Vernon Ehlers: “I also thank him for his sponsorship on the previous resolution on National Chemistry Week. He and I, as most people…”

“I also thank him for his sponsorship on the previous resolution on National Chemistry Week. He and I, as most people know, are the only two physicists in the Congress and I am told are the only two that have ever served in this Congress. That, I think, is an indictment of the scientific community because we should have more scientists in the Congress, but most scientists tend to shy away from this particular type of activity. But the Fellows that we are honoring here have filled the gap, as the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt) has so clearly outlined. They provide some very badly needed scientific advice. I recognized the need for this some years ago before there was a fellowship program, and I contacted my Congressman and I worked with him over several years informally advising him on science. His name happened to be Gerald R. Ford. And I was very pleased when he became President and he continued to use some of the advice that I had given him. The OTA came along and that relieved some of the need for scientific advice; but as we know, the OTA is no longer with us. And so the Fellows are extremely important in maintaining the scientific competence of the Congress, both House and Senate.”