[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12803]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                     50TH ANNIVERSARY OF LOS ALAMOS

 Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise to congratulate Los Alamos 
County on its 50th anniversary. This small northern New Mexico county 
has packed an amazing number of contributions into its short history.
  Los Alamos had already completed its momentous contributions during 
the Second World War, when it was officially created in 1949. But the 
work of Los Alamos and its contributions to national security were far 
from completed. Few might have anticipated that the nuclear stockpile 
created at Los Alamos would lead to an unprecedented five decades free 
of massive global conflict. During those five decades, the nuclear 
weapons of the United States have provided time for the world's leaders 
to strive toward global peace. Today they still serve as the ultimate 
guarantor of our precious freedoms.
  Throughout the County's history, its support for the national 
security objectives of Los Alamos National Laboratory has never 
wavered. The success of the lab is completely intertwined with the 
success and history of the County. As we've advanced toward world 
peace, admittedly with steps far smaller than all of us would wish, the 
County has supported dramatic changes at the laboratory, from changing 
characteristics of our nuclear stockpile to new challenges that the 
laboratory was called upon to address. For example, in 1949, most of 
the non-proliferation and environmental challenges that the lab 
addresses today did not exist.
  I believe it is also important to note on this anniversary that the 
time of the closed secret city has long passed, and Los Alamos County 
has now become a community open to scientific and economic growth and 
cultural diversity. Today, the lab and the surrounding County are 
making wonderful strides toward becoming fuller partners in the 
Espanola Valley and with all of New Mexico.
  Los Alamos County and the laboratory have a wealth of challenges 
ahead as national priorities are modified to adapt to new global 
conditions. The future of Los Alamos County should be as bright as its 
past, and the range of its contributions will continue to be of vital 
importance in guaranteeing the nation's freedoms.

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