Week Ending June 25 2004

TheWeekInCongress.com

Week Ending June 25 2004

Senate Resolution 321 honoring J. Robert Oppenheimer’s 100th anniversary of his birth with programs as the Dept of Energy and the Los Alamos National Laboratory

BRIEF

The resolution recognizes and recalls the loyal service and outstanding contributions of J. Robert Oppenheimer to the United States and calls on the Secretary of Energy to observe the 100th anniversary of Dr. Oppenheimer's birth with appropriate programs at the Department of Energy and the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

J. Robert Oppenheimer was the first director of the Los Alamos Laboratory (March 1943 to October 1945), New Mexico, which was used to design and build the nuclear weapons that ended the Second World War. Following the end of the Second World War, Dr. Oppenheimer served as a science adviser and consultant to each of the 3 principal committees planning for the post-war control of nuclear energy, including the Secretary of War's Interim Committee on Atomic Energy, the Secretary of State's Committee on Atomic Energy, and the United Nations Atomic Energy Committee;

From 1947 to 1952, Dr. Oppenheimer was the first chairman of the General Advisory Committee, which advised the Atomic Energy Commission on scientific and technical matters and from 1947 to 1954, Dr. Oppenheimer also served on defense policy committees, including the Committee on Atomic Energy of the Joint Research and Development Board, the Science Advisory Committee of the Office of Defense Mobilization, and the Panel on Disarmament of the Department of State;

In addition to his service to the United States Government, Dr. Oppenheimer was the director of the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton University from 1947 to 1965;

In 1946, President Truman conferred on Dr. Oppenheimer the Medal for Merit `for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service' as director of the Los Alamos Laboratory and for development of the atomic bomb;

In 1963, President Lyndon Johnson conferred on Dr. Oppenheimer the Enrico Fermi Award `for contributions to theoretical physics as a teacher and originator of ideas and for leadership of the Los Alamos Laboratory and the atomic energy program during critical years'; and

'Whereas April 22, 2004, is the 100th anniversary of Dr. Oppenheimer's birth: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate recognizes the loyal service of J. Robert Oppenheimer to the United States and the outstanding contributions he made to theoretical physics, the Los Alamos National Laboratory, the development of nuclear energy, and the common defense and security of the United States; and calls on the Secretary of Energy to observe the 100th anniversary of the birth of J. Robert Oppenheimer with appropriate ceremonies, activities, or programs at the Department of Energy and the Los Alamos National Laboratory.'

Sponsor: Senator Jeff Bingaman

Vote: Passed Senate by Unanimous Consent