July 23, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 124 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session
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VERA C. RUBIN OBSERVATORY DESIGNATION ACT; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 124
(House of Representatives - July 23, 2019)
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[Pages H7176-H7177] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] VERA C. RUBIN OBSERVATORY DESIGNATION ACT Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3196) to designate the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope as the ``Vera Rubin Survey Telescope'', as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 3196 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Vera C. Rubin Observatory Designation Act''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds the following: (1) Dr. Vera Rubin was born July 23, 1928, to Philip and Rose Applebaum Cooper. (2) Dr. Rubin pursued her graduate studies at Cornell University and Georgetown University, earning her Ph.D. in Physics in 1954. (3) Dr. Rubin's Ph.D. thesis on galaxy motions provided supporting evidence that galaxies are not uniformly distributed, but exist in clusters. (4) Dr. Rubin continued to study the motions of galaxies, first as research associate and assistant professor at Georgetown University, and then as a member of the staff at the Carnegie Institution of Washington Department of Terrestrial Magnetism. (5) Dr. Rubin faced barriers throughout her career because of her gender. (6) For instance, one of the world's leading astronomy facilities at the time, the Palomar Observatory, did not permit women. Dr. Rubin persisted and was finally allowed to observe at Palomar in 1965, the first woman officially allowed to do so. (7) In 1970, Dr. Rubin published measurements of the Andromeda galaxy showing stars and gas orbiting the galaxy's center too fast to be explained by the amount of mass associated with the light output of the stars. (8) In the years that followed, Dr. Rubin and her collaborators used their observations, in conjunction with the work by earlier astronomers on the rotation of stars in spiral galaxies, to provide some of the best evidence for the existence of dark matter. (9) This work contributed to a major shift in the conventional view of the universe, from one dominated by ordinary matter such as what produces the light of stars, to one dominated by dark matter. (10) Dr. Rubin was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1981, the second woman astronomer to be so honored. (11) Dr. Rubin was awarded the President's National Medal of Science in 1993 ``for her pioneering research programs in observational cosmology which demonstrated that much of the matter in the universe is dark, and for significant contributions to the realization that the universe is more complex and more mysterious than had been imagined''. (12) Dr. Rubin was an outspoken advocate for the equal treatment and representation of women in science, and she served as a mentor, supporter, and role model to many women astronomers throughout her life. (13) The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, funded jointly by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy, will honor the legacy of Dr. Rubin and her colleagues to probe the nature of dark matter by mapping and cataloging billions of galaxies through space and time. SEC. 3. DESIGNATION. The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope shall be known and designated as the ``Vera C. Rubin Observatory''. SEC. 4. REFERENCES. Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the facility described in section 3 shall be deemed to be a reference to the ``Vera C. Rubin Observatory''. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Johnson) and the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas. {time} 1500 General Leave Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. 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.R. 3196, the bill now under consideration. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Texas? There was no objection. Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3196, which, after today's consideration, will be known as the Vera C. Rubin Observatory Designation Act. I thank Representative Gonzalez-Colon for joining me in introducing this bill. Dr. Vera Rubin was a trailblazing astronomer, who dedicated her life to advancing our understanding of the cosmos. She was also a tireless advocate for women in science, and she was well known for her mentorship of aspiring women astronomers. Today would have been Dr. Rubin's 91st birthday, but, sadly, she passed away on Christmas Day in 2016. During the 1970s, Dr. Rubin published the best set of measurements of the galaxy rotation to date. Her data revealed something surprising. The stars orbiting in the outer regions of the galaxies were moving much faster than expected. Dark matter, first proposed decades prior, was the only way to explain the observed motion. Dr. Rubin's work helped to convince the broader astronomy community of the existence of dark matter and revolutionized the way we understand the universe. Instead of being dominated by light-emitting matter, Dr. Rubin's work revealed that most of the universe is made up of a mysterious and invisible substance called dark matter. The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, or LSST, is an 8.4-meter telescope currently under construction in Chile. Funded jointly