Miller letter to Secretary Ray Mabus regarding ATSDR’s role in assessing the health effects from exposure to toxic substances at Camp LeJeune
March 9, 2010 Ray Mabus, Secretary U.S. Department of the Navy 1200 Navy Pentagon Washington, D.C. 20350-1200 Dear Secretary Mabus: For the past two years, the Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee has been reviewing scientific studies on the human health effects of toxic exposures conducted by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). This review has included a continuing evaluation of ATSDR's role in assessing the health effects to … Continue Reading
March 09, 2010Miller letter to Bradley Mallory of Michael Baker Corporation regarding risk assessment and cleanup of contamination at Camp LeJeune
March 9, 2010 Bradley Mallory, President Michael Baker Corporation Airside Business Park 200 Airside Dr. Moon Township, Pennsylvania 15108 Dear Mr. Mallory: It is our understanding thatyour company was involved in the risk assessment and clean-up of contamination from the Hadnot Point fuel farm at the Marine base at Camp LeJeune in North Carolina.[1] The fuel tanks had been leaking for decades, and some of the contaminants had reached the drinking water supply … Continue Reading
March 08, 2010Miller letter to Secretary Napolitano regarding DHS’s knowledge of helium-3 shortage and status of search for potential substitutes
March 8, 2010 The Honorable Janet NapolitanoSecretaryU.S. Department of Homeland SecurityWashington D.C. 20528 Dear Secretary Napolitano: Late last year, Dr. William Hagan, acting director of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) testified at a hearing of the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight that the demand for helium-3, an essential … Continue Reading
March 08, 2010Miller letter to Secretary Chu regarding DOE’s knowledge of helium-3 shortage and status of search for potential substitutes
March 8, 2010 The Honorable Steven ChuSecretaryU.S. Department of Energy1000 Independence Ave., S.W.Washington D.C. 20585 Dear Secretary Chu: Helium-3 has been a critical component in radiation detection monitors and is also essential for cryogenic research, in medical applications and for uses in the oil and gas industry. Since the 9/11 attacks, the demand for helium-3 has increased … Continue Reading
January 13, 2010Scholarly Publishing Roundtable Releases a Report
January 12, 2010 The Honorable Barton Jennings Gordon Chairman Committee on Science and Technology U.S. House of Representatives Rayburn House Office Building 2306 Washington, DC 20515-4206 Dear Chairman Gordon: I am pleased to present the report of the Scholarly Publishing Roundtable. This report is the product of the process that the House Science and Technology Committee initiated under your leadership last June to bring together the full range of stakeholders involved in scholarly … Continue Reading
November 23, 2009Miller letter to Secretary Napolitano regarding shortage of helium-3 and radiation detection devices
November 20, 2009 The Honorable Janet Napolitano Secretary U.S. Department of Homeland Security Washington D.C. 20528 Dear Secretary Napolitano: Earlier this week, at a hearing by the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, the Subcommittee members learned that the Department's three-year attempt to install a new generation of radiation detection monitors at the nation's ports and borders was indefinitely on hold because of a dire shortage of helium-3. According to … Continue Reading
November 23, 2009Miller letter to GAO requesting investigation into supply of helium-3, and its impact on radiation detection devices
November 20, 2009 Mr. Gene L. Dodaro Acting Comptroller General U.S. Government Accountability Office 441 G Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20548 Dear Mr. Dodaro: The committee has recently become aware of a looming shortage of the gas helium-3 (He-3). This gas has a number of applications in private industry; it is used in well logging devices in the oil and gas industry, in MRI and other imaging technology in medical diagnostics, and in basic science research projects in … Continue Reading
November 23, 2009Miller letter to President Obama regarding shortage of helium-3 and radiation detection devices
November 20, 2009 President Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear President Obama: In a hearing earlier this week, officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) informed the Subcommittee that a shortage of helium-3 (He-3) has put on hold all installations of radiation portal monitors that are used to detect special nuclear material at the nation's ports and borders, internationally in the Energy … Continue Reading
August 03, 2009Miller Letter to Mayor Fenty Regarding the Lead-in-Water Crisis in Washington, D.C.
August 3, 2009 Mayor Adrian M. Fenty Executive Office of the Mayor Government of the District of Columbia 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Suite 316 Washington, D.C. 20004 Dear Mayor Fenty: The Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight is investigating several issues related to the 2003-2004 lead in water crisis in Washington, D.C. We have been particularly interested in the role played by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). You may recall that The Washington … Continue Reading
August 03, 2009Miller Letter to HHS Secretary Sebelius Regarding the Lead-in-Water Crisis in Washington, D.C.
