Science Dems Recognize "Top Young Scientists of the Year"
U.S. House Committee on Science Democrats today welcomed Neela Thangada, 14, winner of the 2005 Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge, to the U.S. Capitol. During today's Committee hearing on U.S. competitiveness in the fields of math and science, Neela and the program were recognized as outstanding examples of hope for the future. Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge winner … Continue Reading
October 13, 2005Remarks by the Hon. David Wu at the Government Open Source Conference
Thank you for having me here. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to welcome you to this very important conference. GOSCON is the first conference of its kind. It is the first to provide public sector CIOs, IT professionals, and others in government the chance to take part in the innovative solutions and strategies developed by research universities, private sector companies, and communities of developers that have made Oregon the hub of open source. Image courtesy … Continue Reading
October 07, 2005Science Dems Recognize NWS for Hurricane Forecasting Work
The U.S. House Committee on Science today convened a hearing on hurricane prediction and seasonal activity. Investigation centered on forecasting and modeling capabilities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - specifically the National Weather Service (NWS). Witnesses included NOAA Director Brigadier General David L. Johnson (ret.) and NWS National Hurricane Center Director Dr. Max Mayfield. "This is a story about the power of science and the failure of … Continue Reading
October 05, 2005Udall Praises Boulder NIST Nobel Prize Winner
Westminster, CO - Congressman Mark Udall (D-Eldorado Springs), a member of the House Committee on Science and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, released the following statement regarding Dr. John Hall being awarded the 2005 Nobel Prize for Physics: "All Coloradans can be proud of Dr. John Hall for receiving the 2005 Nobel Prize for Physics for developing a laser-based precision spectroscopy. The implications from his work are wide-reaching, from new … Continue Reading
September 26, 2005Rep. Gordon Releases Science Committee Democrats’ Report On Hurricane Katrina Response
Democrats on the House Science Committee today unveiled their special investigative report "Failing to Protect and Defend: the Federal Emergency Response to Hurricane Katrina." Because there is no independent commission to investigate and ask tough questions, Science Committee Democrats submitted their own timeline of events and conclusions, and broached important questions surround the federal response to Hurricane Katrina that deserve asking - questions the House Select Committee … Continue Reading
September 21, 2005Science Dems: H.R. 250 Good Start, But We Can Do Better for American Workers
H.R. 250 - Manufacturing Technology Competitiveness Act of 2005 - passed the U.S. House of Representatives today by a vote of 394-24. The legislation - which originated in the Science Committee - was initially designed to stimulate manufacturing, jobs and innovation in the U.S. Calling it a "missed opportunity" for American workers, many Committee Democrats reluctantly supported the bill today because it funds the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) - a job creation program … Continue Reading
September 19, 2005Melancon Introduces Bill to Aid Manufacturers Affected by Katrina
U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA) today introduced legislation (H.R. 3826) aiming quick and direct aid to rebuild South Louisiana's manufacturing community. Hurricane Katrina affected an estimated 2,500 small and medium-sized manufacturers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. More than 100,000 workers have been impacted. Employers are eager to rebuild, but the task ahead is daunting. "Getting these businesses up and running, and getting our people back to work can't happen fast … Continue Reading
September 16, 2005Gordon: Exploration Plan Faces Significant Budgetary Hurdles
U.S. House Committee on Science Ranking Member Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN) offered the following comment regarding the exploration plan proposed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) today. Rep. Gordon was among the Members of Congress briefed by NASA on Friday in advance of the agency's formal public announcement of its Exploration Systems Architecture Study on Monday. "Administrator Griffin is to be commended for constructing what appears to be a good, sensible … Continue Reading
September 15, 2005Science Dems: Much Work Still to Be Done to Construct Secure, Reliable Cyber-Infrastructure
A full Committee hearing of the U.S. House Committee on Science today examined the current state of our country's cyber-infrastructure. "Today's hearing had two important purposes," said Ranking Member Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN). "To assess progress in improving the security of computer systems on which critical industries rely and to explore why progress has been so slow." Witnesses from the Department of Homeland Security and private industry briefed Committee Members on … Continue Reading
September 12, 2005Science Democrats Work to Bring Math/Science Resources Direct to Teachers, Students
The Democratic Caucus of the U.S. House Committee on Science today unveiled a new, one-stop-shop educational resource for Mathematics and Science teachers across the country. The home for Science Committee Democrats on the web - https://sciencedems.house.gov - has been retooled and refocused. Not only can the public now gain access to Committee activities, but students, teachers, schools and universities can also look to the site for entry to a clearinghouse of federal science and math … Continue Reading
September 09, 2005Gordon, Udall Thank Departing NASA Deputy Administrator
