[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9279]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                          HUMAN GENOME PROJECT

  (Mr. CALVERT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, as I rise today, we are perhaps days away 
from an announcement of the completion of a draft map of the entire 
human genome. This is a major milestone in biological science, an 
achievement that some have likened to the Moon landing and the 
invention of movable type.
  My subcommittee has held two hearings on the status of the human 
genome project involving both the public and private sector. Three 
themes have emerged from these hearings:
  First, the medical breakthroughs stemming from this research will be 
immense;
  Second, the competition and cooperation between the public and 
private sector has brought us to this moment and will deliver results 
for us all;
  Third, Congress' duties in areas such as ethical, legal, and social 
implications of genetics research, as well as the need to fund gene-
based disease therapies, will require us to think wisely and legislate 
prudently.
  I commend the public and private sector researchers for achieving 
this scientific milestone. Truly, a bright future beckons.

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