Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the laser.

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Recognizes the 50th anniversary of the laser, and the need for continued support of scientific research to maintain America's future competitiveness.

[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1310 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1310

             Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the laser.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 29, 2010

Mr. Ehlers (for himself, Mr. Inglis, Mr. Wu, Mr. Hall of Texas, and Ms. 
Giffords) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                  Committee on Science and Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
             Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the laser.

Whereas the invention of the laser was one of the groundbreaking scientific 
        achievements of the 20th century;
Whereas in 1953, Charles H. Townes, along with graduate students James Gordon 
        and Herbert Zeiger produced the first master device, which was a 
        precursor to the laser that relied on microwave radiation instead of 
        visible or infrared radiation;
Whereas concurrent to Charles H. Townes' activities, Nikolay Basov and Aleksandr 
        Prokhorov of the Soviet Union independently produced a maser with 
        significant technical advances which allowed continuous output;
Whereas Charles H. Townes, Nikolay Basov, and Aleksandr Prokhorov shared the 
        1964 Nobel Prize in Physics for their ``fundamental work in the field of 
        quantum electronics'', which led to the construction of masers, and 
        subsequently lasers;
Whereas in 1960, Theodore H. Maiman constructed the first functioning laser at 
        Hughes Research Laboratories in Malibu, California, and the laser was 
        first operated on May 16, 1960;
Whereas Theodore H. Maiman was the recipient of the 1983/1984 Wolf Prize in 
        Physics for his realization of the first operating laser;
Whereas since being created in 1960, lasers have become an integral and 
        essential part of our daily lives. Lasers can be found in a wide range 
        of applications including in compact disc players, laser printers, 
        barcode scanners, digital video devices (DVDs), industrial welders, and 
        surgical apparatus, amongst others;
Whereas total global sales of lasers in 2010 is expected to top 5.9 billion 
        dollars;
Whereas innovations flowing from basic research such as the laser have made 
        America into the world leader in technology development;
Whereas continued support of scientific research programs is indispensible to 
        maintaining America's position as the global leader in technology and 
        innovation; and
Whereas LaserFest is a year-long celebration of the 50th anniversary intended to 
        bring public awareness to the story of the laser and scientific 
        achievement generally, and was founded by the following partners: the 
        Optical Society of America, the American Physical Society, the 
        International Society for Optical Engineering, and IEEE: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the 50th anniversary of the laser; and
            (2) recognizes the need for continued support of scientific 
        research to maintain America's future competitiveness.
                                 <all>