Ranking Member Johnson Applauds Signing of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010
(Washington, DC) - This week, President Obama signed into law H.R. 5116, the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010. The law keeps funding for research at the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Department of Energy’s Office of Science on a doubling path; makes critical investments in programs to strengthen science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in the United States; takes important steps to accelerate the … Continue Reading
December 21, 2010Chairman Gordon's Floor Statement on H.R. 5116 – the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 with Senate Amendment
Chairman Gordon Floor Script H.R. 5116 - the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, Senate Amendment. December 21, 2010 As prepared for delivery On October 12, 2005, in response to a bipartisan request by the Science and Technology Committee and some of our colleagues in the Senate, the National Academies released the report Rising Above the Gathering Storm. The distinguished panel painted a very scary picture. The report made it clear that without action, the future was bleak … Continue Reading
December 21, 2010Chairman Gordon’s Landmark Innovation Legislation is Sent to the President’s Desk
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House of Representatives concurred with the Senate Amendment to H.R. 5116, America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 by a bipartisan vote of 228 to 130. The bill aims to maintain our national economic and scientific leadership by: supporting basic research; improving science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education; and fostering innovation, especially the development of new energy technologies. "As Norm Augustine, chairman of the National … Continue Reading
December 17, 2010Senate Passes COMPETES By Unanimous Consent
(Washington, DC) - Today,the United States Senate passed an amended version of H.R. 5116, the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 by Unanimous Consent. The legislation will need House approval. House Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) offered the following statement: "The Reauthorization passed committee on April 28 with bipartisan support, it passed the House on May 26th with bipartisan support, and now, the Senate has weighed in and approved … Continue Reading
December 17, 2010Chairman Gordon Congratulates Incoming Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson
(Washington, DC) -Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) was recently approved by the House Democratic caucus to be Ranking Member of the Committee on Science and Technology in the 112th Congress. Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) offered the following statement: "I congratulate incoming Ranking Member Johnson. She's been a champion of STEM education, a tireless advocate for increasing participation across the STEM fields, and one of NASA's biggest supporters. I think the Committee will be … Continue Reading
December 15, 2010Chairman Gordon Welcomes Department of Energy’s Rare Earths Strategy
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Department of Energy (DOE) released a report, Critical Materials Strategy, to address the challenge of ensuring access to rare earths materials. House Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) offered the following statement: "I applaud the Department's report and attention to this issue. DOE's new strategy closely reflects the direction laid out in the legislation on rare earths my Committee passed through the House last September. Our … Continue Reading
November 30, 2010Chairman Gordon's Floor Statement on H. R. 5866, the Nuclear Energy Research and Development Act of 2010
As prepared for delivery The ongoing national discussion on our path forward towards a comprehensive energy strategy necessarily raises questions about climate change, national security, and economic stability. In having this discussion, most experts have come to agree that any realistic strategy to reduce greenhouse gases and power our economy will require a diverse portfolio of energy sources. Renewables, clean coal and gas, and nuclear power must all play a role in moving our nation … Continue Reading
November 30, 2010House 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