Democrats Look to Strengthen Green Chemistry R&D
Today, Congress passed H.R. 3970, the Green Chemistry Research and Development Act of 2004. Ranking Democratic Member Bart Gordon (D-TN) commented, "The bill is a good, but small, first step, to encourage research into chemical products and processes that are less toxic to our environment and less dangerous to public health." The bill adopted today had originally included language that seemed to actually cut the funding of the programs already underway at the National Science … Continue Reading
April 01, 2004Democrats: Green Chemistry Bill a "Missed Opportunity"
Today, the Science Committee passed H.R. 3970, the Green Chemistry Research and Development Act of 2004, after rejecting Democratic amendments dealing with education and training, government purchase incentives, barriers to commercialization, environmental concerns, homeland security, and adequate levels of funding. Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN), Ranking Member of the Committee, noted: "Passage of this bill is a missed opportunity. The Committee should have taken the time to increase and … Continue Reading
April 01, 2004GAO Questions Nuclear Safety Management at DOE Labs
In December 2002, the Science Committee leadership asked the General Accounting Office (GAO) to review management challenges at the Department of Energy's Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore National Labs. That request came on the heels of press reports regarding nuclear safety and security lapses and property and financial improprieties. Today, the first of two reports to come from that request was released by GAO. GAO's report (Department of Energy: Mission Support Challenges Remain at Los … Continue Reading
March 25, 2004Democratic, Republican Budget Resolutions Treat R&D Very Differently
Today, the House of Representatives passed a blueprint for the Federal budget for the upcoming fiscal year (FY 2005) and beyond. The Republican budget (H. Con. Res. 393, introduced by Rep. Jim Nussle) passed the House by a vote of 215-212, while the Democratic budget, offered by Rep. John Spratt, was defeated 194-232. The Nussle and Spratt plans have very different allocations for all domestic discretionary programs, including research and development (R&D) programs. Function 250 … Continue Reading
March 11, 2004NASA Reviewer Calls for Further Study of Decision to Abandon Hubble Telescope
According to a letter to U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Admiral Harold W. Gehman, former Chairman of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB), has endorsed a "deep and rich" study on whether to extend the life of the Hubble Telescope. Colorado Congressman Mark Udall (D-CO), who is sponsoring House Resolution 550, which calls for the formation of an independent panel to conduct such a study, welcomed Gehman's remarks. "I am pleased that Admiral Gehman agrees … Continue Reading
March 09, 2004Science Committee Democrats Release Their Views And Estimates Report
Representative Bart Gordon (D-TN), Ranking Democrat on the House Science Committee, today released Democratic Views and Estimates (V&E) on the President's FY 2005 budget request for R&D. The Budget Act requires House Committees to submit these reports to the House Budget Committee prior to adoption of the annual budget resolution. Last week, Science Committee Chairman Boehlert released a set of V&E that were signed by 18 of the Committee's 24 Republicans and by 7 of the … Continue Reading
March 03, 2004Udall Introduces Resolution to Save Hubble Space Telescope
Congressman Mark Udall (D-CO) today introduced a House resolution urging that an independent panel review NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe's decision not to extend the life of the Hubble Space Telescope, thus condemning the Hubble to a premature death. The resolution also urges NASA to continue planning for Hubble's next servicing mission as NASA develops its inspection and repair capability, which will enable shuttles to fly both to the International Space Station and to the Hubble Space … Continue Reading
February 24, 2004Remarks by the Hon. Bart Gordon before the American Society For Engineering Education
I want to thank Dean Glenn Johnson of Tennessee Tech for his gracious introduction. I am proud to represent the Congressional District that includes his distinguished institution. I also thank the other Tennessee engineering school officials in attendance today: Way Kuo and Lillian Mashburn of UT-Knoxville, Ken Galloway of Vanderbilt, Decatur Rogers of Tennessee State, Philip Kazemersky of UT-Chattanooga, Douglas Sterrett of UT-Martin, and Rick Warder of the University of Memphis for … Continue Reading
February 02, 2004Science Committee Democrats Question Administration's R&D Budget Priorities
Today, President Bush released his Administration's FY2005 budget request. Senior Democratic Members of the Committee reacted with the following comments. Ranking Member Bart Gordon (TN): "Just as every family knows you have to put something away as an investment for tomorrow, so it is with the nation. The Administration's budget fails to make the responsible investments in our future that our children expect of us. If we hope to grow new industries, provide new skills to unemployed … Continue Reading
January 21, 2004Rep. Gordon Chosen by Democratic Caucus to Lead Science Committee
Yesterday, Congressman Bart Gordon (D-TN) was selected by the House Democratic Caucus to become the Ranking Member on the Science Committee. Rep. Gordon, who first served on the Science Committee in 1985, is the senior Democrat on the panel and has previously served as the Ranking Member on two subcommittees - the Subcommittee on Environment, Technology, and Standards and the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics. Rep. Gordon commented that, "I believe the Committee should be working to … Continue Reading
