[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 639 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 639

   Congratulating Ames Laboratory on 75 years of outstanding service.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 17, 2022

   Mr. Grassley (for himself and Ms. Ernst) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

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                               RESOLUTION


 
   Congratulating Ames Laboratory on 75 years of outstanding service.

Whereas Ames Laboratory was established by the Atomic Energy Commission on May 
        17, 1947, as a National Laboratory;
Whereas Ames Laboratory originated as the Ames Project at Iowa State College, 
        later known as Iowa State University, which, under the leadership of 
        Frank Spedding and Harley Wilhelm, contributed valuable scientific and 
        production assistance to the Manhattan Project, including--

    (1) a unique method of purifying uranium metal;

    (2) substantial quantities of purified uranium metal to the first 
human-made self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction; and

    (3) 2,000,000 pounds of purified uranium in assistance of the war 
efforts of the United States during World War II;

Whereas Ames Laboratory (as the Ames Project at Iowa State College) was 
        recognized on October 12, 1945, for its contributions to the defense of 
        the United States during World War II with the award of the Army-Navy 
        ``E'' flag for Excellence in Production, the only educational 
        institution to be so honored;
Whereas the science and technology developments of Ames Laboratory have 
        contributed to the advancement of human understanding and the benefit of 
        society over 7 \1/2\ decades, including--

    (1) the discovery, design, and mastery of rare earth and other 
materials that helped advance early progress of the Atomic Age;

    (2) globally recognized expertise in the properties of rare earth 
elements and their importance in technologies such as data-storage, wind 
power, lighting, and batteries;

    (3) the invention of lead-free solder, which removed toxic lead from 
electronic manufacturing processes;

    (4) the understanding of quasicrystals, including work by scientist Dan 
Shechtman, winner of the 2011 Nobel Prize in Chemistry;

    (5) national and international leadership in critical materials 
important for United States manufacturing;

    (6) the development of analytical equipment to enable the mapping of 
the human genome;

    (7) the development of analytical instrumentation that can detect parts 
per trillion of atoms, molecules, and compounds;

    (8) the discovery and development of catalysts leading to cost-
effective biofuel production;

    (9) the development of metal and alloy powder synthesis to accelerate 
the adoption of 3D printing and enable clean energy technologies;

    (10) the discovery of the first giant magnetocaloric material and 
demonstration of magnetic refrigeration;

    (11) the discovery of chemical processes to convert plastic waste into 
valuable resources; and

    (12) ground-breaking advances in the understanding of superconductors 
and topological semimetals;

Whereas Ames Laboratory is the home of the Materials Preparation Center, a 
        research facility globally recognized for its unique capabilities in 
        purification, preparation, and characterization of metals, alloys, and 
        single crystals;
Whereas Ames Laboratory is the home of the Critical Materials Institute, an 
        Energy Innovation Hub that provides the United States with vital supply 
        chain expertise in rare earth and other critical materials, including--

    (1) diversifying supplies of rare earth and other critical material 
resources;

    (2) developing substitutes for high-demand materials; and

    (3) driving recycling and reuse;

Whereas Ames Laboratory is a leader in technology transfer, with 257 issued 
        United States patents and licensed innovations resulting in worldwide 
        sales of more than $3,000,000,000 and returning royalty revenue of 
        nearly $78,000,000; and
Whereas Ames Laboratory has nurtured more than 2,500 graduate students in its 
        history, mentoring the scientific leaders and innovators of tomorrow 
        through education and outreach programs designed to train and inspire 
        young minds for the discoveries of the future: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate congratulates Ames Laboratory for 75 
years of outstanding service to the Department of Energy, the United 
States, and the world in fulfilling its mission as a National 
Laboratory dedicated to discovery and innovation in the chemical and 
materials sciences.
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