Andrew Fire, Craig Mello, John Mather, and
George Smoot deserve our thanks and sincere appreciation for their
efforts supporting the greatest innovation economy in the world.
Without men and women like them committed to the often arduous task of
scientific discovery, we would not enjoy the economic prosperity that
has graced our Nation.
This resolution signals this body's commitment to supporting and
strengthening the scientific enterprise. While this resolution,
unfortunately, does not match the $10 million prize awarded to these
Nobel Laureates, we can do better by ensuring that we support funding
for the science and technology efforts of the Federal Government.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 316.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. McNerney) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution,
H. Res. 316.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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