January 14, 2004Gordon Reacts to President’s Vision for Human Space Flight
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Bart Gordon (D-TN) said he was pleased the President laid out a more specific plan for the nation's human space-flight program. Gordon joined President Bush at NASA headquarters today to watch the President lay out his plan. Gordon made the following comments about the speech: "First, I am pleased that the President has proposed some long-term goals for the nation's human space flight program. The lack of clear marching orders has hampered NASA's … Continue Reading
December 08, 2003Republican Congress Kisses Small and Medium Manufacturers Good-Bye
Today, the Republican-controlled Congress approved a two-thirds cut to the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program, which will accelerate the loss of American manufacturing jobs while the Administration continues to delay the release of its manufacturing initiative. According to Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO), "When the time came for action, instead of just talk, a Republican Congress and Administration killed the very program designed to support small and medium-sized manufacturers … Continue Reading
November 18, 2003Hall's Deepwater Drilling Research Program Approved
One of the major provisions contained in H.R. 6, "The Energy Policy Act of 2003" adopted by the House today, is the Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Onshore Natural Gas Research and Development Program authored by House Science Committee Ranking Democratic Member Ralph Hall (D-Texas). This provision establishes a new 10-year, $2 billion program that is characterized by a unique partnership between government and industry to develop the technologies to meet the nation's mid-term … Continue Reading
October 30, 2003Udall: "The Space Environment Center's Work is Vital"
As the Sun bombarded Earth the last several days with high-energy particles released from gigantic solar flares, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Environment Center (SEC) kept a "weather eye" on the solar fireworks. Alerts issued by the Boulder, Colorado, forecasters were the prime source of information for communications and power companies working to avoid service disruptions. Firefighters in California were warned that radio communications might be … Continue Reading
October 15, 2003Statement by Hon. Ralph M. Hall on the Successful Launch of a Chinese Astronaut
"I want to congratulate the Chinese people on the successful launch of China's first astronaut. It is a significant technical achievement. I hope that America and China can look forward to a future of friendly competition and cooperation in the peaceful exploration and utilization of … Continue Reading
October 02, 2003Udall Calls for Reform of H-1B Worker Program
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Representative Mark Udall (D-CO), ranking Member on the Environment, Technology and Standards Subcommittee, called for reform of the H-1B foreign worker program after a government report he received revealed weaknesses in the government's ability to track H-1B workers or to verify their work conditions. Udall released a General Accounting Office report entitled H-1B Foreign Workers: Better Tracking Needed to Help Determine H-1B Program's Effects on U.S. Workforce. … Continue Reading
October 01, 2003Rep. Hall Introduces Legislation on Oversight of Shuttle Safety
Congressman Ralph M. Hall (D-TX) today introduced the "Space Shuttle Independent Oversight Act of 2003", legislation that authorizes the National Academies of Sciences and Engineering to establish an independent committee to oversee NASA's implementation of the recommendations of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Chairman of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, and Congressman Bart Gordon (D-TN), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, … Continue Reading
September 23, 2003Hall Statement on ASAP Resignations
Congressman Ralph Hall (D-TX), Ranking Democratic Member of the House Science Committee, today released the following statement: "The mass resignation of the members of the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) sends a strong signal that, despite the useful and important service that they have provided over the years, their advice has rarely been heeded. Simply changing its membership will not improve ASAP unless NASA and the Congress are willing to dedicate the resources and effort … Continue Reading
September 09, 2003Remarks by the Hon. Mike Honda on the Role the Federal Government Can Play in Furthering the Commercialization of Nanotechnology
Thanks for that kind introduction and for inviting me here to speak today. I know I'm preaching to the choir here today, and that we all believe nanotechnology will be the "next big thing" to follow the high tech boom of the 1990s. And you don't need me to tell you that the worldwide nanotechnology market could reach one trillion dollars by 2015. To reach that point is going to take hard work all around the world, but I think it is essential that America, with its spirit of … Continue Reading
August 26, 2003Reps. Hall and Gordon Comment on Release of the Gehman Report
With the release today of the report of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board, the focus for setting future policy for the Nation's civilian space program will shift to the Congress and the Administration. A series of hearings in the House Science Committee will begin on September 4 and will extend through the remainder of the First Session of this Congress. Cong. Ralph M. Hall (D-TX), Ranking Democrat on the Committee, stated, "I want to thank the Board members for their dedicated … Continue Reading