[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 65 (Tuesday, May 4, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H3090-H3091]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LASER

  Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1310) recognizing the 50th anniversary of the 
laser.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1310

       Whereas the invention of the laser was one of the 
     groundbreaking scientific achievements of the 20th century;
       Whereas in 1953, Charles H. Townes, along with graduate 
     students James Gordon and Herbert Zeiger produced the first 
     master device, which was a precursor to the laser that relied 
     on microwave radiation instead of visible or infrared 
     radiation;
       Whereas concurrent to Charles H. Townes' activities, 
     Nikolay Basov and Aleksandr Prokhorov of the Soviet Union 
     independently produced a maser with significant technical 
     advances which allowed continuous output;
       Whereas Charles H. Townes, Nikolay Basov, and Aleksandr 
     Prokhorov shared the 1964 Nobel Prize in Physics for their 
     ``fundamental work in the field of quantum electronics'', 
     which led to the construction of masers, and subsequently 
     lasers;
       Whereas in 1960, Theodore H. Maiman constructed the first 
     functioning laser at Hughes Research Laboratories in Malibu, 
     California, and the laser was first operated on May 16, 1960;
       Whereas Theodore H. Maiman was the recipient of the 1983/
     1984 Wolf Prize in Physics for his realization of the first 
     operating laser;
       Whereas since being created in 1960, lasers have become an 
     integral and essential part of our daily lives. Lasers can be 
     found in a wide range of applications including in compact 
     disc players, laser printers, barcode scanners, digital video 
     devices (DVDs), industrial welders, and surgical apparatus, 
     amongst others;
       Whereas total global sales of lasers in 2010 is expected to 
     top 5.9 billion dollars;
       Whereas innovations flowing from basic research such as the 
     laser have made America into the world leader in technology 
     development;
       Whereas continued support of scientific research programs 
     is indispensible to maintaining America's position as the 
     global leader in technology and innovation; and
       Whereas LaserFest is a year-long celebration of the 50th 
     anniversary intended to bring public awareness to the story 
     of the laser and scientific achievement generally, and was 
     founded by the following partners: the Optical Society of 
     America, the American Physical Society, the International 
     Society for Optical Engineering, and IEEE: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the 50th anniversary of the laser; and
       (2) recognizes the need for continued support of scientific 
     research to maintain America's future competitiveness.

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


                             General Leave

  Ms. FUDGE. Mr. 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. 1310, the resolution now under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. FUDGE. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 1310, which 
celebrates the 50th anniversary of the creation of the first laser.
  The world's first laser was operated on May 16, 1960. It was 
constructed by Theodore Maiman at Hughes Research Laboratories in 
Malibu, California. This was a significant engineering and scientific 
feat.
  Theodore Maiman's work was preceded by theoretical work by Charles 
Townes, James Gordon, Herbert Zeiger, Nikolay Basov, and Aleksandr 
Prokhorov. Townes, Basov, and Prokhorov won the 1964 Nobel Prize in 
Physics for their work.
  One of the peculiarities of the achievement of the invention of the 
laser is that, for many years after its creation, the laser was an 
invention without many practical applications. However, as time went 
on, scientists and engineers recognized the incredible potential of the 
laser. Today, the laser is almost ubiquitous. It can be found in almost 
every home, office, and automobile in America. Lasers are also big 
business, with annual laser sales approaching $6 billion per year, and 
growing.
  The story of the laser is illustrative of how investments in basic 
R&D can have huge economic and scientific implications down the road. 
It is a story to remember well as this Congress prepares to take up the 
America COMPETES Reauthorization Act in the coming weeks.
  I would like to take a moment to recognize the sponsor of this 
resolution, Dr. Vern Ehlers. It is my understanding that, in a prior 
life, Dr. Ehlers knew one of the persons cited in this resolution, Dr. 
Townes, so it is especially fitting that he is the sponsor.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the resolution, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HALL of Texas. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 1310 celebrates the 50th anniversary of the 
construction of the laser, marking a major milestone in scientific 
discovery.
  In 1953, Charles Townes produced what would become a precursor to the 
laser--the first microwave amplifier. Townes and his colleagues teamed 
up with Bell Laboratories in 1957 to begin extensive research on the 
amplification devices. Their focus shifted only to those amplifiers 
which produced visible light. In 1958, Bell Laboratories submitted a 
patent for an optical laser. However, such a device had yet to be 
successfully created. It was not until Charles Townes and Gordon Gould 
met in 1958 that the fundamentals of the laser and of the open 
resonator design were first discussed. In 1960, Theodore Maiman 
constructed the first operational laser. He used theories and plans 
published by Bell Labs, Gould, and Townes to construct this remarkable 
device.
  Charles Townes was later awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics, along 
with scientists Nikolay Basov and Aleksandr Prokhorov, for their work 
in quantum electronics, which laid the groundwork for the construction 
of lasers.

  We rely on lasers in our daily lives, and they are found in everyday 
products, such as laser printers, barcode scanners, and numerous 
medical devices. The world sales of lasers are estimated at well over 
$5 billion to date.
  Today, in large part, we realize that great success stories, such as 
the construction of lasers, are due to American ingenuity, which stems 
directly from the investment in basic research and in our outstanding 
institutions of higher learning. The laser is a prime example of basic 
research that ended up having multiple applications well beyond what 
its creators could have ever conceived.
  The construction of the laser is but one example that leaves me 
confident in America's place at the top of the scientific world. I 
applaud these great scientists for their contributions to our 
community, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I would just ask that my colleagues support 
this resolution, H. Res. 1310, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Fudge) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1310.

[[Page H3091]]

  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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