[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10060]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHARTERING OF ARGONNE NATIONAL 
                               LABORATORY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BILL FOSTER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 28, 2016

  Mr. FOSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 70th 
anniversary of the chartering of the U.S. Department of Energy's 
Argonne National Laboratory, located in my district in Illinois.
  Argonne traces its beginnings to experiments by the renowned 
physicist Enrico Fermi, who led researchers in creating the world's 
first self-sustaining nuclear reaction. From its initial mission to 
fulfill the promise of the atom as a new energy source, Argonne has 
grown into a multidimensional laboratory addressing a range of major 
scientific and societal needs, still however, with the primary mission 
to invent, innovate, and protect energy technologies for the nation.
  The lab's work now spans the spectrum from basic research to applied 
science in areas including physics, materials and chemistry, math and 
computer science, life sciences, renewable energy, nuclear energy, 
energy storage, transportation, establishing energy surety and securing 
critical infrastructure. And Argonne remains on the cutting edge as it 
extends its expertise into new scientific endeavors including protein 
characterization, nanomaterials, molecular engineering and urban 
sciences.
  I am pleased to have in my district a national laboratory that is a 
longstanding global leader in battery research. Argonne continues to 
license its chemistries for use in bestselling electric vehicles and 
has positioned itself to meet the emerging storage needs of the new 
electric grid. This unique history, combined with its role as convener 
of a regional ecosystem of governments, universities, non-profits, 
industries and other public and private entities delivering innovative 
research and technology, means Argonne National Laboratory is a big 
reason why Chicago and the Midwest will be a focal point in the 
impending clean energy revolution.
  I am also proud to say that not only is Argonne home to Mira, one of 
the world's fastest supercomputers, and the Advanced Photon Source, the 
brightest X-ray source in the Western Hemisphere, but that ongoing 
updates to these and other user facilities at the lab will help 
maintain U.S. leadership in scientific discovery.
  Argonne is not only a scientific, but also an economic engine for my 
district and the state of Illinois, as the lab employs some 3,000 
people, attracts thousands more as visitors and scientific facility 
users, and spends approximately $300 million annually through 
procurements to a diverse group of large and small businesses to 
support its overall mission.
  Finally, by employing more than 400 graduate and undergraduate 
students each year and annually hosting approximately 3,000 elementary, 
middle, and high school students for various programs, the lab is also 
an important educator and contributor to the STEM pipeline on which 
future prosperity of this country depends.
  Clearly, scientific research is fundamental to the progress of 
society. The 70th anniversary of the chartering of Argonne National 
Laboratory is an excellent opportunity to reflect upon the 
contributions this world-class institution has made, is making, and is 
poised to make in the years to come--across an array of essential, 
life-changing disciplines.
  Mr. Speaker I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the 70th 
anniversary of the chartering of Argonne National Lab and I yield back 
the balance of my time.




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