[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 134 (Thursday, September 17, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1307]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CONGRATULATING DR. YUICHI SHODA, GOLDEN GOOSE AWARDEE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SUZAN K. DelBENE

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 17, 2015

  Ms. DelBENE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate University of 
Washington Professor Dr. Yuichi Shoda on being recognized this week as 
a recipient of the 2015 Golden Goose Award.
   Created in 2012, the Golden Goose Award celebrates obscure science 
to show how basic research--even research that may sound odd--can lead 
to major breakthroughs and significant impacts on society.
   Dr. Shoda's work with the ``Marshmallow Test,'' first funded by the 
National Institutes of Health in the 1960s to test a child's self-
control, is more than deserving of this honor. His test was seminal in 
interpreting human behavior and has impacted how we educate children 
and save for retirement today.
   Each year, federal investments in research like this help push the 
boundaries of scientific knowledge, support new industries and address 
the challenges facing our country.
   But to remain a world leader, we need to ensure our researchers and 
institutions continue to have the tools to explore new ideas and 
frontiers in research, as well as the funding opportunities to do so.
   Unfortunately, research continues to face irresponsible funding cuts 
in Congress. When sequestration took effect two years ago, more than 
1,000 grants at the National Science Foundation went unfunded, and NIH 
funding was slashed by $1.6 billion.
   It's time we learn that research isn't a spigot that can just be 
turned on and off. Breakthroughs come after years of incremental 
research, and cutting funds now could set us back for decades to come.
   Through my post-graduate research work, I have also seen firsthand 
the economic impact of these investments in communities nationwide. In 
my home state of Washington, for example, funding for NIH supports more 
than 14,000 jobs.
   I hope this week's recognition of obscure science by the Golden 
Goose Awards helps renew our commitment to research. We must support 
the tireless efforts of those who allow our country to continue to 
break new ground in scientific discovery.
   Congratulations to Dr. Shoda and the other Golden Goose Awardees, 
and thank you for your continued contributions to our nation.

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