Program to Foster Innovation in Energy Technologies Is Off to a Promising Start, Members Hear
(Washington, DC) - Today, House Committee on Science and Technology held a hearing on the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy (ARPA-E) at the Department of Energy (DOE). Members and witnesses discussed the accomplishments and future plans for the agency, as well as the role of ARPA-E in the larger energy technology landscape. “Just as the originators of DARPA can look back on its successes—the internet, stealth technology, GPS—I firmly believe that, in the … Continue Reading
January 21, 2010Subcommittee Examines Innovation and Entrepreneurship Programs at the Department of Commerce
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing to discuss the challenges faced by small- and medium-sized manufacturers, as well as Department of Commerce initiatives to support entrepreneurship and job creation and retention. "The health of the manufacturing sector is critically important to the health of the economy as a whole, since it was responsible for the creation of over $1.637 trillion worth of … Continue Reading
January 20, 2010COMPETES Critical to Workforce, Must be Reauthorized, Business Community Tells Committee
(Washington, DC) - Today, House Committee on Science and Technology held its first hearing of the second session of Congress to get opinions on the reauthorization of the America COMPETES Act (P.L. 110-69), which Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) announced is a key part of the Committee's agenda for 2010. Specifically, the hearing examined the roles that science and technology play in promoting economic security and maintaining U.S. competitiveness in the 21st century global marketplace. In this … Continue Reading
January 19, 2010Reauthorization of America COMPETES Act Tops Committee’s Agenda, Chairman says
(Washington, DC) - Today, Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) held an event to announce his agenda for the second session of the 111th Congress. Chairman Gordon announced his intention to move the America COMPETES Act through the House before the Memorial Day recess. COMPETES is the landmark legislation, signed into law in 2007, based on recommendations from the National Academies. It aims to strengthen our national economic competitiveness through investments in … Continue Reading
January 13, 2010Bill to Extend Commercial Space Transportation Liability Regime Is Now Law
(Washington, DC) - House Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon's (D-TN) bill to extend the commercial space transportation liability regime was signed into law (P.L. 111-125) by President Obama on December 28, 2009. H.R. 3819, the Commercial Space Transportation Liability Regime Extension, passed the House on October 20, 2009 and was approved under unanimous consent by the Senate on December 23, 2009. The bill extends the current liability risk-sharing regime for three … Continue Reading
January 13, 2010Report Finds Common Ground in Efforts to Balance Public Access, Scholarly Publishing
(Washington, DC) - A group of representatives from university administration, libraries, information science departments, and the publishing industry collectively released a report with recommendations on open access, specifically the public availability of peer-reviewed journal articles containing data and findings from federal research grants. The report's recommendations, endorsed by a majority of the 14 members of the group, called the Scholarly Publishing Roundtable, sought to "balance … Continue Reading
January 06, 2010Chairman Gordon Applauds White House Announcement of Public-Private Partnerships to Improve Science, Math Education
(Washington, DC) - Today, House Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) is attending an event at the White House celebrating the importance of teachers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) offered the following statement: "I applaud the White House's announcement today of a $250 million public-private effort to improve STEM education. The U.S. needs not only to keep producing the world's best scientists, … Continue Reading
December 16, 2009House Approves Jobs Package Including Funding for Fire Program, DOE Loan Guarantee Program
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House of Representatives approved H.R. 2847, the Jobs for Main Street Act, by a vote of 217 to 212. The bill uses existing available funds from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and includes $500 million for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program, which helps fire departments hire firefighting personnel. The program currently has $420 million appropriated for FY2010. After 120 days, any funds not awarded for the SAFER … Continue Reading
December 14, 2009Chairman Gordon Announces His Plans to Retire at the End of the 111th Congress
(Washington, DC) - Today, House Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) announced that he would not be seeking reelection in 2010. Chairman Gordon has completed more than a quarter-century of public service as a representative of his home state of Tennessee. He first served on the Science and Technology Committee when he arrived in Congress in 1985. Gordon served in leadership roles on several Subcommittees before becoming Ranking Member in 2004 and then Chairman in … Continue Reading
December 11, 2009Aerospace Workforce and Industrial Base At Critical Juncture, Committee Hears
(Washington, DC) -The House Committee on Science and Technology held a hearing to examine the health of the U.S. aerospace workforce and industrial base and to determine howupcoming decisions on NASA's direction and funding would affect them, including decisions on human spaceflight plans. The aerospace workforce and the industrial base are vital to the success of the space enterprise. As the nation looks forward, it will continue to depend on these talents and capabilities to support … Continue Reading
