Recognizing the importance and positive contributions of chemistry to our everyday lives and supporting the goals and ideals of National Chemistry Week.

Mr. Speaker, today, I am pleased that we are considering this resolution recognizing the importance of chemistry in our everyday lives. This resolution supports the goals and ideals of National Chemistry Week. It recognizes the important contributions of chemical scientists and engineers to technological progress and the health of many industries. In addition, it encourages the people of the United States to observe National Chemistry Week, which, this year, is October 16-22.

Two weeks ago, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to three organic chemists--one of them a former Michigan State University professor--for their work to reduce hazardous waste in forming new chemicals. Their method of organic synthesis, called ``metathesis'', allows carbon bonds to be broken and reformed to create new compounds. Their pioneering work has resulted in more efficient, safe and cleaner methods of synthesizing new materials and is appropriately classified as ``Green Chemistry.''

One of these three Nobel Prize winners, Richard Schrock of MIT, noted he became interested in chemistry when he was given a chemistry set as an 8-year-old, and at first liked to ``blow things up.'' His experience parallels the 2005 theme of National Chemistry Week, ``The Joy of Toys,'' which was chosen to highlight the valuable role curiosity plays in developing critical thinking.

I believe there are three main motivations for doing science: (1) The practical need to control, (2) the intellectual urge to understand, and (3) the aesthetic need to enjoy. I believe that the third of these motivations is the strongest, the one that drives the curiosity of young people and future chemists. That enjoyment is often stimulated by the process of playing: the simple action of enjoying a toy that does something fun or unexpected.

When a child plays with a toy, unexplainable behavior leads to questions about the underlying nature of a machine and drives a child to perhaps, like the Nobel Prize winner, deconstruct a toy in an effort to understand it. Getting to the bottom of how something works is, at its very nature, a scientific enterprise. Natural curiosity drives innovative thinking, improvements, and discovery. At a time when our workforce is in great need of increased scientific and mathematic literacy, it is important to stimulate children's interest in the chemical sciences so that they will consider careers in these fields and potentially discover the innovations of the future. What better way to stimulate interest than something fun?

Toys not only make us laugh, they give our minds a chance to view the world in a different way. Chemists provide the substance of toys through materials chemistry and ensure their safety for contact with our skin and in our children's mouths through analytical testing.

I commend the American Chemical Society for establishing National Chemistry Week in 1987. During this year's National Chemistry Week, volunteers from across the United States will engage children in understanding how toys work. Chemistry is used by the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agricultural and plastics industries to produce drugs, advanced plastics, herbicides, fuel additives and other substances. Chemistry supports our economic infrastructure and improves our lives-- and it is fun!

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution recognizing the goals and ideals of National Chemistry Week.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 457) recognizing the importance and positive contributions of chemistry to our everyday lives and supporting the goals and ideals of National Chemistry Week.

Mr. 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. 457, the resolution now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 457, a resolution recognizing the importance of chemistry and honoring National Chemistry Week.

The importance of chemistry in our lives cannot be overstated. As H. Res. 457 recognizes, advances in chemistry impact every one of us, from the creation of a safer child's toy to the search for potential cures for cancer. Without a fundamental understanding of the chemistry that undergirds all modern technologies and products, we would not have the success of space travel or the promise of nanotechnology.

Those who work in the chemical sciences are as important as the products that they produce. Chemical scientists are vital to numerous industries, including the pharmaceutical, agricultural, and automotive sectors. This large and diverse workforce is composed of millions of Americans who work to maintain our global leadership in these and other areas.

In addition, the United States has a history of success in the chemical sciences. Since 1992, every Nobel Prize in chemistry has included at least one scientist from the United States. Most recently, the 2005 Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to two American scientists for developing a chemical process that has resulted in the production of cheaper and more environmentally friendly products.

Yet future accolades and our continued global and economic leadership depend on our ability to inspire the next generation of chemical scientists and engineers.

It is for this reason that H. Res. 457 celebrates the goals and ideals of National Chemistry Week. This week, children of all ages will be exposed to the wonders of chemistry. This year's theme, The Joy of Toys, was chosen to highlight the impact of chemistry on the creation and improvement of toys. Why do rubber balls bounce and why do paper boats float are just some of the interesting questions that will be explored through hands-on experiments and demonstrations.

These activities will both educate and inspire participants by creating a fun atmosphere in which to understand the role of chemistry in our daily lives.

In conclusion, I thank the American Chemical Society for its ongoing efforts to educate children and adults about the benefits of chemistry. I would also like to thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt) for their steadfast leadership on this important issue. I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the importance of chemistry in our daily lives and the positive impact of National Chemistry Week by voting in favor of H. Res. 457.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 457 to recognize National Chemistry Week. I want to congratulate the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt) for introducing this important resolution which highlights the importance of chemistry and chemical engineering.

Chemistry and chemical engineering affect the everyday lives of all Americans. For example, these disciplines contribute to public health through new biomaterials, drug design, drug delivery techniques, and gene therapy. For decades, they have also contributed to public health by helping to keep our water clean and our food pure. In addition, new structural and electronic materials and advanced technologies that improve energy utilization and transportation systems improve our work and home lives. In short, chemistry and chemical engineering contribute in critical ways to the economic strength, security and well-being of the Nation and all its citizens.

National Chemistry Week was started as an annual event in 1987 by the American Chemical Society. It sponsors activities to make elementary and secondary schoolchildren and the general public more aware of what chemistry is and its importance to our everyday lives. National Chemistry Week activities are carried out by local sections of the American Chemical Society located in all parts of our Nation.

They work with local industry, schools and museums to design hands-on activities, provide chemical demonstrations and develop exhibits. By these means, the local organizations provide opportunities to stimulate the interest of young people in science and in pursuing careers in science and technology, and the activities of National Chemistry Week help advance the important goal of increasing public understanding of science generally.

For 2005, the theme of National Chemistry Week is ``The Joy of Toys.'' This will emphasize how chemistry has led to safer and more durable toys through advances in materials science and will also illustrate chemical principles and concepts through toys.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the American Chemical Society for its efforts to establish and sustain National Chemistry Week. I am a cosponsor of this resolution to recognize the value of chemistry and the goals of National Chemistry Week. I ask for its adoption by the House.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 457. This bill recognizes the importance of chemistry in our everyday lives and supports the goals and ideals of National Chemistry Week.

The theme of National Chemistry Week for 2005 is ``The Joy of Toys.'' This seemingly comical name belies the hard work and amazing developments in materials science that have gone into the production of safer and more durable toys for children of all ages.

Children have a wide array of choices when it comes to modern toys. Gone are the days of making one's own toys out of sticks and stones. Chemistry has yielded materials that are non-toxic and harbor fewer germs than before. Chemistry has helped develop crazy-shaped materials in colors that change, depending on temperature.

I admire the work of countless chemists, engineers and materials scientists that has produced marvels for the delight of children and the benefit of society.

Mr. Speaker, today I am happy to celebrate National Chemistry Week and urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 457.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 457, a resolution that supports the endeavors of the American Chemical Society to unite businesses, schools, and individuals in celebrating the importance of chemistry in the lives of Americans.

Scientists have led us in the pursuit of discovery and innovation, which has helped make America a great nation. In order to educate the next generation of scientists, in my congressional district local school districts and colleges are actively working to educate future chemists. It will be this generation of students who will lead our society to the next frontiers of science.

I applaud the efforts of the American Chemical Society to educate elementary and secondary school students about the positive effects of chemistry and to encourage them to consider chemistry as a career.

Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in recognizing the goals of National Chemistry Week, and I urge them to support this very worthwhile resolution.