Lawmakers Honored at 'Breakfast of Champions'

7/11/2002

From: Shannon Hinderliter of The Science Coalition, 202-879-9369

WASHINGTON, July 11 -- The "Breakfast of Champions,"(r) hosted by The Science Coalition, honored six new and twenty-nine previous Champions of Science on Capitol Hill today. The event drew university presidents, leaders of the science and business communities, and fellow Senators and Congressmen. All new and previous Champions were presented with a personalized Wheaties (r) box featuring his or her photograph and Champion of Science stats.

"From homeland security to health care, America is relying more than ever on its scientific community for leadership, ingenuity, and expertise," said Dr. Judith Rodin, president of the University of Pennsylvania. "Our Champions of Science on Capitol Hill recognize the integral role science and engineering play in our communities and on the national stage, and their strong support is helping to keep America at the forefront of scientific discovery."

The event honored the new and previous Champions of Science for their leadership and support of federal funding for basic science research -- research that leads to new discoveries and, in turn, to new applications that benefit society. New awardees included Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), and Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Reps. John Murtha (D-Pa.) and Curt Weldon (R-Pa.).

Public Broadcasting Services' "Science Guy," Bill Nye, was on hand as Master of Ceremonies. "For a long time, world class scientists have dreamed of getting the same kind of recognition that world class athletes receive. The Science Coalition -- with permission from General Mills -- is doing its part by recognizing lawmakers who support science with a personalized box of Wheaties (r). What could be cooler than that?" said Nye.

Previous Champions honored at the event included Sherwood Boehlert (R-N.Y.), Christopher S. "Kit" Bond (R-Mo.), Norman Dicks (D-Wash.), Pete Domenici (R-N.M.), Vernon Ehlers (R-Mich.), Bob Etheridge (D-N.C.), Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.), Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.), Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.), Felix Grucci, Jr. (R-N.Y.), Ralph Hall (D-Texas), Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.), Ernest F. Hollings (D-S.C.), Rush Holt (D-N.J.), Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.), Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Connie Morella (R-Md.), George Nethercutt, Jr. (R-Wash.), David Obey (D-Wis.), John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-Wis.), Ted Stevens (R-Ark.), James Walsh (R-N.Y.), and Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.).

The Science Coalition is an alliance of more than 400 organizations, institutions and individuals, including Nobel Laureates, businesses, voluntary health organizations, medical groups, healthcare providers, scientific societies, and public and private universities -- dedicated to sustaining the federal government's historic commitment to U.S. leadership in basic science.

--- "Breakfast of Champions" is a registered trademark of General Mills, Inc. and is used with their permission.