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Congressional Resolutions on the World Year in Physics
House of Representatives
On July 7, 2004, the U.S. House of Representatives adopted a measure, House Concurrent Resolution 301, sponsored by Representatives Vern Ehlers (R-MI) and Rush Holt (D-NJ), the two physicists in Congress, that “encourages the American people to observe the World Year of Physics as a special occasion for giving impetus to education and research to physics as well as to the public’s understanding of physics.”
The text of the House-passed resolution acknowledges the contributions of physics to "knowledge, civilization, and culture," its impact on "many emerging fields in science and technology," and its "vital role in addressing many 21st-century challenges."
In addition, the measure “encourages all science-related government agencies and nongovernmental organizations, the private sector, and the media to highlight and give enhanced recognition to the role of physics in social, cultural, and economic development as well as its positive impact and contributions to society; and encourages all those involved in physics education and research to take additional steps, including strengthening existing and emerging fields of physics research and promoting the public's understanding of physics, to ensure that support for physics continues and that physics studies at all levels continue to attract an adequate number of students."
Senate
On October 10, 2004, the U.S. Senate adopted a companion measure that designates the Department of Energy as the lead federal agency for the government’s observance of the year. Senate Concurrent Resolution 121 was sponsored by Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Pete Domenici (R-NM).
The Senate resolution recognizes DOE as "the leading source of Federal support for academic physics research, accounting for a majority of Federal funding for physics,” and it "calls on the Secretary of Energy to lead and coordinate Federal activities to commemorate the World Year of Physics."
Furthermore, it "encourages the Secretary, all science-related organizations, the private sector, and the media to highlight and give enhanced recognition to--(A) the role of physics in social, cultural, and economic development; and (B) the positive impact and contributions to society." The Senate measure also "encourages the Secretary and all people involved in physics education and research to take additional steps (including strengthening existing and emerging fields of physics research and promoting the understanding of physics) to ensure that-- (A) support for physics continues; and (B) physics studies at all levels continue to attract an adequate number of students."
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Congressional WYP Resolutions
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