Recognizing California's 2025 Nobel Laureates

Floor Speech

Date: Nov. 19, 2025
Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize five pioneering Californians who this year were awarded Nobel Prizes for their groundbreaking advancements in medicine, physics, and chemistry.

Just last month, the Nobel Foundation announced the annual recipients of their world-renowned awards, recognizing those who ``conferred the greatest benefit to humankind.'' In 2025, a record-breaking number of them came from one public university system: the University of California. Today, it is my honor to recognize each of California's five Nobel laureates for their achievements.

Frederick J. Ramsdell, an alumnus of the University of California, San Diego, and the University of California, Los Angeles, was one of three scientists awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their research to better understand and protect the human immune system. Dr. Ramsdell's research will help develop effective therapeutic strategies for those fighting cancer, autoimmune diseases, and in need of organ transplants, ultimately working to improve their quality of life and save lives.

Professor Emeritus John Clarke of the University of California, Berkeley, along with Professor Emeritus John M. Martinis and Professor Michel H. Devoret--both of the University of California, Santa Barbara--were all awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their groundbreaking research in quantum computing. Their work will advance evolving technologies in everything from drug discovery to agriculture to cybersecurity and beyond. As UC President James Miliken has said, their work has truly ``opened the door to the next generation of quantum technologies.''

Finally, Professor Omar M. Yaghi of the University of California, Berkeley, was one of three researchers awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for ``the development of metal-organic frameworks'' that could be used to help scientists do everything from ``harvest water from desert air'' to ``capture carbon dioxide'' to ``store toxic gases or catalyse chemical reactions.''

Together, each of these Nobel Prize awards represents not only a body of work from some of the greatest scientific minds in the world, but the product of intentional, meaningful Federal investments in our Nation's academic and research centers. Federal research grants, combined with the intellect and innovation of our Nation's top researchers, once again has produced long-lasting and life-changing contributions not only for California and our country, but for all of humanity.

For their outstanding achievements and in recognition of the University of California's new world record for Nobel Prizes awarded in a single year, it is my honor to recognize each of this year's Nobel laureates.

Congratulations, once again--you have made California and our country proud.

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