[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 20 (Thursday, February 7, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S780]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the Defense 
Advanced Research Projects Agency on its 50th anniversary. Today, DARPA 
celebrates 50 years of innovation and dedication to America's security.
  After the Soviet launch of Sputnik, President Dwight D. Eisenhower 
was determined to ensure this nation was never again surprised by the 
technological accomplishments of an adversary. On this day in 1958, a 
central research and development organization, known then as the 
Advanced Research Projects Agency, or ARPA, and unlike any organization 
in the world, was created within the Department of Defense.
  From the very beginning, its mission has been to ensure that the 
United States Armed Forces have access to the most advanced war 
fighting capabilities by developing ideas that many would consider too 
risky to implement. DARPA's mission is about making smart investments 
on high-payoff opportunities, and it has been very successful.
  Over the past 50 years, DARPA has delivered to our country innovative 
technological achievements that have given American Forces never-
before-seen capabilities. I also note that this achievement has not 
come without tremendous sacrifice by thousands of DARPA employees and 
their families as they worked long days to solve challenging scientific 
matters.
  DARPA's notable achievements include early ballistic missile defense, 
stealth aircraft technology, unmanned aerial vehicles, and autonomous 
navigation. The benefits of DARPA's efforts have evolved in many ways, 
from the rocket engines that powered the first manned space flight to 
the smallest microelectronics in our cell phones today. DARPA also 
helped develop the Internet, and built the small receivers that made 
the global positioning system data easily accessible--both have changed 
the ways our forces operate, and have also changed the lives of all 
Americans for the better. Entire industries have developed from early 
DARPA-funded research in core technologies such as material sciences, 
microelectronics, photonics, and information technology.
  I congratulate DARPA for its service to our Nation. The Agency's 
commitment and contributions over the past 50 years have made DARPA the 
crown jewel in our nation's national security and we look forward to 
the achievements they will continue to make for future generations.
  As DARPA begins its work for the next 50 years, it is important that 
we do everything possible to help DARPA continue its tradition of 
excellence, and thus keep our Nation strong.
  (At the request of Mr. REID, the following statement was ordered to 
be printe din the Record.)

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