August 3, 2009 Secretary Kathleen Sebelius U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Hubert Humphrey Building 200 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20201 Dear Secretary Sebelius: The Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight is investigating several issues related to the 2003-2004 lead in water crisis in Washington, D.C. We have been particularly interested in the role played by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). I previously sent letters requesting … Continue Reading
July 17, 2009Letter to Mr. Norman Augustine, Chairman, Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee
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June 22, 2009Letter to NAS, NAE, IM Recarding Concern for America's Research Universities
June 22, 2009Dr. Ralph J. CiceronePresidentNational Academy of Sciences500 Fifth Street, NWWashington, D.C. 20001Dr. Charles M. VestPresidentNational Academy of Engineering500 Fifth Street, NWWashington, D.C. 20001Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg PresidentInstitute of Medicine500 Fifth Street, NWWashington, D.C. 20001 Dear Dr. Cicerone, Dr. Vest, and Dr. Fineberg:America's research universities are admired throughout the world, and they have contributed immeasurably to our social and economic … Continue Reading
June 10, 2009Letter to Acting Comptroller General Dodaro Requesting GAO to Examine the New IRIS System
June 10, 2009 Mr. Gene L. DodaroActing Comptroller GeneralU.S. Government Accountability Office441 G St. NWWashington, DC 20584 Dear Mr. Dodaro, The Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) was established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide science-based risk assessments of chemicals. Over the last eight years, the IRIS database has languished as a result of continuous process changes and endless interagency peer review processes demanded … Continue Reading
March 19, 2009Letter to Acting Administrator Scolese Regarding Space Communications Network Services (SCNS) Contract
March 19, 2009Mr. Christopher ScoleseActing AdministratorNational Aeronautics and Space Administration300 E Street SW, Suite 9L33Washington, DC 20546Dear Acting Administrator Scolese:Recently, the Committee received allegations that the procurement process for the Space Communications Network System (SCNS) contract award by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) may have been negatively impacted by an organizational conflict of interest, including the employment of a former … Continue Reading
March 06, 2009Letter to Acting Administrator Scoles Regarding Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) Contracts
March 6, 2009Mr. Christopher ScoleseActing AdministratorNational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationTwo Independence Sq uare SWWashington, D.C. 20546Dear Mr. Scolese:The Committee on Science and Technology is very interested in issues related to organizational conflicts of interest. Over the last decade there has been a growing reliance throughout the Federal government upon systems engineering and technical assistance (SETA) contractors to support government managers in overseeing and … Continue Reading
February 24, 2009Letter to the President Regarding Inspector Genteral Cobb
February 24, 2009 President Barack ObamaThe White House1600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.Washington, D.C. 20500Dear President Obama:In the almost $800-billion economic recovery package you signed into law last week, federal inspectors general offices were allocated millions of dollars of additional funding so that they have the resources to oversee spending of stimulus money. We are confident that many of the sitting inspectors general are capable of meeting this new challenge. However, Robert … Continue Reading
September 19, 2008Letter to Secretary Peake Regarding Witness Retaliation
September 19, 2008 The Honorable James Peake Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs 810 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20420 Dear Secretary Peake: Last week, the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight held a hearing on the destruction of an irreplaceable collection of legionella and other infectious bacteria and environmental specimens by high-ranking officials of the Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS).[1] The specimens were housed in the Special … Continue Reading
August 25, 2008Letter to President Cicerone (NAS) Supporting a Comprehensive and Objective Analysis of Energy Technologies
August 5, 2008 Dr. Ralph J. CiceronePresidentNational Academy of Sciences2101 Constitution AvenueWashington, DC 20418Dear Dr. Cicerone:We are writing to express our support for the National Research Council’s initiative to develop a comprehensive and objective analysis of the nation’s energy technology options. The Committee on Science and Technology is committed to promoting research and development for a prosperous and sustainable energy future. Our nation’s capacity for innovation … Continue Reading
August 21, 2008Miller letter to Inspector General Maquire Regarding Technical Flaws in Terrorist Watch List
August 21, 2008 Mr. Edward Maquire Inspector General Office of the Director of National Intelligence Washington, D.C. 20511 Dear Inspector General Maquire: One of the key findings of the 9.11 Commission[1] that investigated the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks was that the U.S. intelligence and law enforcement communities had failed to "connect the dots" and share vital terrorist intelligence that may have detected the 9.11 plot and possibly prevented those attacks. One of the … Continue Reading
July 28, 2008Chairmen request more documents related to FutureGen
July 28, 2008 The Honorable Samuel W. Bodman Secretary of Energy U.S. Department of Energy 1000 Independence Ave., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20585 Dear Secretary Bodman: Since April of this year, the Committee on Science and Technology has been attempting to determine the basis for your decision to terminate the Department's participation in the FutureGen project as previously agreed to through a cooperative agreement with the FutureGen Industrial Alliance. The agreement … Continue Reading