[House Report 110-4]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
110th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session 110-4
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HONORING THE LIFE OF PERCY LAVON JULIAN, A PIONEER IN THE FIELD OF
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND THE FIRST AND ONLY
AFRICAN AMERICAN CHEMIST TO BE INDUCTED INTO THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF
SCIENCES
_______
January 29, 2007.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be
printed
_______
Mr. Gordon of Tennessee, from the Committee on Science and Technology,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H. Con. Res. 34]
The Committee on Science and Technology, to whom was
referred the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 34) honoring
the life of Percy Lavon Julian, a pioneer in the field of
organic chemistry research and development and the first and
only African American chemist to be inducted into the National
Academy of Sciences, having considered the same, report
favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the
concurrent resolution be agreed to.
PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION
H. Con. Res. 34 expresses the House of Representatives'
desire to honor the life of Percy Lavon Julian.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR THE LEGISLATION
Percy Julian was one of the great scientists of the 20th
century. The grandson of Alabama slaves, Julian won worldwide
acclaim for his work in organic chemistry and broke the color
barrier in American science more than a decade before Jackie
Robinson did so in baseball. A distinguished student, Dr.
Julian worked his way through college but still graduated as
class Valedictorian at DePauw and did graduate work at Harvard
and University of Vienna. At the depth of the Great Depression,
DePauw welcomed him back as a teacher of organic chemistry. A
brilliant chemist at DePauw, Dr. Julian discovered a way to
turn soybeans into synthetic steroids on an industrial scale
and discovered a process to synthesize physostigmine, the drug
used in the treatment of glaucoma. After just five years at
DePauw, Glidden Company hired Dr. Julian as its Director of
Research. While there, he pioneered a process for the chemical
synthesis of cortisone from soy which allowed for the
widespread and affordable use of cortisone in the treatment of
arthritis.
In 1950, the Julian family decided to move from Chicago to
suburban Oak Park. Their home was fire bombed before they could
move in. His new neighbors rallied around him and he stayed,
formed a business in Oak Park to produce synthetic cortisone
from yams, and became a community leader. The year after his
death, the Village government made his birthday a local
holiday.
His business success brought him substantial wealth and he
became a civil rights leader in the Chicago area. He founded
the National Negro Business and Professional Committee for the
Legal Defense Fund and raised money for the NAACP and was a
contributor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern
Christian Leadership Conference.
Dr. Julian is the only African American organic chemist to
be elected to the National Academy of Sciences. By the time of
his death in 1973, he had received over 100 patents as well as
19 honorary Doctorates. Dr. Julian's life story has now been
documented in the PBS NOVA film ``Forgotten Genius''.
Given Dr. Julian's major achievements, it is fitting and
proper for the House of Representatives to honor him at the
time of the release of the film about his life.
SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION
The official title of the resolution as introduced is: a
Resolution honoring the life of Percy Lavon Julian, a pioneer
in the field of organic chemistry research and development and
the first and only African American to be inducted into the
National Academy of Sciences.
H. Con. Res. 34 lists many of Dr. Julian's achievements and
resolves that the Congress honor the life of Percy Lavon
Julian, a pioneer in the field of organic chemistry research
and development and the first and only African American chemist
to be inducted into the National Academy of Sciences.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION
Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson introduced this
resolution on January 12, 2007 for herself, and Mr. Davis of
Illinois, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Gordon of Tennessee, Mr. Costello,
Mr. Rohrabacher, Ms. Norton, Mr. Ehlers, Ms. Jackson-Lee of
Texas, Ms. Kilpatrick of Michigan, Mr. Holt, and Ms. Matsui.
The resolution was referred to the Committee on Science and
Technology. On January 24, 2007 the resolution was considered
at a Science and Technology Committee mark-up session and was
ordered favorably reported by voice vote.
ROLLCALL VOTES
Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives requires each committee report to include the
total number of votes cast for and against on each rollcall
vote on a motion to report and on any amendment offered to the
measure or matter, and the names of those members voting for
and against. There were no rollcall votes on this resolution.
COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(1) of rule
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are
reflected in this report.
COST OF LEGISLATION
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(d)(2) of rule
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, H. Res. 34
is a sense of the House resolution and therefore does not have
the force of law. As such, there is no cost associated with
this legislation for fiscal year 2007, nor for any fiscal year
thereafter.
COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII
1. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(2) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee
advises that the resolution contains no measure that authorizes
funding, so no comparison of the total estimated funding level
for the relevant programs to the appropriate levels under
current law is required.
2. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee advises that the resolution contains no measure that
authorizes funding, so no statement of general performance and
objectives for any measure that authorizes funding is required.
3. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(3) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the
Committee advises that the resolution contains no measure that
authorizes funding, so no cost estimate nor comparison for any
measure that authorizes funding is required.
CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT
Pursuant to clause 3(d)(I) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, committee reports on a bill or joint
resolution of a public character shall include a statement
citing the specific powers granted to the Congress in the
Constitution to enact the measure. The Committee on Science and
Technology finds that Congress has the authority to enact this
measure pursuant to its powers granted under article I, section
8 of the Constitution.
FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT
The Resolution contains no federal mandates.
PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION
Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974
requires the report of any Committee on a bill or joint
resolution to include a statement on the extent to which the
bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt state, local,
or tribal law. The Committee states that H. Con. Res. 34 does
not preempt any state, local, or tribal law.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT
No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b)
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act are created by this
legislation.
APPLICABILITY TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act. (Public Law
104-1.)
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED
H. Con. Res. makes no changes in existing law.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE FULL COMMITTEE MARKUP
Chairman Gordon. Next, we will take up H. Con. Res. 34,
honoring the life of Percy Lavon Julian. I recognize Ms.
Johnson for 5 minutes to speak on this bill.
Ms. Johnson. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for considering this
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 and go to college in Indiana, his entire family came
to see him off at the train station, including his 99-year-old
grandmother, a former slave. His grandfather was also there.
His grandfather's right hand was two fingers short. The fingers
had been cut off for violating the code for forbidding slaves
to read and write.
But in Indiana, at DePaul University, Dr. Julian lived 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.
Nevertheless, he earned a fellowship to studychemistry 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 to extinguish
gasoline in oil fires that was used during World War II. Over
the course of his career, he acquired over 115 patents. He
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 life in the face of overwhelming challenges.
And so my bill, this House Concurrent Resolution, honors
his life. There are 12 original co-sponsors as well as a
partnership with Senator Obama who is handling the bill in the
Senate. And I am pleased that the House Committee on Science
and Technology has agreed to expedite this bill. As a black
chemist of international fame, Dr. Julian is a role model for
the future generations of minority scientists. I feel it is
important to lift up women and minorities who excelled in
science, math, and engineering. We need the role models.
I hope the Committee will consider policies to encourage
more women and minorities to pursue careers where I have spent
a lot of time, as the Chairman knows, in science, technology,
engineering, and math. They need more help than is currently
being provided. I want also to say that Dr. Julian's life will
be on public television on February 6th. I understand it is 2
hours long. So I am not sure that I recommend watching all of
the 2 hours.
Mr. Chairman, I recommend that this resolution pass, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Chairman Gordon. I am pleased to recognize Dr. Ehlers for 5
minutes.
Mr. Ehlers. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
As a principal co-sponsor of this resolution, and also as a
fellow scientist, I am very pleased to honor one of our
Nation's greatest scientists, Dr. Percy Lavon Julian. The
breadth and depth of his work left a profound legacy that
inspires us all.
Dr. Julian was not defined by a single discipline. Rather,
he set an example of what an innovative mind is capable of
achieving, against all odds. His ingenious cortisone synthesis
dropped the price of the drug's production, allowing it to be
made available to many people suffering from joint pain and
other inflammations. While many remember him for his novel
synthesis of glaucoma and rheumatoid arthritis drugs, Percy
Julian is also noted for inventing a fire-extinguishing foam
for gasoline and oil fires. His inventions are even more
notable because of the world in which they took place. At a
time when there were very few faculty positions available to
African Americans in the United States, Dr. Julian built his
research portfolio by finding opportunities at all-Black
universities and also overseas universities.
Through his many years of teaching, he became known as a
first-class educator and a man who always looked to build
bridges between races. For this reason, he is remembered as
both an eminent scientist and a public servant. It is my hope
that pioneers like Dr. Julian will inspire the students of
today, who wonder why they need to persevere in studying
science and math, and will encourage them that these skills can
directly benefit the public good.
Today, we still do not have minorities and women well
represented in science, technology, engineering, and math
fields. Despite efforts to reverse these trends, in the last 10
years, the percentage of black engineering undergraduate
students has steadily declined. While the minority share of
advanced degrees in science and engineering is improving as a
whole, the physical and computer sciences disciplines still
suffer dramatic under-representation by women and minorities.
