[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 14146-14147]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  COMMEMORATING THE SMITHSONIAN ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH CENTER'S 50TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 11, 2015

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the Smithsonian 
Environmental Research Center as it celebrates its fiftieth anniversary 
this year.
  Since 1965, SERC has been the nation's leading research center for 
understanding coastal zones and the environmental issues they face. 
With coastal zones home to more than 70% of the world's people, SERC 
has been at the forefront of monitoring and studying these zones' 
unique ecosystems and the different factors that affect their health.

[[Page 14147]]

  While their main research focuses on the areas of climate change, 
invasive species, biodiversity, land use, and pollution, SERC personnel 
are also involved in preparing the next generation of environmental 
scientists. Over the years, SERC has provided learning opportunities 
for students from kindergarten all the way through the post-doctoral 
level, partnering with over 150 colleges and universities to conduct 
professional training and a variety of hands-on experiences in the 
field.
  Headquartered on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland's Fifth District, 
SERC encompasses more than 2,650 acres of land and twelve miles of 
protected shoreline. The scientists at SERC use this shoreline as a 
natural laboratory and model for long-term ecological research to study 
the way terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric components interact in 
complex ecosystems.
  In 2009, I was a proud cosponsor of legislation that authorized a $41 
million expansion and renovation of SERC's Mathias Laboratory, the 
Smithsonian's first LEED-Platinum building. This sustainable research 
lab provides a larger space and more flexibility for scientists to 
explore cutting edge research in an environmentally responsible way. I 
had the privilege of attending the ribbon cutting ceremony for the 
lab's reopening last year.
  I am proud to celebrate this anniversary and ask that my colleagues 
join me in commending the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center for 
its contributions to our understanding of coastal environments and 
climate change--and saluting those who continue to carry out its 
important mission.
  

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