[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7990]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



      HONORING NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION FOR 50 YEARS OF SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. SHERWOOD L. BOEHLERT

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 8, 2001

  Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, today, under the leadership of my able 
colleague Nick Smith, Congress is commemorating fifty years worth of 
accomplishment by one of the gems of our nation--the National Science 
Foundation. For fifty years, the National Science Foundation has 
represented an investment in our nation's future, through the 
Foundation's funding for world class research across the gamut of 
scientific disciplines. This work in fundamental science has provided 
the building blocks for many of the technologies that we depend upon 
today--for example, biotechnology, the Internet, and aerospace 
materials. We depend on this type of research to find its way into our 
commercial products, medical systems and treatments, and even defense 
technologies. We also leverage this research for its training of our 
future scientific and technology leaders--in universities, industry, 
and government.
  Over the past 50 years, NSF's reach has extended beyond the lab and 
into the classroom and even the home. The NSF supports projects at 
museums, science centers, and planetaria that reach about 50 million 
people. The figure doubles to 100 million for the audiences of radio, 
television, and film programs on science. And in our nation's schools, 
NSF has been leading the way in improving the math and science 
education of students of all ages. In many innovative programs, they 
have used their unique position to bring our nation's leading 
scientific researchers and their discoveries into the classroom, to 
bring the excitement of science and learning to our children. I am 
pleased that the President has acknowledged their excellent work in 
education by naming the National Science Foundation as the lead agency 
for the Math and Science Partnership element of his education 
initiative, No Child Left Behind.
  Through my work on the Science Committee, and in discussions with 
scientists, corporate technology leaders, and even my constituents back 
home, I have become very familiar with the NSF. I have come to have 
great respect for the work that the NSF, its leadership and staff, and 
the thousands of scientists and educators who are funded by the agency 
have done. Their innovative spirit and record of success is 
extraordinary. I join with my colleagues in applauding the National 
Science Foundation for fifty years of excellent service to their 
Nation, and wish them well on the next fifty. I hope my colleagues will 
join us in supporting this resolution, as well in our efforts to 
support the NSF in future endeavors.
  We must continue to support the National Science Foundation with more 
than words. In recent years, Congress has given the NSF large increases 
in its budget for both research and educational activities, enabling it 
to expand on the excellent work it does in scientific discovery, public 
outreach, and math and science education. As we enter our annual 
Appropriations process, I will work--along with many of my concerned 
colleagues--to ensure that Congressional support for significant 
increases to NSF's budget continues, so that we live up to the words of 
praise in this resolution. I hope my colleagues who join us in 
supporting this resolution on the National Science Foundation's past 
successes will also join in our efforts to support the NSF in its 
future endeavors.

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