Committee Releases Compromise Language on NASA Reauthorization
(Washington, DC) - Today, Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) released compromise legislative language for the NASA Reauthorization Act. Chairman Gordon offered the following statement: "This is House compromise language, with bipartisan support. It reflects months of discussions and input from many Members. As a result, we believe we have a bill that both builds on and improves on H.R. 5781, the NASA Authorization Act that was marked up by the Science and … Continue Reading
September 23, 2010Science Policymakers Need Metrics to Make Informed Decisions, Subcommittee Hears
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a hearing to examine the current state of science and technology policy research. The subcommittee evaluated how this research informs policymaking and the role of the federal government in fostering academic research and education in this emerging interdisciplinary field. "Science and engineering research and education have driven long-term economic growth and … Continue Reading
September 16, 2010Veterans and Families Continue to Fight for Facts, Help Years After Toxic Exposure on Base
(Washington, DC) - Today, The House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight held a hearing to examine the legacy of drinking water contamination at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Between the Marine Corps base Camp Lejeune beginning operations in 1941 and the closing of contaminated wells in the mid-eighties, as many as one million individuals have been exposed through their drinking water to toxic chemicals, including solvents … Continue Reading
August 25, 2010Report Finds Investments in Innovation are Paying Off
(Washington, DC) - Vice President Joe Biden unveiled a new report, “The Recovery Act: Transforming the American Economy through Innovation,” which finds that the Recovery Act’s investments in science, technology and innovation are creating new jobs and strengthening advances in science that will create cost cuts for consumers.Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) offered the following statement: “This report reiterates that investments in innovation have a direct and positive impact on our … Continue Reading
August 12, 2010Report Finds Carbon Capture and Sequestration Technology Viable
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Interagency Task Force on Carbon Capture and Storage released a report on carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) which lays out a plan to overcome the barriers to widespread, cost-effective deployment of CCS within 10 years. The report found that, although there are issues to resolve, carbon capture and storage technology is viable, without any insurmountable technical, legal, or institutional barriers to development and deployment. “Our nation generates over … Continue Reading
July 28, 2010Subcommittee Advances Bipartisan Nuclear Energy Research Bill
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology's Energy and Environment Subcommittee held a markup on a H.R. 5866, the Nuclear Energy Research and Development Act of 2010. The bill was authored by Full Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN), and co-sponsored by Full Committee Ranking Member Ralph Hall (R-TX), Subcommittee Chairman Brian Baird (D-WA), and Subcommittee Ranking Member Bob Inglis (R-SC). "Whether we are concerned about climate change, energy … Continue Reading
July 23, 2010Subcommittee Examines Smithsonian Institution’s Unique Opportunity to Strengthen America’s role in Science
(Washington, DC) - The House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a hearing Wednesday to examine the Smithsonian Institution's research and education activities, scientific collections, and its ability to collaborate with federal agencies. While renowned for the world's largest museum complex, the Smithsonian Institution is also a prominent leader in scientific research. For instance, scientists at Smithsonian research centers are using … Continue Reading
July 22, 2010COMPETES Passes Senate Committee With Bipartisan Support
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation passed their version of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010. The bill, S. 3605, passed with bipartisan support. Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) offered the following statement: “I applaud Senator Rockefeller for his work moving this important piece of legislation. The legislation that the Senators voted on moved the funding levels in line with what passed the House in … Continue Reading
July 22, 2010Committee Approves Three-Year Authorization That Sets Realistic, Sustainable Path for NASA
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology approved H.R. 5781, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010, by a voice vote with broad bipartisan support. “This bill makes the hard choices,” said Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN). “We are in tough economic times, and we cannot do it all. While I believe it is important that NASA remain a multi-mission agency with challenging initiatives … Continue Reading
July 21, 2010Chairman Gordon's Remarks on H.R. 5716
Mr./Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.Advances in drilling technologies have allowed industry to venture into ever deeper waters in search of the enormous oil and gas reserves found there. Operating in such extreme environments entails immense engineering and technology challenges, the complexity of which is encountered in few other endeavors.But, in this high-stakes game, our addiction to oil has ensured that the payoff of pushing the technology envelope was worth the … Continue Reading
July 21, 2010Chairman Gordon's Remarks on H. Con. Res. 292
