Rep. Ellen Tauscher Recognized as 'Champion of Science' at University of California at Berkeley

7/1/2003

From: Cynthia Determan, 202-879-9309, for The Science Coalition

BERKELEY, Calif., July 1 -- U.S. Representative Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.) was honored today as a "Champion of Science" for her support of federal funding for basic scientific research.

The event at the University of California at Berkeley was attended by Tauscher and by UC faculty, alumni, supporters, and guests. In addition to accepting the "Champion of Science" award, Representative Tauscher made remarks on the topic of international relations.

Chancellor Robert M. Berdahl presented the award to Tauscher on behalf of the University of California and The Science Coalition.

Also speaking was Bruce Darling, senior vice president for university and external relations and interim vice president for laboratory management for the UC system.

"As a member of the House Committee on Armed Services and a founding member of the subcommittee that oversees our nation's nuclear laboratories, Rep. Tauscher has provided an important and effective voice within the corridors of Washington on the importance of science to our nation's security and wellbeing," said Bruce Darling. "Ellen Tauscher is one of the most knowledgeable and dedicated members of Congress on some of the most complex and important concerns facing our nation today, including national and homeland security."

Rep. Tauscher is a staunch supporter of basic research and has consistently supported research performed at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and other scientific institutions throughout the Bay area. Congresswoman Tauscher is a strong advocate for basic and physical sciences research funding including NSF, NIH, DOE Office of Science and DOD research funding.

Rep. Tauscher serves on the Armed Services and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees. She is a member of the House Army Caucus, the Navy/Marine Corps Caucus, and the Democratic Task Force on Homeland Security.

"Keeping America at the forefront of the scientific world means maintaining a strong partnership between our research universities and the federal government. With the help of federal research dollars, the University of California has improved breast cancer detection and developed cutting-edge homeland security technologies, to name a few," said Rep. Tauscher.

"I am proud to be named a 'Champion of Science' because I truly believe that the science done at America's research universities goes a long way to improving our quality of life, protecting our national security, and fostering science as a whole."

The University of California is a member of The Science Coalition, an alliance of more than 400 organizations that encourage a strong partnership between the federal government and research universities to advance science and technological innovation deemed vital to the nation's economic and social progress.

The coalition began the Champion of Science award program in 1999. Representatives from some 60 universities who participate on the coalition's steering committee selected Tauscher for the award. Among the more than forty previous recipients of this award are the late U.S. Rep. George Brown (D-Calif.), U.S. Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.), U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.), and U.S. Rep. Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.).

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. For more information, go to http://www.sciencecoalition.org.