U.S. House Science Committee Ranking Member Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN) and Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO) released the following statement regarding the resignation of NASA Deputy Administrator Fred Gregory: "We want to express our deep appreciation to Deputy Administrator Gregory for his decades of distinguished service to our nation. His record is impressive: decorated pilot in the U.S. Air Force, NASA astronaut, not to mention numerous positions … Continue Reading
August 09, 2005Welcome Home, Discovery
(Washington, DC) U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science Ranking Member Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN) this morning applauded NASA's team and flight crew on the completion of the first Return-to-Flight mission. Space Shuttle Discovery landed at the Edwards Air Force Base this morning at 8:12 a.m. EDT. "I congratulate Commander Collins and the crew of STS-114 on a job well done. The crew of Discovery and their amazing support team on the ground had a challenging assignment and they … Continue Reading
July 26, 2005Science Democrats: Great Day for NASA and Shuttle Discovery
(Washington, DC) U.S. House Science Committee Ranking Member Rep. Bart Gordon (TN) and Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. Mark Udall (CO) today praised the NASA crew, scientists and support staff on a successful return to flight with the Space Shuttle Discovery. "Seems the second time's the charm today," said Rep. Gordon. "Our prayers are with Commander Collins and her crew these next 12 days as they work to complete their mission and return home … Continue Reading
July 22, 2005Bipartisan Compromise Yields Positive Results for NASA
(Washington, DC) Intense, constructive negotiations produced NASA Authorization legislation that today received widespread bipartisan support in the U.S. House of Representatives. H.R. 3070, the NASA Authorization Act of 2005 passed by a vote of 383-15. "We've come a long way with regard to providing clear policy and funding direction in this bill," stated House Science Committee Ranking Member Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN). "The large margin of passage today reflects the House's … Continue Reading
July 21, 2005Stagnant Federal R&D Budget Threatens Tomorrow's American Workers
(Washington, DC) Just a few weeks ago, Science Committee Democrats hosted the first in a series of roundtable discussions to look at supply and demand for the U.S. science and technology workforce, including the effects of off-shoring. Today, the full House Science Committee underscored the importance of such action with a hearing on U.S. competitiveness and challenges to innovation. "Several things became clear during our recent Democratic Roundtable," stated event co-host Rep. … Continue Reading
July 21, 2005Gordon, Democrats Call on EPA Administrator to Clarify Legal Status of Human Pesticide Studies
(Washington, DC) Four Democratic Members of the House Science Committee questioned the legality of the human pesticide studies the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has decided to consider in setting safety standards for pesticide use. Democrats described the current process for evaluating studies involving human subjects "seriously deficient." In a letter this week to EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson, Committee Democrats urged the Agency to move "expeditiously to … Continue Reading
July 20, 2005Science Dems: Hydrogen Economy Must be Coordinated Effort
(Washington, DC) The Subcommittees on Energy and Research of the House Science Committee teamed up today to hear from experts on the potential of a "hydrogen economy." In a time of rising gasoline prices and increasing fuel demands, the joint subcommittee hearing convened to assess progress of Federal research and industry advances into the use of hydrogen as a primary transportation fuel - specifically, whether the Administration's R&D investment portfolio in this area is … Continue Reading
July 14, 2005Science Democrats Forge NASA Compromise That's Credible, Practical and Conferenceable
(Washington, DC) Science Committee Democrats today joined their Republican colleagues to support a significantly improved H.R. 3070, the NASA Authorization Act of 2005. When the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee marked up the legislation in late June, Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO) and Committee Ranking Member Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN) expressed considerable concerns that the Democratic Caucus of the Committee had about the bill as introduced. Democrats voted … Continue Reading
July 13, 2005Science Democrats Introduce NASA Reauthorization Act of 2005
(Washington, DC) Tuesday evening, House Science Committee Ranking Member Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN) and the entire Democratic Caucus of the Committee introduced The NASA Reauthorization Act of 2005 (H.R. 3250) - their alternative to H.R. 3070, NASA Reauthorization legislation introduced by Science Committee Republicans. The multi-year Democratic alternative lays out clear and directed priorities for the space agency. It provides the resources needed to move forward on the Moon-Mars mission … Continue Reading
July 12, 2005Honda: Administration’s Nuclear Power Plan Lacks Solution to Nuclear Waste Problem
(Washington, DC) Today, the Energy Subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Science examined the economic realities of domestic nuclear fuel reprocessing technologies as well as the impact reprocessing would have on energy efficiency, nuclear waste management and weapons proliferation. Witnesses before the Subcommittee represented a range of viewpoints on the economics of nuclear reprocessing. As Marvin Fertel of the Nuclear Energy Institute pointed out in his testimony, "Future … Continue Reading