Members, Secretary Discuss Department of Energy’s Role in Transition to Clean Energy Economy
(Washington, DC) – Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology held a hearing to discuss the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget request for energy research and technology development programs at the Department of Energy (DOE) with Secretary Steven Chu. The FY 2011 budget request for the DOE is $28.4 billion, which represents a $1.8 billion or 6.8 percent increase over FY 2010. Approximately one-third of the total budget is allocated for civilian energy … Continue Reading
March 02, 2010Subcommittee Chairman Wu's Floor Speech on H.R. 3820
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3820, the Natural Hazards Risk Reduction Act of 2010. This bipartisan bill addresses a critical need-securing our communities against earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, and other natural disasters. As we saw last month in Haiti and just this weekend in Chile, earthquakes can strike without warning, causing massive damage and many casualties. Mitigation efforts, like advanced building codes, are crucial to preventing loss and … Continue Reading
March 02, 2010Chairman Gordon's remarks at the first ARPA-E Innovation Summit
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March 02, 2010Successful Summit is Further Proof that ARPA-E is Exceeding Expectations, Chairman Says
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) spoke at the first ARPA-E Innovation Summit, which aimed to bring together award winners and finalists with potential investors from the private sector. “As ARPA-E got off the ground it became clear that there are many more good ideas than there is federal funding to support them,” said Chairman Gordon. “When Secretary Chu and Director Majumdar and I were talking about the … Continue Reading
March 02, 2010House Acts to Reduce the Impact of Earthquakes, Windstorms, and Other Natural Disasters By Advancing Hazard Mitigation Bill
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House of Representatives approved H.R. 3820, The Natural Hazards Risk Reduction Act of 2010, by a vote of 335 to 50. H.R. 3820 advances research and development (R&D) in the area of hazard mitigation to help protect people and property from the damage caused by earthquakes, windstorms, and other natural disasters. "The impact of natural hazards on communities can be devastating," stated bill cosponsor and House Science and Technology Committee Chairman … Continue Reading
February 25, 2010Committee Expresses Caution Over Proposed Changes to NASA’s Human Space Flight Program
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology held a hearing to discuss the Administration’s FY 2011 budget request for NASA with Administrator Charles F. Bolden, Jr. Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) highlighted his support for a number of features in the president’s budget request: an overall increase of $ 6 billion in NASA’s funding over the next five years compared to last year’s outyear funding plan; a focus on NASA’s … Continue Reading
February 24, 2010The Development of Measurement Science by NIST Would Improve Biomedical Technology, Subcommittee Hears
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing to examine ways the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) could better serve the needs of the 21st century biomedical community, including supporting the development of biologic drugs, improved diagnostic medicine, and the growth of personalized medicine. "We all know that people across the country have recently been engaged in an ongoing debate … Continue Reading
February 24, 2010Administration, Committee Agree on Importance of Sustained Investments in R&D
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology held a hearing to discuss the Administration’s FY 2011 budget request with the president’s top science advisor, Dr. John P. Holdren, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). “Recognizing that we are in a time of constrained budgets and some very tough choices had to be made, I was very happy to see strong increases for research and development in the president’s budget,” said Committee on … Continue Reading
February 23, 2010University Research Infrastructure Needs Federal Support, 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 research and research training infrastructure of universities and colleges. The hearing was held as part of the Committee’s effort to reauthorize the America COMPETES Act. Members and witnesses focused on academic research facilities, cyberinfrastructure capabilities, and the appropriate role of the federal government in sustaining … Continue Reading
February 04, 2010Subcommittee Examines Geoengineering Strategies and Hazards
(Washington, DC) - Today, House Committee on Science and Technology’s Energy and Environment Subcommittee held a hearing to examine the scientific basis and engineering challenges of geoengineering, a term that encompasses a wide range of strategies to deliberately alter the Earth’s climate systems for the purpose of counteracting the effects of climate change. “Make no mistake, despite the sometimes far-fetched proposals, this is not a subject that should be taken lightly,” … Continue Reading
February 04, 2010Members Question NASA Watchdogs on Challenges Facing Agency
