Political Quotes

“I thank the chairwoman for yielding. My amendment will direct the State Department to use $10 million from the NADR account to take advantage of the opportunity to advance U.S. diplomatic goals in the Middle East through scientific engagement with a contribution to the SESAME Project. SESAME, the Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Application in the Middle East, is a major science facility in Jordan. About an hour drive from Amman and an hour drive from Jerusalem, it is a cooperative venture by scientists and governments throughout the region, including Israel, Iran, and everyone in between. Science is a universal language that can cross barriers and build bridges, if we let it. As a high-energy particle physicist who spent my career working with international teams of scientists, I saw firsthand that even when a country's politicians cannot get along, often its scientists can. This U.S. support will strengthen the SESAME Project and encourage scientific collaboration among all of the countries in the Mideast. I urge my colleagues to join me and vote ``yes'' on this en bloc package.”