[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 33 (Tuesday, March 9, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H1181-H1182]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING WINNERS OF NATIONAL MEDAL OF TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

  Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 935) honoring John E. Warnock, Charles M. 
Geschke, Forrest M. Bird, Esther Sans Takeuchi, and IBM Corporation for 
receiving the 2008 National Medal of Technology and Innovation.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 935

       Whereas the National Medal of Technology and Innovation 
     (formerly known as the National Medal of Technology) is the 
     highest honor for technological achievement bestowed by the 
     President on leading innovators in the United States;
       Whereas the purpose of the National Medal of Technology and 
     Innovation is to recognize individuals, teams, and companies 
     that have made lasting and substantial contributions to the 
     United States' competitiveness and to strengthening the 
     Nation's technological workforce through--
       (1) the development and commercialization of technological 
     products, processes, and concepts,
       (2) technological innovation, and
       (3) development of the Nation's technological manpower;
       Whereas by highlighting the national importance of 
     technological innovation, the National Medal of Technology 
     and Innovation seeks to inspire future generations in the 
     United States to prepare for and pursue technical careers to 
     keep the United States at the forefront of global technology 
     and economic leadership;
       Whereas, on September 17, 2009, the President named John E. 
     Warnock, Charles M. Geschke, Forrest M. Bird, Esther Sans 
     Takeuchi, and IBM Corporation as the recipients of the 2008 
     National Medal of Technology and Innovation;
       Whereas Dr. John E. Warnock and Dr. Charles M. Geschke, 
     both of San Jose, California, pioneered technological 
     innovations that were central to spurring the revolution in 
     desktop publishing, which had an immense and significant role 
     in changing the way people create and engage with information 
     and entertainment across multiple mediums including print, 
     video, and the Internet; and
       Whereas Forrest M. Bird of Sandpoint, Idaho, invented 
     pioneering technologies in cardiopulmonary medicine 
     (including the medical respirator), devices that helped 
     launch modern-day medical evacuation capabilities, and 
     intrapulmonary percussive ventilation (``IPV'') technologies, 
     which have saved the lives of millions of patients with 
     chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other conditions;
       Whereas Dr. Esther Sans Takeuchi of Buffalo, New York, 
     developed the silver vanadium oxide battery that powers the 
     majority of the world's lifesaving implantable cardiac 
     defibrillators, and other medical battery technologies that 
     improve the health and quality of life of millions of people; 
     and
       Whereas IBM Corporation of Yorktown Heights, New York, 
     created the Blue Gene supercomputer and its systems 
     architecture, design, and software, which have delivered 
     fundamental new science, unsurpassed speed, and unparalleled 
     energy efficiency, and have had a profound impact worldwide 
     on the high-performance computing industry: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes and honors the innovative technological 
     achievements of John E. Warnock, Charles M. Geschke, Forrest 
     M. Bird, Esther Sans Takeuchi, and IBM Corporation; and
       (2) congratulates John E. Warnock, Charles M. Geschke, 
     Forrest M. Bird, Esther Sans Takeuchi, and IBM Corporation 
     for receiving the 2008 National Medal of Technology and 
     Innovation.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Baird) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BAIRD. Madam 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. 935, the resolution now under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Washington?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

[[Page H1182]]

  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 935, honoring John E. 
Warnock, Charles M. Geschke, Forrest M. Bird, Esther Sans Takeuchi, and 
IBM Corporation for receiving the 2008 National Medal of Technology and 
Innovation.
  The National Medal of Technology and Innovation is the highest honor 
for technological achievement given by the President to the country's 
leading innovators, and the five recipients honored by this resolution 
have all made great contributions to technology and innovation in the 
United States.
  These honorees have made contributions in areas including desktop 
publishing, medical and battery technologies, and supercomputing. 
Innovation and technological advancements in these areas and others are 
critical for many reasons, including furthering health care technology 
for our citizens and increasing the United States' ability to remain 
economically competitive with other nations.
  I want to congratulate the five honorees and thank Representative 
Lofgren from California for her leadership in introducing this 
resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HALL of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  H. Res. 935 honors John E. Warnock, Charles M. Geschke, Forrest M. 
Bird, Esther Sans Takeuchi, and IBM for being awarded the 2008 National 
Medal of Technology and Innovation. The National Medal of Technology 
and Innovation is awarded annually to the Nation's leading innovators. 
This award recognizes those who have made significant contributions to 
their country. Additionally, it's intended to also inspire our youth to 
pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics-related fields 
of study.
  Together, Drs. Warnock and Geschke founded Adobe Systems. Adobe 
Systems enabled documents to be successfully sent electronically from 
program to program through technology that's today known as PDF. Since 
their retirement as software executives, both have contributed 
generously to programs that help encourage young engineers and 
innovators.
  Dr. Forrest Bird of Idaho served as an aviator during World War II. 
Following the war, he founded Bird, Inc., which developed amphibian 
aircraft and innovative breathing equipment to reduce the risks of 
altitude sickness. Using this same technology, Bird later developed 
medical respirators, which are still in use around the world, and 
contributed to lowering breath-related infant mortality rates.
  Dr. Esther Sans Takeuchi of New York began her distinguished career 
as a scientist for Greatbatch, Inc. In her years there, she developed a 
lithium/silver vanadium oxide battery, which was essential to producing 
implantable cardiac defibrillators. Today, more than 200,000 of those 
ICDs are implanted each year, most with batteries originally developed 
by Takeuchi.
  IBM's Blue Gene Server Group represents a new age of American 
innovation. These supercomputers have enabled business and science to 
visit new calculations previously unattainable. In addition, these 
computers have been recognized as the most energy efficient of their 
type in the world today.
  On October 7, 2009, President Obama honored the 2008 recipients of 
the National Medal of Technology and Innovation during a White House 
ceremony. I join the President in recognizing these distinguished 
Americans and urge my colleagues to do so.
  I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of 
my time, Madam Speaker.

                              {time}  1445

  Mr. BAIRD. Again, I want to commend the sponsor of this bill, Ms. 
Lofgren, and, most importantly of all, commend the recipients of this 
prestigious award and thank them for their contributions to the 
betterment of our entire society, our economy, and the well-being of 
our public.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baird) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 935.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  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.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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