[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 118 (Tuesday, July 11, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E648-E649]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNIZING THE NAVAL RESEARCH LABORATORY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MIKE GALLAGHER

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 11, 2023

  Mr. GALLAGHER. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to pay tribute to the 
Naval Research Laboratory's contributions to our Naval Services, the 
Nation, and the pursuit of scientific discovery and innovation. On July 
2, 2023 the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) reached a momentous 
milestone--its 100th anniversary. Throughout its century of service to 
the Navy and our Nation, this renowned Laboratory has had a powerful 
impact on U.S. naval power and national defense.
  With scientific and engineering expertise, informed by its 
understanding of naval and national needs, NRL works in league with 
industry, academia, and other government organizations as it helps 
build sea power through mission-related research and development. In 
this, NRL has been enormously successful and has contributed 
substantially to the development of game-changing military technologies 
that secured the United States global technological and military 
leadership throughout key moments in history. NRL was pivotal in the 
invention of the first U.S. radar, deployed in time for the Pacific 
naval battles of World War II. NRL led the way with the launch of the 
world's first intelligence satellite, GRAB-I, a technology that helped 
keep the Cold War cold. And finally, NRL developed the original 
concept, prototypes, and first operational satellite of the Global 
Positioning System, which transformed America's military, economy, 
society, and the world itself.
  NRL's more recent achievements include its scientific role in 
developing the historic first operational ship-defense laser weapon, a 
technology that will be vital to defeating hypersonic missiles and 
asymmetric threats. Another is an instantaneous emergency assessment 
system for airborne contaminants and weapons of mass destruction that 
has supported security for Super Bowls, State of the Union events, and 
the last four presidential inaugurations. To protect U.S. intelligence 
communications, NRL invented Tor (The onion router) as a way to ``peel 
off'' and separate identification from routing for internet 
connections. Tor's many users include the military, journalists, 
whistle-blowers, victims of domestic abuse, and dissidents suffering 
within authoritarian regimes.
  These accomplishments are only representative of thousands of 
technologies and innovations, many of them still classified, that this 
remarkable Laboratory has produced since opening its gates 100 years 
ago. Together, they demonstrate the broad and powerful influence NRL 
has on our Navy and Republic through the work of dedicated Government 
scientists, engineers, and support personnel who serve the national 
interest.
  The U.S. Congress congratulates NRL on its centennial anniversary and 
wishes the Laboratory continued success in its mission to strengthen 
American naval power and develop vital technologies and capabilities 
for defending the United States, and democracy around the world.

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