House Passes Bipartisan Bill to Advance R&D for Safe, Cost-Effective, Proliferation-Resistant Nuclear Energy
(Washington, DC) -The House of Representatives approved H.R. 5866, the Nuclear Energy Research and Development Act of 2010, with bipartisan support by voice vote. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE … Continue Reading
November 17, 2010Subcommittee Chairman Baird Makes Science the Focus of Climate Change Debate
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology's Energy and Environment Subcommitteeheld a hearing entitled: "A Rational Discussion of Climate Change: the Science, the Evidence, the Response." Today's hearing focused on the basic science, the evidence, and the response to climate change. "I believe that many members of the public, and perhaps some in Congress, have never had the opportunity to consider the basic science and the long history of investigation and … Continue Reading
November 16, 2010Members Applaud NASA’s Role in Successful Chilean Miner Rescue
(Washington, DC) - Today, the U.S. House of Representativespassed H.Res.1714 congratulating the engineers, scientists, psychologists, and staff of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for helping to successfully rescue 33 trapped Chilean miners from a collapsed mine near Copiapo, Chile. As part of the rescue operation, NASA provided expert advice on medical, nutritional and behavioral health issues. The NASA team also provided suggestions concerning the rescue cages … Continue Reading
October 29, 2010Chairman Gordon Releases Report on Climate Engineering
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October 14, 2010Chairman Applauds Release of Adaptation Report
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Progress Report of the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force was released. The reportoffers recommendations for how several federal agencies and programs can better prepare the United States to respond to the impacts of climate change. "The idea of adaptation was once controversial but as the effects of climate change have become clearer, many realize the need to prepare for climate change now, while working to reduce our greenhouse gas … Continue Reading
October 01, 2010Wu Promotes Health Information Technology to Improve Treatment and Reduce Costs
(Washington, DC) - The House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing to discuss the integration of information technology (IT) with health care as a means to improve patient care and lower escalating health care costs. The use of electronic health records has the potential to prevent some of the medical mistakes that lead to the deaths of over 98,000 patients annually. Enabling physician access to electronic health records could reduce … Continue Reading
September 30, 2010Chairman Gordon Congratulates Incoming Director of the National Science Foundation
(Washington, DC) - Last night, the Senate confirmed Dr. Subra Suresh to be the next director of the National Science Foundation (NSF). He was nominated by the president in June of this year. Dr. Suresh was most recently the dean of engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He succeeds Dr.Arden L. Bement, Jr., who stepped down after six years serving as director and is now leading Purdue University’s new Global Policy Research Institute in West Lafayette, … Continue Reading
September 29, 2010House Approves Senate Version of the NASA Reauthorization
(Washington, DC) -The House of Representatives approved S. 3729, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010, with bipartisan support by a vote of 304 to 118. Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) offered the following statement: “I see today’s floor consideration to be only one more step in crafting a sustainable, affordable, and productive future path for NASA, and to ensuring stability and … Continue Reading
September 29, 2010Further Investments in Science and Technology Vital to National Economic Competitiveness, Distinguished Panel Tells Committee
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology held a hearing to discuss findings and recommendations from the recently released report, Rising Above the Gathering Storm, Revisited: Rapidly Approaching Category 5. The updated report highlights progress that has been made in the past five years, including enactment of the America COMPETES Act, but underscores that America's competitive position in the world now faces greater challenges and that research investments are … Continue Reading
September 29, 2010House Approves Bill To Overcome Shortage of Elements Critical to Energy, Defense
(Washington, DC) -Today, the House of Representatives approved H.R. 6160, the Rare Earths and Critical Materials Revitalization Act of 2010 with overwhelming bipartisan support by a vote of 324 to 92. The bill authorizes research to address the supply scarcity of rare earth minerals, a category of materials vital to a wide range of applications in fields such as energy, military, electronic and manufacturing technologies. The bill also addresses the larger, long-term issue of … Continue Reading
September 29, 2010Chairman Gordon's Floor Statement on S. 3729, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2010
Mr. Speaker, in his FY 2011 budget request, the President proposed a number of initiatives for NASA in the coming years, many of which I and my colleagues support. However, after extensive hearings and oversight, we reluctantly came to the conclusion that both the current Constellation program and the president’s proposed human space flight plan are unexecutable under the current and projected budgets.For too long, the mission hasn’t matched the money at NASA, and I am unwilling to … Continue Reading
September 28, 2010Chairman Gordon's Remarks on H.R. 6160
Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support today of H.R. 6160, the Rare Earths and Critical Materials Revitalization Act of 2010. This bill was introduced by the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania, Mrs. Dahlkemper, and cosponsored by Mr. Jerry Lewis, Mr. Coffman, Mr. Carnahan, myself, and a number of other members who all recognize that we must take steps to recapture our technological lead in a wide range of industries critical to our economic … Continue Reading
September 28, 2010Chairman Gordon's Remarks on H.Res. 1660
Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.Res. 1660, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of the inaugural USA Science and Engineering Festival. I want to congratulate the gentleman from California (Mr. Bilbray) for introducing this resolution. A number of much-publicized studies have shown that the mathematics and science achievement of American students is poor by international standards. There is a dark cloud over the future of American competitiveness. Without … Continue Reading
September 28, 2010Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee Vice Chair Kathy Dahlkemper's Remarks on H.R. 6016
Madam Speaker, What would happen to our national defense if we could no longer build a jet engine? Vehicle batteries? Advanced targeting systems? What are the chances that we become energy independent if we cannot produce hybrid cars, wind turbines and other alternative energy products? What would happen to our economy if the technologies we depend on to make businesses work are no longer available? These are questions we would have to answer if China cut off our supply of rare … Continue Reading
September 27, 2010Chairman Gordon Statement on House Consideration of NASA Reauthorization
(Washington, DC) - Today, Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) offered the following statement: “I anticipate that the House will consider the Senate version of the NASA reauthorization on Wednesday. I still believe that the bipartisan Compromise language we released is a better approach. I have a number of concerns with the Senate bill, including: · The Senate bill includes an … Continue Reading
September 24, 2010Wu: More Progress Needed to Improve Interoperability and Competition for Public Safety Radio Equipment
(Washington, DC) - The House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing to discuss the challenges of improving interoperability for public safety radios. The Subcommittee held this hearing as a follow-up to a May hearing on public safety communications where witnesses discussed the status of Project-25, the technical standard intended to enable seamless interoperability for land mobile radios. Though progress has been made, development of the … Continue Reading
September 23, 2010Committee Approves Bills To Advance Research on Nuclear Energy and Rare Earths
(Washington, DC) – Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology held a markup to approve legislation aimed at advancing technologies for nuclear energy and protecting our security through research on rare earths. “These bills will help America recapture a technological lead in a wide range of industries critical to our economy, our national defense, and a clean and secure energy future,” said Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN). First, … Continue Reading
September 23, 2010Committee 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