[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 144 (Monday, September 26, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S5994]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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      SENATE RESOLUTION 283--DESIGNATING THE YEAR OF 2011 AS THE 
                  ``INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF CHEMISTRY''

  Mr. COONS (for himself, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Bingaman, Ms. Stabenow, 
and Mr. Pryor) submitted the following resolution; which was considered 
and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 283

       Whereas the United Nations has designated the year of 2011 
     as the International Year of Chemistry and is holding a 
     worldwide celebration called ``Chemistry--Our Life, Our 
     Future'', which recognizes the achievements made in the field 
     of chemistry and the contributions of those achievements to 
     the well-being of humankind;
       Whereas the science of chemistry is vital to the 
     improvement of human life because of its power to transform;
       Whereas chemistry provides solutions that successfully 
     address global challenges involving safe food and water, 
     alternate sources of energy, improved health, and a healthy 
     and sustainable environment;
       Whereas the members of chemical enterprise and industry, 
     scientific societies, and academia in the United States, and 
     the Government of the United States, generate important 
     contributions to the economy of the United States, and 
     energize the scientific and technological base with critical 
     innovations;
       Whereas 2011 represents the 100th anniversary of the award 
     of the Nobel Prize to Marie Curie for the second time, the 
     first time that an individual had received a second Nobel 
     Prize;
       Whereas Marie Curie has inspired generations of scientists 
     to excel in their fields;
       Whereas the purpose of the ``Chemistry--Our Life, Our 
     Future'' celebration is to increase public appreciation of 
     chemistry in meeting world needs, to further the development 
     of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
     education at all levels, and to encourage interest in 
     chemistry among young people in order to create a future 
     corps of innovators;
       Whereas exciting new practices of sustainable green 
     chemistry incorporate design processes to maximize the amount 
     of raw material that ends up in the end product, use safe, 
     environmentally benign substances, including solvents, design 
     energy efficient processes, and minimize waste disposal by 
     not creating it in the first place; and
       Whereas during the year of 2011, countries and 
     organizations will reach out to adults and children through 
     symposia, conferences, demonstrations, workshops, contests, 
     school activities, exhibitions, and other public events to 
     increase awareness of the history and importance of 
     chemistry: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the year of 2011 as the ``International Year 
     of Chemistry'';
       (2) supports the goals of the International Year of 
     Chemistry;
       (3) recognizes the necessity of educating the public on the 
     merits of the sciences, including chemistry, and promoting 
     interest in the sciences among the youth of the United 
     States; and
       (4) encourages the people of the United States to 
     participate in the International Year of Chemistry through 
     appropriate recognition of programs, activities, and 
     ceremonies that call attention to the importance of chemistry 
     to our well-being in the present and the future.

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