Date: 2007-01-30
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mine is a simple concurrent resolution honoring the life of Dr. Percy Lavon Julian. Dr. Julian was an outstanding chemist and. as a black man. overcame countless obstacles to achieve international recognition for his scientific accomplishments. He spent his youth in Birmingham and Montgomery. Alabama. When he decided to leave home to go to college t6 DePauw University in Indiana. his entire family came to see him off at the train station. including his 99yearold grandmother. a former slave. and his grandfather who was also there. His grandfathers right hand was two fingers short. The fingers had been cut off for violating the code forbidding slaves to learn to read and write. At DePauw University. Julian worked in the attic of a fraternity house. His support and tuition came from his earnings as a waiter. Often he worked as a ditch digger during the day and attended classes in the evening. Though at the top of his class in college. he was discouraged from pursuing graduate studies because of potential racial sentiment on the part of future coworkers and employers. Madam Speaker. I firmly believe that no one should be discouraged from pursuing their dreams. NANCY PELOSI. our first female Speaker of the House. is a prime example of someone who ignored the words of naysayers. We must hold these people up as examples. Let them light the paths of others. Dr. Julian earned a fellowship to study chemistry at Harvard University. where he received his masters degree. and in 1931. he earned his Ph.D. from the University of Vienna. Dr. Julian synthesized a chemical treatment for glaucoma. and he synthesized cortisone for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. He is also noted for inventing a foam used during World War II to extinguish gasoline and oil. and over the course of his career. he acquired more than 100 patents. Percy Julian received wide recognition by the scientific community for his research and was elected into the prestigious National Academy of Sciences. He was a bright. talented individual who excelled in science in the face of overwhelming challenges. My bill. House Concurrent Resolution 34. honors his life. We have 12 co.sponsors. as well as partnership with the other body from the gentleman from Illinois. I am pleased that the leadership has chosen to pass a bill celebrating the success of an African American. He is a role model. and we want our young people to know that you can make it even in spite of some of the hardships that you have. So for future generations coming along. the minority students. I feel it important to uplift women and minorities to excel in math. science and engineering. I hope the House leadership will consider substantial policies to encourage more women and minorities to pursue careers in science. teohnology. engineering. and math. They need more help than what is currently being provided. But. again. I thank Chairman GORDON and my colleagues for their support of this resolution. It is a good start. and I hope a bellwether for future legislation. Madam Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.