Congratulating scientists F. Sherwood Rowland, Mario Molina, and Paul Crutzen for their work in atmospheric chemistry, particularly concerning the formation and decomposition of ozone, that led to the development of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

Mr. Speaker, I am the proud sponsor of H. Res. 593, a resolution congratulating the scientists whose work led to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer.

The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty that has been a critical part of the global commitment to improving the environment for ourselves and future generations. The treaty was a science driven effort to address a specific human action that has real consequences on the ozone layer.

Yesterday, September 16th was the 20th anniversary of when the Montreal Protocol was first made available for signature. Although the benefits of the Montreal Protocol are being realized worldwide, the science that led to its implementation is entirely homegrown.

In 1973, scientists Sherwood Rowland and Mario Molina began their work at the fantastic University of California, Irvine, in Orange County, California. Rowland and Molina researched the depletion of stratospheric ozone by chlorofluorocarbon gases. These CFC gases were used worldwide in many products as refrigerants and aerosol propellants. Like all scientific endeavors, Rowland and Molina started with a hypothesis. They realized that CFCs are very stable compounds in the lower atmosphere. Because of that, the compounds could travel to the upper atmosphere and interact with other compounds that are critical to the upper atmosphere.

By June of 1974 the hypothesis of Rowland and Molina was confirmed by their own research; CFCs are broken down by ultra-violet radiation in the upper atmosphere and then interact with and deplete ozone molecules. Their work was published in the scientific journal Nature to a mixed reaction because CFCs were considered by many to be a wonder product that had many benefits and no negative consequences. However, a mixed reaction to a published article is not necessarily a bad thing since it is necessary for published scientific work to hold up under intense peer review and scrutiny.

The National Academy of Sciences began testing the work of Rowland and Molina and by 1976, the Academy released a report that confirmed the scientific credibility of the ozone depletion hypothesis. To the credit of this institution, Congress acted quickly in response to the confirmed work of Rowland and Molina.

In 1978 the use of CFCs in aerosol propellants was banned in the United States. With the United States leading the way and significant studies being conducted by the Dutch scientist Paul Crutzen, the Montreal Protocol came into full force on September 17, 1987. To date, 191 nations have signed on to the Montreal Protocol.

In 1995, Rowland, Molina, and Crutzen were awarded the Nobel Prize for chemistry in recognition of their work--this was quite an achievement for UC Irvine as well. On the twentieth anniversary of the Montreal Protocol, let's once again recognize the homegrown science of Sherwood Rowland, Mario Molina, and Paul Crutzen that has had an ongoing and significant positive impact on the Earth's ecosystem.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 593.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 593) congratulating scientists F. Sherwood Rowland, Mario Molina, and Paul Crutzen for their work in atmospheric chemistry, particularly concerning the formation and decomposition of ozone, that led to the development of the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer.

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. 593, the resolution now under consideration.

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

I rise today in support of House Resolution 593, legislation that congratulates scientists Frank Sherwood Rowland, Mario Molina, and Paul Crutzen for their work in atmospheric chemistry concerning the formation and decomposition of ozone.

In 1973, Frank Sherwood Rowland and Mario Molina began studying the impacts of CFCs in the Earth's atmosphere at the University of California, Irvine. The chemists discovered that CFC molecules were stable enough to remain in the atmosphere until they reached the middle of the stratosphere. There the molecules would finally be broken down by ultraviolet radiation, releasing a chlorine atom.

Rowland and Molina proposed that these chlorine atoms might be expected to cause the breakdown of large amounts of ozone (O3) in the stratosphere. Their argument was based upon an analogy to contemporary work by Paul J. Crutzen, which had shown that nitric oxide could catalyze the destruction of ozone.

Drs. Crutzen, Molina and Rowland were awarded the 1995 Nobel prize for

chemistry for their work on this problem. The Montreal Protocol was a landmark international agreement designed to protect the stratospheric ozone layer. The treaty was originally signed in 1987 and subsequently amended in 1990 and 1992. The protocol stipulated that the production of compounds that deplete ozone in the stratosphere, including chlorofluorocarbons, were to be phased out by the year 2000.

The work of Dr. Rowland, Dr. Molina, and Dr. Crutzen was vital to the development of the Montreal Protocol, the reduction of ozone depleting compounds, and the restoration of our atmosphere. I applaud their work and ask that my colleagues support this resolution which thanks them for their important contributions to science.

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, I rise today in support of House Resolution 593, congratulating scientists F. Sherwood Rowland, Mario Molina and Paul Crutzen for their contribution to atmospheric chemistry, particularly the formation and decomposition of ozone. Their pioneering research on the effects of CFCs on the ozone layer in the early 1970s was the start of a nearly 15-year campaign that would include an overwhelming consumer reaction to products containing CFCs, a national ban on aerosols and unparalleled international cooperation.

Twenty years later, the Montreal Protocol has been described as one of the most successful international agreements to date. It is the ideal illustration of what can be accomplished when scientists, policymakers and industry work together toward a common goal. Uncertainty did not stop us from looking for alternative solutions. However, action was not taken until those uncertainties were addressed through further scientific research and until viable substitutes were available. Cooperation on environmental problems requires that the outcome be beneficial for all parties. This was achieved through the Montreal Protocol.

I offer my thanks to these three scientists. The environmental consequences and economic impacts in terms of greater health costs and loss of crops and damage to vital species due to the use of CFCs could have been far worse if not for the work of F. Sherwood Rowland, Mario Molina, and Paul Crutzen.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 593.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.