Mr./Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.No matter how many times you fly, however many hours a week you spend on airplanes, even as a Member of Congress, there is still something magical about the first moments of take-off, when acceleration gives way to a sudden lift, and you soar up into the clouds.Behind that moment of wonder lies over a century of hard work, long hours, and sacrifice spent uncovering the secrets of aerodynamics and mastering the engineering of … Continue Reading
July 21, 2010Chairman Gordon's Remarks on H.R. 2693
Mr./Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.On April 20, 2010, an explosion occurred aboard the BP Deepwater Horizon drill rig that claimed the lives of eleven men and resulted in the largest environmental disaster in our nation’s history. While the flow of oil from the well might have stopped for now, as long as our economy is dependent on oil we risk a similar tragedy happening again. We have a responsibility to ensure that the relevant federal agencies are equipped … Continue Reading
July 21, 2010Subcommitttee on Energy and Environment Chairman Brian Baird Statement on H.R. 2693 and H.R. 5716
Mr./Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the bill before us, H.R. 2693, the Oil Pollution Research and Development Program Reauthorization Act of 2010 and H.R. 5716, the Safer Oil and Natural Gas Drilling Technology Research and Development Act.These bills represent a timely and necessary measure to address the current gaps in federal research, development, and demonstration on oil spill prevention, response, and safety capabilities. Recently, I took a trip to the Gulf and saw … Continue Reading
July 21, 2010Oil Spill Prevention and Response Legislation Passes House
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House of Representatives passed two bills that will improve the ability of the United States to prevent and respond to oil spills. These two pieces of legislation will enhance research for oil spill prevention and cleanup and provide the necessary research to ensure safer, cleaner oil and gas drilling technologies. Together, these bills represent a comprehensive research agenda to enhance U.S. preparedness for future oil spills. “The BP disaster has … Continue Reading
July 20, 2010House Approves Bill to Improve Prioritization, Collaboration in Critical Security Research
(Washington, DC) - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved H.R. 4842, the Homeland Security Science and Technology Authorization Act of 2010. The bill reauthorizes the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate, which is the primary research and development arm of DHS. “I want to thank Chairman Thompson and Subcommittee Chairwoman Clarke for their efforts and willingness to work with our Committee,” said Committee on Science and Technology Chairman … Continue Reading
July 20, 2010Variety of Economic Models Needed, Members Hear
(Washington, DC) - A hearing was held today before the House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight to examine the promise and limits of modern macroeconomic theory in light of the current economic crisis. The hearing explored the failure of mainstream macroeconomists to foresee the recent financial and economic collapse and the role of macroeconomics in policy making generally. "Because our experts' way of looking at the economy left them blind … Continue Reading
July 20, 2010Subcommittee Chairman Wu's Floor Speech on H.R. 4842, The Homeland Security Science and Technology Authorization Act of 2010
As prepared for delivery I rise in support of the Homeland Security Science and Technology Authorization Act of 2010, which reauthorizes the activities of the Science and Technology Directorate at the Department of Homeland Security. We rely on the Department of Homeland Security to protect our country and secure our nation’s borders, ports, and waterways from a wide range of threats. As chair of the Science Committee’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation, I fully … Continue Reading
July 19, 2010Committee Releases Legislative Text of NASA Reauthorization Bill
(Washington, DC) - Today, Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) is releasing the legislative text of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010. The bill is co-sponsored by Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics Chairwoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), Ranking Member Ralph Hall (R-TX), and Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics Ranking Member Pete Olson (R-TX). Furthermore, the Chairman has also announced the Committee intends to … Continue Reading
July 15, 2010Identifying the Attacker Can Play Important Role in Cybersecurity, Members Hear
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing to discuss cyber attack attribution-determining the identity or location of an attacker or an attacker's intermediary-and how attribution technologies can affect the anonymity and privacy of internet users. "We are well aware of the critical role that IT networks play in managing much of our day-to-day activity-from online banking to systems that make sure there is … Continue Reading
July 14, 2010Effective Oil Spill Cleanup and Safer Drilling Technologies Legislation Clears Committee
(Washington, DC) – Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology held a markup and approved two bills to enhance U.S. preparedness for future oil spills. These two pieces of legislation will prioritize research into oil spill cleanup and prevention and provide the research for safer, cleaner oil and gas drilling technologies. These bills represent a comprehensive research agenda to preventing and responding to accidents such as Deepwater Horizon. The explosion of the … Continue Reading