Letter to Director of the Office of Management and Budget Criticizing Guidance on Agency Information Peer Review
May 26, 2004 The Honorable Joshua Bolten Director The Office of Management and Budget 725 17th Street, NW Washington, DC 20503 Dear Mr. Bolten: In December several of us wrote expressing a number of concerns about the proposed Peer Review Guidelines. We indicated that the proposal was unjustified, overly broad, burdensome, and did not appropriately guard against appointment of reviewers with conflicts of interest. We also expressed our concern that the proposal provided the Office … Continue Reading
May 19, 2004Reps. E.B. Johnson and Baird Letter Transmitting GAO Recommendations on Science Advisory Committee Member Selection Process to President
May 19, 2004 The President The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: As you know, there has been an ongoing controversy regarding the integrity of the science used in policy-making during your administration. Both Representative Waxman and the Union of Concerned Scientists, the later supported by 20 American Nobel prize-winners, have issued detailed reports documenting disturbing patterns of politicization of science and science advice during your tenure. We are … Continue Reading
July 28, 2003Letter from Reps. E.B. Johnson and Jackson Lee to EPA Acting Administrator Regarding Agency EEO Policies
July 28, 2003 The Honorable Marianne Lamont Horinko Acting Administrator Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 Dear Acting Administrator Horinko: In the Autumn of 2000, we asked GA0 to monitor the initiatives launched by Administrator Browner and report back to us when EPA had new procedures and systems in place to handle EEO complaints. We have now received that long-awaited General Accounting Office report on the Environmental Protection Agency's equal … Continue Reading
April 28, 2003Administration Response to Caucus Concerns on Independence of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board
April 28, 2003 The Honorable Ralph Hall Ranking Democrat Committee on Science U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 ...Your observations and suggestions, and the spirit in which they have been made, are appreciated. In response to your concerns and those expressed by other Members of Congress about the independent operation of the CAIB, the operation and reporting requirements of the Board have been changed to respond to those concerns. The CAIB charter was amended to … Continue Reading
February 06, 2003Letter to the President on the Independence of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board
February 6, 2003 The President The White House Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: In the wake of the Shuttle Columbia tragedy, we agree with NASA's decision to promptly constitute both internal and external investigating teams. The external team - known as the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (AIB) and chaired by Admiral Hal Gehman - has already begun its deliberations.... We would respectfully ask that the charter of the AIB be re-drafted to reflect a broad mandate … Continue Reading
January 28, 2003Letter to Secretary of Energy Recommending Resumption of Participation in International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Project
January 28, 2003 The Honorable Spencer Abraham Secretary US Department of Energy 1000 Independence Ave., SW Washington, DC 20585 Dear Mr. Secretary: We are writing to express our support for U.S. participation in one of the most important endeavors being undertaken by the international energy sciences community - the ITER project. Since the 1998 U.S. withdrawal from ITER, the project has been substantially redesigned, its costs have been greatly reduced and a strong consensus … Continue Reading
September 30, 2002NASA Response to Rep. Hall's Letter on Space Station Crew Support Capabilities
September 30, 2002 The Honorable Ralph M. Hall Ranking Democrat Committee on Science House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Mr. Hall: Thank you for your letter of June 13, 2002, forwarding a number of questions related to NASA's decision to implement an orderly shutdown of the X-38 project in favor of the pursuit of multipurpose vehicle concepts. Over the past few months, NASA has conducted a number of reviews to assess the Integrated Space Transportation Plan (ISTP), … Continue Reading
June 13, 2002Letter to NASA Requesting Information on Plans to Support the International Space Station
June 21, 2002 The Honorable Sean O'Keefe Administrator National Aeronautics and Space Administration Washington, D.C. 20546 Dear Administrator O'Keefe: I have received the June 13, 2002 letter from Mr. Charles Horner, III of NASA's Office of Legislative Affairs regarding your intention to pursue an "orderly shutdown" of the X-38/Crew Return Vehicle (CRV) program. Adds you know, I have been concerned about the failure to date to commit to a restoration of the crew size … Continue Reading
November 01, 2001Letter to Secretary of Energy Seeking U.S. Representation at International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Meetings
November 1, 2001 The Hon. Spencer Abraham Secretary US Department of Energy James Forrestal Building 1000 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20585 Dear Mr. Secretary: We are writing to urge you to begin sending a representative to the international discussions regarding the International Thermonuclear Energy Reactor (ITER), which, as you know, is a major fusion research initiative. The next set of discussions will be held in Toronto, on November 8 or 9. While it may be … Continue Reading