Administration Ignores Requests For Answers
Today, U.S. House Science Committee Ranking Member Bart Gordon (D-TN) wrote to President Bush reminding him of numerous outstanding requests for information from Science Committee Members. "I don't think it's too much to ask that the Administration respond to questions on job creation, hurricane preparedness and public health concerns from Members of Congress," said Rep. Gordon. "These requests have been before the Administration for months. Our constituents have concerns … Continue Reading
December 13, 2005Gordon Methamphetamine Act Passes House
Legislation authored by Science Committee Ranking Member Bart Gordon (D-TN) to stem the scourge of methamphetamine (meth) in local communities, unanimously passed the U.S. House of Representatives today. H.R. 798, The Methamphetamine Research Remediation Act, will protect unsuspecting families from the dangers of illegal meth labs and provide needed tools for law enforcement to detect labs throughout the community. "Meth production is an all too common problem in local communities … Continue Reading
December 08, 2005Gordon Highlights Gaps in Administration's Pandemic Plan
U.S. House Science Committee Ranking Member Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN) today called on Administration officials to reexamine their plan to fight potential U.S. flu outbreaks in an effort to insure local officials have the necessary information to protect citizens. In a letter today to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Michael Leavitt, Ranking Member Gordon outlined gaps he uncovered in the nation's pandemic preparedness plan and called on the Agency to address … Continue Reading
December 07, 2005Prepared Remarks by the Hon. Bart Gordon for the National Science Board Roundtable on Science Education
I appreciate having this opportunity to comment on the National Science Board's proposal to convene a Commission on 21st Century Education in Science, Mathematics and Technology. I have two basic points I would like to make this morning. First, I do not believe there is a need to create another commission to take a broad look at how to improve science education in the nation. As we all are aware, there have been several such commissions and national panels of experts that have done this … Continue Reading
December 07, 2005Gordon Introduces Legislation to Strengthen U.S. Efforts and Performance in Science/Math Education
Speaking before a meeting of the National Science Board (NSB) today on 21st Century Education in Science, Mathematics and Technology, U.S. House Science Committee Ranking Member Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN) announced he had made good on his promise to act quickly to strengthen science and math education in the nation's schools. Rep. Gordon introduced the "10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds" Science and Math Scholarship Act (H.R. 4434). The legislation - among other initiatives - will … Continue Reading
December 06, 2005Prepared Remarks by the Hon. Mark Udall for the Space Transportation Association
Good afternoon. I'm very pleased to have the opportunity to join you folks, and I'd like to extend my thanks to Rich Coleman for inviting me to participate in today's event. It's nice to see some familiar faces, and I look forward to getting to know the rest of you over time. As you may know, I currently serve as Ranking Member of the House Science Committee's Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee. I also serve on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Resources Committee. In … Continue Reading
December 06, 2005Gordon Introduces Legislation to Address U.S. Energy Challenges
Today, Science Committee Ranking Member Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN) introduced the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E) Act (H.R. 4435) to speed the commercialization of energy technologies to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign energy by 20% in the next 10 years. Development of a new generation of energy technologies is critical to addressing our nation's future environmental, economic and security challenges. America is the global leader in technological innovation and nowhere is … Continue Reading
December 06, 2005Udall: NASA Faces Challenges in Turning Exploration Goals into Reality
Today, U.S. House Committee on Science Space Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO) spoke with the Space Transportation Association on the challenges facing NASA's Exploration Vision. Following are Rep. Udall's prepared remarks: Good afternoon. I'm very pleased to have the opportunity to join you folks, and I'd like to extend my thanks to Rich Coleman for inviting me to participate in today's event. It's nice to see some familiar faces, and I look forward to getting to know the … Continue Reading
November 17, 2005Research is Key to Safety When Tackling Unknown Aspects of Nanotechnology
How safe are some of the products we use daily? How can we insure that all is being done to protect citizens and the environment from the possibly harmful effects of nano-sized particles that are beginning to appear in commercial products? Science Democrats sought answers to these and other questions at a hearing to assess the environmental, health and safety impacts of nanotechnology. "There seem to still be ample unanswered questions in this field, but what is clear is that … Continue Reading
November 16, 2005NPOESS Program Deep in the Red
Public and private entities charged with the management of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) principal satellite program were called before the U.S. House Committee on Science today to explain why that project is grossly offline and billions over budget. Witnesses, including the NOAA Administrator, the Undersecretary of the U.S. Air Force and the vice president of the primary project contractor - Northrop Grumman Space Technology - gave the Committee their … Continue Reading
November 10, 2005Hooley: Utilize Research in Disaster Preparation and Planning
