Science Committee Democrats Mark the 125th Anniversary of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
(Washington, DC) House Science Committee Democrats today recognized the outstanding and enduring contributions of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). Founded in 1880, ASME last week celebrated its quasquicentennial. The U.S. House marked the occasion during consideration of S.Con.Res. 13 - Congratulating ASME on their 125th anniversary, celebrating the achievements of ASME members, and expressing the gratitude of the American people for ASME's contributions. ASME is a … Continue Reading
February 17, 2005Science Committee Democrats Question NASA on Agency’s Future, Priorities, Workforce
(Washington, DC) The House Science Committee held a hearing today to review the Administration's fiscal year 2006 budget request for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Science Committee Democrats expressed support for NASA programs while cautioning that many important existing research activities are being put at risk over the next few years as a result of NASA's proposed new exploration initiative - an initiative that has yet to be fully examined and debated by … Continue Reading
February 16, 2005Rep. Gordon and Rep. Waxman Introduce Legislation to Protect Scientific Integrity
WASHINGTON, DC - Rep. Bart Gordon, Ranking Democrat on the House Science Committee, joined colleague Rep. Henry A. Waxman, Ranking Democrat on the House Government Reform Committee, today in introducing legislation (H.R. 839) to restore scientific integrity to Federal research and policymaking. "Scientific progress occurs when we foster the open exchange of ideas and information," said Rep. Gordon. "We must maintain a culture of openness and freedom of inquiry if we are to … Continue Reading
February 16, 2005Science Committee Democrats: Current Budget Cuts Vital Job and Education Programs, Slows U.S. Competitiveness
(Washington, DC) Top Administration officials testified today before the House Science Committee on the President's proposed fiscal year FY2006 research and development (R&D) budget. Science Committee Democrats continued to admonish the Administration's plan to cut science and technology programs that benefit our economy and help educate our students. "Scientific advancement is one of the keys to U.S. competitiveness in a global marketplace," said Ranking Member Rep. Bart … Continue Reading
February 16, 2005Gordon Continues Fight to Rid Communities of Methamphetamine
(Washington, DC) House Science Committee Ranking Member Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN) led a group of bi-partisan colleagues in introducing legislation to develop health-based guidelines for the clean-up of former methamphetamine labs. Fellow Science Committee Member Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) joined Mr. Gordon as co-sponsor of this important legislation. The Gordon/Calvert legislation (H.R. 798) would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in conjunction with state and local authorities, … Continue Reading
February 09, 2005Science Democrats Select 109th Subcommittee Ranking Members
(Washington, DC) U.S. House Science Committee Ranking Member Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN) announced the Democratic Subcommittee leadership slate for the 109th Congress, as selected today by the Science Committee Democratic Caucus. "This team of energetic Subcommittee Ranking Members will provide strong Democratic leadership for the Science Committee in the 109th Congress," stated Rep. Gordon. "We look forward to being a powerful voice for the interests of both the science … Continue Reading
February 07, 2005Science Committee Democrats: Failure to Effectively Fund Science and Technology Harms U.S. Competitive Edge
(Washington, DC) Today, the Administration released its budget request for Fiscal Year 2006. A quick review of the requests for civilian science agencies shows that the budget is every bit as devastating as the Science Committee Democrats predicted. Basic research received a $320 million decrease and applied research funding is flat. The federal science and technology budget decreased by $877 million and included cuts to manufacturing technology research, eliminated the Hubble servicing … Continue Reading
February 03, 2005Science Committee Democrats Caution Administration on Lack of Commitment to U.S. Science and Technology Competitiveness
(Washington, DC) With the Federal Budget for FY2006 due out next week, House Science Committee Ranking Member Rep. Bart Gordon warned that science and technology - vital to U.S. technological growth and economic competitiveness - will likely be severely underfunded in the President’s request. "Scientific advancement is one of the keys to U.S. competitiveness in a global marketplace," said Gordon. "The Administration claims to understand this philosophy, but when the budget emerges we’ll see … Continue Reading
February 02, 2005Science Committee Democrats Urge Administration to Preserve Hubble
(Washington, DC) The House Science Committee today considered the future of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Last year, the NASA Administrator cancelled the SM-4 Shuttle-based Hubble servicing mission. It is now being reported that NASA will eliminate all funds for Hubble servicing in its FY 2006 budget request, which, if true, would all but ensure its demise in the next few years. Hubble - one of the "crown jewels" of America's space science enterprise - has proven a powerful … Continue Reading
January 26, 2005Science Committee Democrats Urge Comprehensive, Fully Funded Approach to U.S. Tsunami Readiness Plan
(Washington, DC) "Preparedness and education are key," a panel of experts told the House Science Committee today during the first Congressional hearing to examine tsunami threats and preparedness since devastating surges killed hundreds of thousands of people along the Indian Ocean in December. In response to the tragedy and the Administration's plan announced January 14, 2005 to expand and upgrade the United States' tsunami warning system, the Committee today questioned witnesses … Continue Reading
