[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 38 (Wednesday, March 2, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S948]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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   RECOGNIZING THE NAVAL SURFACE WARFARE CENTER INDIAN HEAD DIVISION

 Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the Naval 
Surface Warfare Center at Indian Head, MD. They were recognized as a 
winner in the 2022 Federal Laboratory Consortium National Awards 
Program, also known as the FLC. The FLC Awards Program annually 
recognizes Federal laboratories and their industry partners for 
outstanding technology transfer achievements.
  The Excellence in Technology Transfer Award recognizes employees of 
FLC member laboratories and non-laboratory staff who have accomplished 
outstanding work in the process of transferring federally developed 
technology.
  Indian Head received the award for its efforts in developing Silent 
Spring, a technology that desensitizes homemade explosives or HMEs. 
HMEs are extremely sensitive and unpredictable; a stray spark, a change 
in temperature, exposure to sunlight, or even an accidental bump can 
set them off.
  Silent Spring shields volatile explosive materials from these 
potential triggers. This allows explosive ordnance disposal and law 
enforcement personnel to more safely move the explosive materials, 
while preserving forensic evidence and minimizing damage to existing 
infrastructure.
  Silent Spring is now available commercially and is approved within 
the Department of Defense to address the highest priority EOD threats. 
The partnership has already provided hundreds of product units to 
Department of Defense explosive ordinance disposal users for 
demonstration and training and will soon do the same for the civilian 
public safety and law enforcement communities.
  ``This collaboration is one of many we have across the command that 
deliver innovative technologies to the warfighter,'' said NSWC IHD 
commanding officer Capt. Eric Correll. ``The faster we can get new 
innovative products to our warfighters and our first responder 
partners, the better.''
  This emphasizes the need to invest in energetics experts. The need 
for this experience is more apparent than ever. As foreign threats 
emerge, the bright minds at Indian Head have been able to meet and 
exceed these threats.
  Indian Head does not just explore the detection of explosive devices. 
They also look at ways to enhance the United States' capabilities to 
deter foreign aggressors.
  Indian Head is a premier facility that has developed ejection seats 
for our pilots and have developed materials that ensure that our 
military has the best and sharpest tools to deter our adversaries and 
keep the people of this country safe.
  Indian Head is an unsung hero that has tirelessly worked to ensure 
our national security and has humbly provided to this country for over 
a hundred years. We must recognize the importance of energetics 
research in this country. Other countries are recognizing this, and we 
cannot ignore this.
  We need to continue to invest in this research and development, these 
are vital capabilities that keep our aggressors at bay.
  I want to recognize and thank Indian Head for all of their 
contributions to the security of our country and for this great 
achievement.

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