Natural disasters are, by their very nature, unexpected and often deadly. As witnessed this hurricane season, how the U.S. currently responds to natural disasters must be improved in an effort to save lives and effectively enable recovery. Today, the U.S. House Committee on Science Subcommittee on Research heard from disaster preparedness experts, many of whom concede the inadequacies of current approaches to natural disaster response and urge the U.S. to heed and apply what has been … Continue Reading
November 09, 2005Gordon: Congress Must Have Good Information to Do Its Job
Today, the U.S. House Committee on Science convened for a mark-up of House Resolution 515 - a measure of inquiry requesting the President of the United States provide to the House certain documents relating to the anticipated effects of climate change on the coastal regions of the United States. The vote on the motion to adopt the resolution failed 11-16. Included below in its entirety is the opening statement of Committee Ranking Member Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN). "Thank you, Mr. … Continue Reading
November 03, 2005Science Dems: No Consensus on Best Path Forward for NASA
For the second time in four months U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science Members heard directly from NASA's leader, Dr. Michael Griffin, on the status of the work being done at the agency. Among NASA's current priorities is the Administration's "vision for space exploration" announced January 12, 2004. The plan proposed returning U.S. astronauts to the Moon by 2020, followed by eventual human missions to Mars. To date, important information is still lacking on how it … Continue Reading
November 02, 2005Democrats Recognize the Next Generation of Energy Efficiency Innovators
The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science today heard from energy innovators at both the university and Federal levels about what it will take to harness the power of the sun and progress toward the solar and efficiency technologies of the future. Hearing participants shared what they learned from their involvement in the recently completed 2005 Solar Decathlon, which was held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., last month. The Solar Decathlon was sponsored by the U.S. … Continue Reading
October 27, 2005Udall: NASA’s Financial Management System Needs More Work
The U.S. House Science Committee's Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics today held a joint hearing with the House Government Reform Committee's Subcommittee on Government Management, Finance and Accountability. The hearing examined the unsettled state of NASA's financial management system. "Over the past several years, both the GAO and the NASA IG have provided NASA with very sobering assessments of its financial management operations," stated Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee … Continue Reading
October 26, 2005Science Dems Urge Feds to Learn From 9/11
The U.S. House Committee on Science reviewed the results of a report released in final form today by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The report concentrates on the structural collapse of the World Trade Center buildings on September 11, 2001, and recommendations for improving building codes, emergency response and evacuation in the aftermath of that tragedy. "On the surface, today's hearing topic may sound dry and technical. However, what we're really talking … Continue Reading
October 21, 2005Davis, Waxman, Sensenbrenner, Conyers, Boehlert, and Gordon React To GAO Report on Security Problems With Electronic Voting Systems
N E W S R E L E A S E For Immediate Release: October 21, 2005 Washington, D.C. - Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis (R-VA) and Ranking Member Henry A. Waxman (D-CA), Judiciary Committee Chair F. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Ranking Member John Conyers (D-MI), and Science Committee Chair Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) and Ranking Member Bart Gordon (D-TN), issued the following statements upon today's release of the Government Accountability Office's report, Federal Efforts to … Continue Reading
October 21, 2005Gordon’s Bill to Combat, Clean-Up Meth Endorsed By National Organizations
Methamphetamine lab clean-up legislation (H.R. 798) authored by Science Committee Ranking Member Rep. Bart Gordon was praised by the National Association of Counties at a congressional hearing this week. At a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on meth's impacts on health and the environment, a representative from the National Association of Counties said H.R. 798 does much to address the problem of meth clean-up. In addition to serving as Ranking Member of the Science Committee, … Continue Reading
October 21, 2005Prepared Remarks by the Hon. Bart Gordon for the Space Transportation Association
Good morning. It's a pleasure to be here, and I want to thank Rich Coleman for his invitation to get together with the Space Transportation Association today. I'd also like to recognize my friend and colleague, Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, who is in attendance today. And of course, I'd like to recognize Dr. Michael Griffin, the NASA Administrator, who is also here today. Dr. Griffin is facing some enormous challenges at NASA, but I am impressed with his enthusiasm, competence, and integrity … Continue Reading
October 20, 2005Academy Report Confirms U.S. Has Work to Do to Stay Competitive
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) recently issued a report requested by Science Committee Democrats and other Members of Congress on how the U.S. can maintain its prominence in science and technology and prosper in the competitive global marketplace. The report focuses on the nation's economic competitiveness - and the findings were alarming. In short, the United States will not remain competitive in the global marketplace unless corrective action is taken in education, research and … Continue Reading