by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy, LSST will conduct an unprecedented survey of the night sky. The data collected by this telescope will enable scientists to build on Dr. Rubin's pioneering work and probe the nature of dark matter. Dr. Rubin's exemplary science and her sterling character will drive scientific discovery and inspire girls and women in STEM for decades to come. While Dr. Rubin has already claimed a well-deserved place in history, H.R. 3196 will further elevate her story by designating one of the world's preeminent research facilities as the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3196, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory Designation Act. This bill honors the contributions of the late Dr. Vera Rubin, an astronomer who made groundbreaking discoveries in the field of dark matter and contributed to the realization that the universe is more complex and more mysterious than was ever even imagined. [[Page H7177]] I agree with Chairwoman Johnson that it is fitting that the House honor Dr. Rubin today on what would have been her 91st birthday. Dr. Rubin was a pioneer and lifelong advocate for women in science, serving as a mentor, supporter, and role model for many women astronomers. The new Large Synoptic Survey Telescope under construction in Chile, funded by the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy, will photograph the entire sky every few nights. One of the goals of the project is to study the nature of dark matter and dark energy. I thank Chairwoman Johnson and Representative Gonzalez-Colon for their leadership and for working with stakeholders to update this legislation. Naming the observatory in honor of Dr. Rubin is a fitting tribute to her contributions to the field, and I hope it will inspire future generations of women in astronomy. This bill designates the new NSF and Department of Energy's LSST telescope facility the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. Given her remarkable contributions to the field of dark matter and advocacy for the equal treatment and representation of women in science, it is only appropriate that we honor Dr. Rubin this way. I thank Chairwoman Johnson and Representative Gonzalez-Colon for their leadership in introducing this bill. It is my hope that this will ensure that Dr. Rubin's legacy lives on and continues to inspire young women to pursue careers in STEM. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time. Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Mr. Speaker, I also thank Miss Gonzalez-Colon for cosponsoring this bill, and I thank the full committee for supporting it. I urge its passage, and I yield back the balance of my time. Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3196, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory Designation Act, of which I am the co-lead alongside Chairwoman Johnson. Dr. Rubin exemplified perseverance and tenacity in science. As a woman scientist, she encountered many obstacles during her academic and professional career. As a student, her application to Princeton University was denied because, at the time, women were not allowed to enroll in the astrophysics graduate program of this institution. Similarly, years later, she had problems accessing the Palomar Observatory in California, one of the most iconic scientific facilities in the world, also because she was a woman. Experiences such as these would be enough to discourage a young student and scientist. Still, Dr. Rubin persevered, demonstrating exceptional intellectual capabilities and character. Dr. Vera Rubin changed the way we understand the universe. Her groundbreaking work on dark matter and galaxy rotations remain at the forefront of STEM research in the field of astronomy. Her legacy will undoubtedly continue to influence future generations of scientists and will hopefully be memorialized in the new Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) Observatory under construction in Chile. I am very much looking forward to the great work this facility will produce by researchers, like Dr. Rubin. I am immensely proud of this bill. Especially to be speaking about it today, July 23rd, on what would have been Dr. Rubin's 91st birthday. I believe highlighting the sacrifices and contributions women have made to the sciences is one of the many ways we can continue to foster their participation in STEM fields. Like multiple minorities, women face their own subset of challenges that hinder their decision to pursue or remain in STEM careers. This has a negative impact on the development and advancement of women in general, and in our economy by not capitalizing from the remarkable talent of women in STEM. I would like to thank Chairwoman Johnson and Ranking Member Lucas for their leadership and for moving this bill through Committee. As someone with a STEM background, and as a representative of many young girls and women who are either pursuing or interested in pursuing a career in STEM--I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this bill signed into law. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Johnson) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3196, as amended. The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed. The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to designate the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope as the `Vera C. Rubin Observatory'.''. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________
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