January 14, 2005Gordon Responds to Administration Announcement on U.S. Tsunami Warning System
(Washington, DC) In response to the Administration's announced plan today to expand the United States' tsunami warning system to the Atlantic region, Science Committee Ranking Member Bart Gordon (D-TN) issued the following statement: "At first glance the Administration's plan appears to include the components of a much needed national system. Deployment of tsunami detection buoys and expansion of earthquake detection sensors in the Atlantic and Caribbean will allow us to detect tsunamis … Continue Reading
December 13, 2004Statement by Rep. Bart Gordon on the Resignation of NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe
"I want to thank Administrator O'Keefe for his service to NASA. He led the agency during some trying times. However, his successor is going to have some serious problems to address. These include returning the Shuttle to flight safely, dealing with the financial and cost management issues that continue to plague the agency, ensuring that adequate resources are provided to maintain a world-class workforce and infrastructure, and reconciling the agency's goals with the constrained … Continue Reading
December 08, 2004Statement by Rep. Bart Gordon on the Release of the National Academies' Assessment of Options for Extending the Life of the Hubble Space Telescope
"The Hubble Space Telescope is one of the world's premier scientific instruments. Congress and NASA owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. Louis Lanzerotti and the other members of the Hubble assessment panel for their thorough and thoughtful analysis of the risks and benefits of extending Hubble's useful life. Their central recommendation is unambiguous: NASA should pursue a Shuttle servicing mission to Hubble. I hope that NASA will heed the Academies' assessment and move forward to … Continue Reading
December 02, 2004Science Committee Democrats Question EPA Administrator about Chemical Industry Role in Pesticide Exposure Study
On Tuesday, three senior Members of the Science Committee sent letters to the Administrator of EPA expressing their concerns regarding a cooperative research agreement between EPA and the American Chemistry Council (ACC) - an entity funded by the chemical industry - that would study the effects on children of exposures to dangerous chemicals. Representative Bart Gordon (D-TN; ranking Member on the Committee), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX; ranking Member on the Research Subcommittee) and … Continue Reading
October 26, 2004Bush Administration May Have Violated Law in Scientific Panel Process
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA), a member of the Committee on Science, charged today that members of the Bush Administration may have violated federal law by asking scientific advisory appointees their political affiliations or voting records and excluding those who did not support the administration party or candidates. Based on a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which determined such practices to be illegal and cited several reported instances, Baird … Continue Reading
October 26, 2004Rep. Gordon’s Grade for the Administration’s Science and Technology Portfolio: D
Today, Rep. Bart Gordon, Ranking Democrat on the Committee on Science, released a report on the failure of the Bush Administration and the Republican leadership in Congress to harness science and technology toward the solution of the Nation's pressing problems. Rep. Gordon's overall grade for the Republicans' efforts in science and technology was a "D". The report, entitled Science and Technology: The Untapped American Resource, describes Democratic priorities in these areas, as … Continue Reading
September 24, 2004Reps. Gordon and Costello Press Administration for Data on the S&T Workforce
On September 22, 2004, Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN) urged the White House to follow up on recommendations contained in a report it commissioned on data regarding the U.S. scientific, technical, engineering, and mathematics workforce. Rep. Gordon, Ranking Member of the Committee on Science, was joined by Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL) in asking Dr. John Marburger, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), to outline the White House's planned actions. The June 2004 RAND report, … Continue Reading
September 15, 2004Congressman Gordon Responds to NSF Appointment
The President announced today that he will nominate Dr. Arden Bement as the new Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF). Dr. Bement, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, has also been serving as acting Director of NSF since February of this year. The appointment comes just 3 days before the expiration of the 210-day statutory limitation on an individual serving as acting head of a Federal agency. In reacting to the news of the appointment, Rep. Bart … Continue Reading
July 23, 2004Representative Lampson Asks President Bush to Save Hurricane Tracking Satellite
Washington, DC - Rep. Nick Lampson (D-TX), Ranking Member of the House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, sent a letter today asking President Bush to reverse NASA's decision to terminate the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) later this year. In his letter, Rep. Lampson noted that "TRMM has proven to be an invaluable resource to weather forecasting agencies around the world in improving hurricane and typhoon tracking. In the United States, both the National Hurricane Center … Continue Reading
July 22, 2004Politics Should Not Intrude Into Scientific Advisory Panel Appointment Process
Representatives Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Ranking Member on the Basic Research Subcommittee, and Brian Baird (D-WA) today released statements endorsing the work of the National Academy of Sciences relating to appointments to Scientific Advisory Panels. Ms. Johnson said, "I am very pleased that the National Academy has decided to take up the question of how to attract the best scientific advisors to government service. Both Mr. Baird and I have been concerned about this very issue … Continue Reading