Senate Resolution 161--Supporting the Goals and Ideals of World Malaria Day

Floor Speech

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Mr. JONES. Mr. President, today I wish to offer a resolution recognizing the critical contributions the laboratories of the Department of Defense make to the national security of this country. The 63 Laboratories, Warfare Centers, and Engineering Centers of the Department of Defense spread across 22 states and the District of Columbia are important components of the U.S. warfighting establishment and are instrumental in maintaining the technological edge of our military forces. My resolution would highlight the contributions of these laboratories by designating April 25, 2019, as ``Department of Defense Laboratory Day 2019'' in order to celebrate the work and accomplishments of the men and women in those defense labs. Many of the technological advantages upon which our military rests are rooted in the diligent, dedicated work and innovative mindset of the scientists and engineers in our defense labs. Their work drives not only the near- term, tactical innovations needed to support our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines in the wars of the past century, but they are critical foundations of research that will fuel the processes and technologies needed for the next century and beyond. In addition to the cutting-edge research and development of new technologies, our defense laboratories are a resource to the national economy and innovation ecosystem of the nation--providing the people, facilities, experience, operational problems, and capabilities for technology transfer that support the warfighter, industry, academia, other parts of federal government, and even many of our allies and partners throughout the world. The nearly 76,000 scientists and engineers employed by the Department of Defense labs are exemplars of public service, and the outstanding dedication, qualifications, service, and accomplishments of these scientists, engineers, technicians, and support staff of the defense laboratories should make all Americans proud.

In recognizing the men and women of the defense labs, I am especially proud of the contributions Alabama makes. As the home to multiple Army laboratories--including the Aviation and Missile Center, Space and Missile Defense Technical Center, and the Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory--Alabama punches far above its weight in terms of contributions of people, facilities and resources to the defense laboratory network. This results in one of the highest per capita concentrations of scientists and engineers in the country, with an extraordinary economic impact on the State. Not only do these labs provide thousands of jobs in Alabama, they bring in billions of dollars in investments and return those dollars back into the communities in which they reside.

The network of Department of Defense laboratories is not just an asset for the Department, but is a national asset as well. With over a hundred DoD-funded Nobel prizes, and thousands of patents and publications, defense laboratories are technological and economic engines on par with any industry or university laboratory. I applaud the work of the defense labs, and all of the scientists and engineers that make them successful, especially those in Alabama. I urge my colleagues to support the contributions of the labs by supporting the proclamation of April 25th as the 2019 Laboratory Day.

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