In Honor of Dr. Dieter Martin Gruen
Floor Speech
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Mr. CASTEN of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today on Dr. Dieter Martin Gruen's 97th birthday, in support of his nomination for the Presidential Medal of Freedom. On November 4th, my colleagues, Representative Bill Foster and Representative Chuck Fleischmann, joined me in supporting Dr. Gruen's nomination for the highest civilian award in this country. Dr. Gruen has dedicated his life to science and made monumental contributions to shaping the United States as a leader and world power in technology, innovation, and national defense. For nearly eight decades, Dr. Gruen has worked to enhance American technology development as a former Manhattan Project Scientist and Argonne National Laboratory Distinguished Fellow. Born in 1922, Dr. Gruen is an internationally esteemed German-American chemist, inventor, and innovator who immigrated to the U.S. from Nazi Germany in 1936. Throughout his career, Dr. Gruen has been driven by his curiosity and commitment to science--allowing him to make critical contributions to nuclear fission and fusion, solar energy, energy storage, and conservation. Specifically, Dr. Gruen has made several key technological advancements such as the nuclear submarine reactor cooling design and purification of uranium used to end World War II in the Pacific theater. Through this work and countless other selfless endeavors, Dr. Gruen has been recognized by the international scientific community with numerous awards--including from Argonne National Laboratory, Northwestern University, and the Patent Law Association of Chicago--for his pioneering research in chemistry, physics, along with the emerging fields of materials and nanoscience. I had the great pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Gruen earlier this year at his home in Downers Grove. What was intended to be a thirty- minute meeting became a two-hour conversation where I heard countless stories about Dr. Gruen's work on the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, the nuts and bolts of nuclear fission technology, and his unique journey to the United States. At 97, Dr. Gruen still sees the world as a place of vast opportunities for technological innovation. His optimism has been a source of inspiration and encouragement in my work as a Member of Congress as we tackle critical issues facing our society. Dr. Gruen has continued his lifelong commitment to science by actively funding the building and demonstration of his novel solar cell technology in collaboration with the University of Illinois at Chicago. For the reasons mentioned here and many more, I sincerely believe that Dr. Dieter Gruen should be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his lifelong contributions to science and technology that continue today. Dr. Gruen's tireless efforts to solve future energy challenges have seldom been exhibited by an individual. Humble and unpretentious, Dr. Gruen has been and remains the embodiment of a dedicated American and pure scientist. I congratulate Dr. Gruen for his decades of accomplishments and exceptional contributions to science and the national security interests of the United States. I cannot think of a more deserving citizen for this award, and today I wish him the happiest of birthdays.
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