December 04, 2009Subcommittees Hold Oversight Hearing to Examine Audit of NASA’s Financial Operations
(Washington, DC) -The House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight and Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a joint hearing to examine the recent results of the independent Fiscal Year 2009 audit of financial operations at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). "It only took about half as long to get to the moon as it has taken to clean up NASA's financial performance, but three tries, hundreds of millions of dollars and the … Continue Reading
December 03, 2009Members, Witnesses Discuss Harnessing Energy from Waves, Currents, and Stored Heat in Oceans
(Washington, DC) - Today, House Committee on Science and Technology's Energy and Environment Subcommittee held a hearing to explore the role of the federal government and industry in developing technologies related to marine and hydrokinetic energy generation. These technologies include wave, current (tidal, ocean and river), ocean thermal energy generation devices and related environmental monitoring technologies. "Studies have estimated that approximately 10 percent of U.S. national … Continue Reading
December 02, 2009Subcommittee Examines Ways to Make Human Space Flight Safer
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a hearing to discuss how to ensure the safety of future human space flight in both government and non-government space transportation systems. Specifically, the hearing examined the steps needed establish confidence in a space transportation system's ability to transport astronauts to low Earth orbit (LEO) and safely return them to Earth, safety standards implementation and … Continue Reading
December 01, 2009Energy and Environment Subcommittee Vice Chair Paul Tonko's Floor Speech on HR 3598
as prepared for delivery Demand for energy and water resources is stressing the environment and our economy. Innovation in technologies which address the nexus between these two resources is critical to the future of our country. H.R. 3598 requires the Secretary of Energy to consider water-related issues in the Department's energy efficiency and energy technology research programs. Additionally, H.R. 3598 creates an "Energy-Water Architecture Council" (EWAC) that will facilitate the … Continue Reading
December 01, 2009House Approves Bills to Improve the Integration of Energy and Water Research and the Efficiency of Natural Gas Turbines
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House of Representatives approved H.R. 3598, the Energy and Water Research Integration Act, and H.R. 3029, a bill to establish a research, development, and technology development program to improve the efficiency of gas turbines. The Energy and Water Research Integration Act passed by a voice vote. H.R.3598 was introduced by Science and Technology Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) on September 17, 2009. This bill directs the Secretary of Energy, in … Continue Reading
December 01, 2009Energy and Environment Subcommittee Vice Chair Paul Tonko's Floor Speech on HR 3029
as prepared for delivery My bill establishes a research, development, and technology demonstration program through the Department of Energy to improve the efficiency of natural gas turbines used in electric power generation systems. The Department had a similar public-private partnership research program in the 1990's that lead to technologies used in turbines today. Resurrecting this capability is essential if our country is going to be the energy technology leader of the world. Currently, … Continue Reading
November 19, 2009Subcommittee Examines Opportunities, Risks in the Growth of Global Space Capabilities
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a hearing on the growth of global space capabilities. Members and witnesses discussed how the growth of global space capabilities may affect the future of the U.S. space program, including opportunities to partner with other nations to share costs and expertise, and the risks of losing the U.S. leadership in space. "At a time when some in the United States seem to be … Continue Reading
November 19, 2009Subcommittee Reviews the Priorities and Agenda of DOT’s R&D Portfolio
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing to review the components of a surface transportation research and development (R&D) agenda to support the priorities of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). In addition, Subcommittee Members discussed the necessary steps for the DOT to implement its R&D agenda and the most effective practices for ensuring that the latest R&D is used in the … Continue Reading
November 18, 2009Rep. Harry Mitchell's Floor Speech on H.R. 3791
as prepared for delivery Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3791, the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2009. Firefighters are often the first - and the last - to leave an emergency scene. Whether it's putting out a house fire or a wildfire - or responding to a terrorist attack or a car accident - we depend on firefighters every day. But firefighters also depend on us. They depend on the public and their elected officials to make sure that they have the … Continue Reading
November 18, 2009Chairman Gordon's Floor Speech on H.R. 3791
as prepared for delivery Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3791, the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2009. This bill reauthorizes the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG) and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Program. Over the past nine years, these programs have provided over $5 billion to purchase firefighting equipment and training and for communities to hire additional firefighters. This federal support for public safety is even more … Continue Reading