I am pleased the Committee is considering this resolution,
and I thank my colleague, Ms. Johnson, for introducing the
resolution, and I urge its adoption.
[The statement follows:]
Opening Statement of the Honorable Vernon J. Ehlers
I am pleased to honor one of our nation's greatest scientists, Dr.
Percy Lavon Julian. The breadth and depth of his work left a profound
legacy that inspires us all.
Dr. Julian was not defined by a single discipline; rather, he set
an example of what an innovative mind is capable of achieving, against
all odds. His ingenious cortisone synthesis dropped the price of the
drug's production, allowing it to be made available to many people
suffering from joint pain and other inflammation. While many remember
him for his novel synthesis of glaucoma and rheumatoid arthritis drugs,
Percy Julian is also noted for inventing a fire-extinguishing foam for
gasoline and oil fires.
His inventions are even more notable because of the world in which
they took place. At a time when there were very few faculty positions
available to African Americans in the United States, Julian built his
research portfolio by finding opportunities at all-black universities
and overseas. Through his many years of teaching, he became known as a
first-class educator, and a man who always looked to build bridges
between races. For this reason, he is remembered as both an eminent
scientist and a public servant.
It is my hope that pioneers like Dr. Julian will inspire the
students of today who wonder why they need to persevere in studying
science and math and will encourage them that these skills can directly
benefit the public good. Today we still do not have minorities and
women well-represented in science, technology, engineering and math
fields. Despite efforts to reverse these trends, in the last ten years
the percentage of black engineering undergraduate students has steadily
declined. While the minority share of advanced degrees in science and
engineering is improving as a whole, the physical and computer sciences
disciplines still suffer dramatic under-representation by women and
minorities.
I am pleased the Committee is considering this bill, and thank my
colleague Mrs. Johnson for introducing the Resolution.
Chairman Gordon. Thank you, Mr. Ehlers. Without objection,
all members' opening statements will be placed in the record at
this point.
And let me thank Ms. Johnson, also, not only for entering
this resolution, but more importantly, for her many years of
tireless work in trying to move forward minority and women into
these fields. It is important. This Committee will continue
those efforts, and I appreciate Ms. Johnson's leadership there.
I ask unanimous consent that the bill is considered as read
and open to amendment at all point--at any point.
Without objection, so ordered.
[H. Con. Res. 34 follows:]
H. Con. Res. 34
Whereas Percy Julian was born on April 11, 1899, in
Montgomery, Alabama, the son of a railway clerk and the first
member of his family to attend college, graduating from DePauw
University in 1920, receiving a M.S. degree from Harvard
University in 1923 and a Ph.D. from the University of Vienna in
1931;
Whereas in 1935 Dr. Julian became the first to discover a
process to synthesize physostigmine, the drug used in the
treatment of glaucoma;
Whereas Dr. Julian later pioneered a commercial process to
synthesize cortisone from soy beans and yams, enabling the
widespread use of cortisone as an affordable treatment of
arthritis;
Whereas Dr. Julian was the first African American chemist
elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1973 for his
lifetime of scientific accomplishments, held over 130 patents
at the time of his death in 1975, and dedicated much of his
life to the advancement of African Americans in the sciences;
and
Whereas Dr. Julian's life story has been documented in the
PBS NOVA film ``Forgotten Genius'': Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Congress honors the life of Percy Lavon
Julian, a pioneer in the field of organic chemistry research
and development and the first and only African American chemist
to be inducted into the National Academy of Sciences.
Chairman Gordon. Are there amendments? Hearing none, the
vote is on the bill H. Con. Res. 34. All of those in favor, say
aye. All of those opposed, no. In the opinion of the Chair, the
ayes have it.
I now recognize Mr. Hall to offer a motion.
Mr. Hall. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee favorably
report H. Con. Res. 34 to the House with the recommendation
that the bill do pass. Furthermore, I move that the staff be
instructed to prepare the legislative report and make necessary
technical and conforming changes and that the Chairman take all
necessary steps to bring the bill before the House for
consideration.
Chairman Gordon. The question is on the motion to report
the bill favorably. Those in favor of the motion will signify
by saying aye. Opposed, nay. The ayes have it.
Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the
table. I move that members have 2 subsequent calendar days in
which to submit supplemental minority or additional views on
the measure. I move pursuant to Clause 1 of Rule 22 of the
Rules of the House of Representatives that the Committee
authorize the Chairman to offer such motions as may be
necessary in the House to adopt and pass H. Con. Res. 34.
Without objection, so ordered.