[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 2]
[House]
[Pages 2867-2869]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            CONGRATULATING WINNERS OF NOBEL PRIZE IN PHYSICS

  Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 1069) congratulating Willard S. Boyle and 
George E. Smith for being awarded the Nobel Prize in physics.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1069

       Whereas breakthroughs in scientific research are the 
     building blocks of a productive, competitive, and healthy 
     society;
       Whereas the Nobel Prize is a prestigious international 
     award administered annually by the Nobel Foundation in 
     Stockholm, Sweden, and has since 1901 recognized the world's 
     most outstanding achievements in physics;
       Whereas, on December 10, 2009, in Stockholm, Sweden, 
     Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith from Bell Laboratories 
     in Murray Hill, New Jersey, were awarded the Nobel prize for 
     physics for their invention of an imaging semiconductor 
     circuit, the charge-coupled devise (CCD), in addition to 
     Charles K. Kao from Standard Telecommunication Laboratories 
     in Harlow, United Kingdom, and the Chinese University of Hong 
     Kong in Hong Kong, China, for his work concerning the 
     transmission of light in fibers for optical communication;
       Whereas Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, New Jersey, is an 
     internationally renowned research organization founded in 
     1925 by the American Telephone & Telegraph company (AT&T);
       Whereas a total of seven Nobel Prizes for physics have been 
     awarded for work completed at Bell Laboratories;
       Whereas work at Bell Laboratories has led to the invention 
     or advancement of such groundbreaking technologies as the 
     transistor, photovoltaic cells, the laser, the UNIX operating 
     system, and the CCD sensor;
       Whereas scientific leadership in the United States is made 
     possible by robust investments in scientific research 
     programs in both the public and private sectors;
       Whereas continued support of science research programs is 
     indispensable to maintaining the Nation's position as the 
     global leader in technology and innovation; and
       Whereas the accomplishments of these scientists are 
     significant achievements in the field of scientific research 
     and further promote the United States among the world leaders 
     in science: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) congratulates Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith for 
     being awarded the Nobel Prize in physics; and
       (2) recognizes Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, New 
     Jersey, as a contributor to leadership in scientific research 
     and innovation in the United States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Baird) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous material on H. Res. 1069, the resolution now under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Washington?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I am very pleased today to be honoring the two Nobel Prize-winning 
physicists on their remarkable achievement. Willard S. Boyle and George 
E. Smith, of Bell Labs, were recipients of the 2009 Nobel Prize in 
physics, along with Dr. Charles K. Kao. Drs. Boyle and Smith won the 
prize for their invention of an imaging semiconductor circuit, the 
charge-coupled device, or CCD. If this sounds familiar, it may be 
because it is the device that makes digital cameras work. The digital 
camera is already ubiquitous in consumer usage, but people may not 
realize the device also has been instrumental to scientific endeavors 
as well. The field of astronomy was revolutionized by the integration 
of these devices into telescopes to capture details of the cosmos in 
even greater detail. CCDs have also greatly aided our ability to look 
inward at the tiniest particles

[[Page 2868]]

