III 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 639 

Congratulating Ames Laboratory on 75 years of outstanding service. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 17, 2022 

Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself and Ms. ERNST) submitted the following 

resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Congratulating Ames Laboratory on 75 years of outstanding 

service. 

Whereas Ames Laboratory was established by the Atomic Energy Commission on May 17, 1947, as a National Laboratory; 

Whereas Ames Laboratory originated as the Ames Project at 

Iowa State College, later known as Iowa State University, 

which, under the leadership of Frank Spedding and Harley Wilhelm, contributed valuable scientific and production assistance to the Manhattan Project, including— 

(1) a unique method of purifying uranium metal; 

(2) substantial quantities of purified uranium metal 

to the first human-made self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction; and 


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•SRES 639 ATS 

(3) 2,000,000 pounds of purified uranium in assistance of the war efforts of the United States during World 

War II; 

Whereas Ames Laboratory (as the Ames Project at Iowa 

State College) was recognized on October 12, 1945, for 

its contributions to the defense of the United States during World War II with the award of the Army-Navy ‘‘E’’ 

flag for Excellence in Production, the only educational institution to be so honored; 

Whereas the science and technology developments of Ames 

Laboratory have contributed to the advancement of 

human understanding and the benefit of society over 7 1⁄2

decades, including— 

(1) the discovery, design, and mastery of rare earth 

and other materials that helped advance early progress of 

the Atomic Age; 

(2) globally recognized expertise in the properties of 

rare earth elements and their importance in technologies 

such as data-storage, wind power, lighting, and batteries; 

(3) the invention of lead-free solder, which removed 

toxic lead from electronic manufacturing processes; 

(4) the understanding of quasicrystals, including 

work by scientist Dan Shechtman, winner of the 2011 

Nobel Prize in Chemistry; 

(5) national and international leadership in critical 

materials important for United States manufacturing; 

(6) the development of analytical equipment to enable the mapping of the human genome; 

(7) the development of analytical instrumentation 

that can detect parts per trillion of atoms, molecules, and 

compounds; 


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•SRES 639 ATS 

(8) the discovery and development of catalysts leading to cost-effective biofuel production; 

(9) the development of metal and alloy powder synthesis to accelerate the adoption of 3D printing and enable clean energy technologies; 

(10) the discovery of the first giant magnetocaloric 

material and demonstration of magnetic refrigeration; 

(11) the discovery of chemical processes to convert 

plastic waste into valuable resources; and 

(12) ground-breaking advances in the understanding 

of superconductors and topological semimetals; 

Whereas Ames Laboratory is the home of the Materials Preparation Center, a research facility globally recognized for 

its unique capabilities in purification, preparation, and 

characterization of metals, alloys, and single crystals; 

Whereas Ames Laboratory is the home of the Critical Materials Institute, an Energy Innovation Hub that provides 

the United States with vital supply chain expertise in 

rare earth and other critical materials, including— 

(1) diversifying supplies of rare earth and other critical material resources; 

(2) developing substitutes for high-demand materials; and 

(3) driving recycling and reuse; 

Whereas Ames Laboratory is a leader in technology transfer, 

with 257 issued United States patents and licensed innovations resulting in worldwide sales of more than 

$3,000,000,000 and returning royalty revenue of nearly 

$78,000,000; and 

Whereas Ames Laboratory has nurtured more than 2,500 

graduate students in its history, mentoring the scientific 

leaders and innovators of tomorrow through education 


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•SRES 639 ATS 

and outreach programs designed to train and inspire 

young minds for the discoveries of the future: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate congratulates Ames Lab2 oratory for 75 years of outstanding service to the Depart3 ment of Energy, the United States, and the world in ful4 filling its mission as a National Laboratory dedicated to 

5 discovery and innovation in the chemical and materials 

6 sciences. 

Æ 


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