(Washington, DC) -The House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a hearing to discuss the key issues and challenges facing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as seen by the agency's "watchdogs": the NASA Inspector General, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP). "As Congress prepares to reauthorize NASA, it is important that we focus on the issues and challenges that … Continue Reading
February 04, 2010Subcommittee Examines Ways to Improve Undergraduate and Graduate STEM Education
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Science and Technology Committee’s Research and Science Education Subcommittee held a hearing to examine the current state of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in U.S. colleges and universities. Specifically, Subcommittee Members and witnesses discussed ways to improve the quality and effectiveness of STEM education for undergraduate and graduate students. Members also examined the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) role in … Continue Reading
February 04, 2010House Approves S&T Legislation to Improve Cybersecurity R&D by Overwhelming Majority
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4061, the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act, by a vote of 422 to 5. This bill will improve cybersecurity within the federal government as well as the public and private sectors by: helping to develop a skilled cybersecurity workforce; coordinating and prioritizing the federal research and development (R&D) portfolio; improving the transfer of cybersecurity technologies to the marketplace; and promoting cybersecurity education … Continue Reading
February 04, 2010Chairman Gordon Applauds Dr. Bement’s Service at NSF
(Washington, DC) - Today, Dr. Arden L. Bement, Jr., Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), announced his departure from NSF to lead Purdue University's new Global Policy Research Institute (GPRI) in West Lafayette, Indiana. Dr. Bement will begin his new position as GPRI Director on June 1, 2010. House Science and Technology Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) offered the following statement: "Dr. Arden Bement and his staff at NSF provided very helpful input and … Continue Reading
February 03, 2010Subcommittee Chairman Lipinski's Floor Speech on H.R. 4061
as prepared for delivery I'd like to begin by thanking my colleagues, Dr. Ehlers, Mr. Wu, Mr. Smith, Chairman Gordon, and Mr. Hall for their contributions to the good bipartisan bill we are considering today. Almost a year ago President Obama called for a comprehensive 60 day review of U.S. cyberspace policy. This call, and the expert recommendations contained in the report that resulted, led to a series of hearings on various aspects of cybersecurity R&D, including the state of … Continue Reading
February 03, 2010Chairman Gordon's Floor Speech on H.R. 4061
as prepared for delivery Mr./Madam Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I'd like to begin by thanking my colleagues, Dr. Lipinski, Dr. Ehlers, Mr. Wu, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Hall for their contributions to the good bipartisan bill we are considering today. I'd also like to take a moment to thank the various staffers who worked on this bill: Marcy Gallo, Travis Hite, Dahlia Sokolov, and Mike Quear on the Majority side, and Dan Byers and Mele Williams on the Minority staff. … Continue Reading
February 03, 2010Subcommittee Discusses Need for Airport Screening to be Both Effective and Publicly Accepted
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing to review airline passenger screening-related research, development, testing, and deployment activities of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the Department of Energy (DOE) National Laboratories. “The attempted bombing on Christmas Day revealed gaps in … Continue Reading
February 03, 2010Subcommittee Chairman Wu's Floor Speech on H.R. 4061
as prepared for delivery Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4061, which will improve our nation's cybersecurity by supporting research and development and the creation of usable technical standards. Cybersecurity is a critically important issue, and I commend Chairman Gordon for bringing this legislation to the floor today. The recent cyberattack perpetrated against Google and other American companies is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities we face in an … Continue Reading
February 01, 2010Chairman Gordon Comments on President’s Budget Request
(Washington, DC) - Today, the White House released a summary of the President's FY11 Budget Request. House Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) offered the following statement: "I applaud the president's commitment to R&D. I'm pleased to see continued increases for the agencies in COMPETES: National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, as well as substantial funding for … Continue Reading
January 29, 2010Statement by Chairman Gordon and Chairwoman Giffords on NASA’s Day of Remembrance
(Washington, DC) - Today, January 29, 2009 is a Day of Remembrance for the men and women of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to mark the sacrifice of the 17 astronauts who were lost in the Apollo 1, Space Shuttle Challenger, and Space Shuttle Columbia tragedies, and the seven others who lost their lives in support of the space program. The Committee on Science and Technology shares the NASA family’s sadness on this solemn day and extends its sympathies to the … Continue Reading