with their adaptation into microscopes.
  Today, we also honor Bell Laboratories of Murray Hill, New Jersey. 
Bell Labs is a renowned research organization whose name is synonymous 
with innovation. In addition to CCDs, work at Bell Labs has led to the 
development of the transistor, photovoltaic cells, the laser, and the 
UNIX operating system. For all of these accomplishments, a total of 
seven Nobel Prizes for physics have been awarded for the work done at 
Bell Labs.
  I want to thank the sponsor of this resolution, Mr. Lance of New 
Jersey, for recognizing these great scientific achievements. It's 
vitally important as we work to try and maintain America's 
competitiveness in the global economy that we celebrate scientific 
achievement and encourage young people to pursue careers in technical 
fields. We are quick in this body to recognize sports accomplishments. 
It is only fitting that we also recognize intellectual accomplishments 
of this caliber, particularly when they have such a dramatic impact on 
all of our lives. If we want as a society to do better in these areas 
of endeavor, it only makes sense for Congress to recognize great 
intellectual achievement when it happens; and these gentlemen are 
certainly deserving of that recognition.
  So, once again, I want to thank my colleagues, and I urge passage.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HALL of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise today in support of House Resolution 1069, which honors and 
congratulates Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith for receiving the 
Nobel Prize in physics on December 10, 2009, for their invention of the 
imaging semiconductor circuit, the charge-coupled device, or CCD. This 
accomplishment, achieved by Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith while 
working at Bell Laboratories, has greatly influenced the way human 
beings view the world.
  The invention of the charge-coupled device allows for the direct 
capture of images electronically rather than on the basis of film. The 
CCD has given the power of instantaneous imagery to people worldwide. 
This image-capturing device is not only more efficient but also is more 
accurate than conventional photography. It has allowed for the 
development of high-resolution picture-making and has helped create the 
ability to process and to develop photographs in a real-time setting.
  Their design has gone on to be the core of every digital camera, 
camcorder, and telescope in existence today. In addition, CCD is used 
in various surgical cameras, as well as in cameras used by NASA. They 
have enabled millions of people worldwide to capture images sharply and 
effectively.
  It's with great appreciation that we recognize these men today for 
their accomplishments and for their achievement in winning the 2009 
Nobel Prize in physics. I encourage my colleagues to join me in support 
of this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey 
(Mr. Lance).
  Mr. LANCE. I thank the gentleman from Texas and the gentleman from 
Washington.
  I rise today to recognize Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith from 
Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, New Jersey, in my congressional 
district. Drs. Boyle and Smith, along with Charles Kao of Standard 
Telecommunications Laboratories and the Chinese University of Hong 
Kong, were awarded the Nobel Prize for physics for the invention of the 
charge-coupled device, an imaging semiconductor circuit.
  The work of Drs. Boyle and Smith represents a breakthrough in 
telecommunications that may bring about revolutionary changes in the 
near future. Their significant achievements have helped advance the 
United States as the world leader in scientific research and 
development.
  It should come as no surprise that their work was completed at Bell 
Laboratories. Founded in 1925 by the American Telephone and Telegraph 
Company, Bell Laboratories is an internationally renowned research 
organization. Work at Bell Labs has led to the invention or advancement 
of such groundbreaking technologies as the transistor, photovoltaic 
cells, the laser, the UNIX operating system, and the CCD sensor. In 
fact, seven Nobel Prizes for physics have been awarded for research 
conducted at Bell Labs.
  I'm very proud to commend Drs. Boyle and Smith on winning the Nobel 
Prize in physics and in sharing their scientific achievements with 
colleagues in Congress, with Garden State residents, and indeed with 
the American people. I also thank my colleague, Congressman Rush Holt, 
also from New Jersey, for his efforts to recognize this remarkable 
achievement and recognizing Bell Labs.
  Mr. BAIRD. I want to, again, commend Mr. Lance from New Jersey and my 
colleague and friend, Dr. Rush Holt, for his leadership on this, an 
absolutely fitting acknowledgment.
  I again urge passage, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HALL of Texas. I congratulate Mr. Baird for his leadership.
  Having no further requests for time, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1069, 
congratulating Willard S. Boyle and George E. Smith for being awarded 
the 2009 Nobel Prize in physics. These two scientists invented the 
charge-coupled device, or CCD, while working at Bell Laboratories in 
Murray Hill, New Jersey. The development of the CCD was a breakthrough 
in electronic image sensing that led to today's digital cameras and 
other recording devices. CCDs are now integral components of modern 
laboratory instruments and medical sensors. The field of astronomy, in 
particular, benefitted from the invention of the CCD: the Hubble space 
telescope, the Kepler satellite, and other major astronomical 
instruments rely on CCDs for their spectacular images. Myself, I have 
used CCD detectors in physics research. I am deeply pleased that the 
Nobel Committee chose to reward these researchers' transformative 
contribution.
  It is worth noting that Drs. Boyle and Smith set out to create a new 
tool for electronic memory, not a new imaging device. The dramatic 
success of their design is a reminder that research and development is 
a non-linear process. New products often spring from unexpected 
discoveries or develop from innovations that were originally intended 
for a different purpose. That is why our future economic success is 
inextricably linked to a robust, sustained federal investment in basic 
scientific research and a true commitment to a healthy national 
innovation infrastructure.
  The creativity and inventiveness of Willard Boyle and George Smith 
were nurtured in the Bell Labs of the 1960s. That environment was 
responsible, in large part, for the seven Nobel Prizes that have been 
awarded for work carried out at Bell Labs over the years. The freedom 
to pursue science to unpredicted ends was a pillar of our research and 
development system for decades. Yet this opportunity is far too rare in 
today's public and private research institutions, and American 
competitiveness is not a given. A recent study by the Information 
Technology and Innovation Foundation ranked the United States last 
among forty nations and regions in terms of national improvement in 
international competitiveness and innovation capacity over the last 
decade.
  With that in mind, we should remember that a Nobel Prize is a lagging 
indicator of success. It can take decades for the importance of a 
scientific discovery to be fully understood. As we applaud Willard 
Boyle and George Smith, we should not forget that the work for which 
the Nobel Committee honored them in 2009 was completed 40 years 
earlier--in 1969. Perhaps the best tribute to their legacy--and the 
best way to ensure our collective success--is to make certain that the 
scientists and researchers working today in our universities and 
laboratories have the resources they need today to bring home the Nobel 
Prizes of 2050.
  Mr. BAIRD. I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baird) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1069.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further

[[Page 2869]]

proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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