Committee Passes Legislation to Improve Cybersecurity R&D
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology passed H.R. 4061, the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2009, by a voice vote. H.R. 4061 will improve the security of cyberspace by ensuring federal investments in cybersecurity are better focused, more effective, and that research into innovative, transformative technologies is supported. H.R. 4061 does this by reauthorizing and expanding the Cyber Security Research and Development Act (P.L. 107-305) passed by the … Continue Reading
November 18, 2009Reauthorization of Programs to Support Firefighters, Communities Passes House with Wide Margin
(Washington, DC) -Today, the House of Representatives voted 395 to 31 to approve H.R. 3791, The Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2009, a bill that updates two key programs that provide critical resources to local fire departments. The bill reauthorizes the Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) program and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program. "Over the past nine years, these programs have provided over $5 billion to purchase firefighting equipment and … Continue Reading
November 17, 2009Subcommittee Investigates the Ongoing Problems with Next Generation Technologies to Detect Nuclear and Radioactive Substances at Our Borders
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight (I&O) held a hearing to examine the ongoing problems with the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) efforts to develop Advanced Spectroscopic Portals (ASPs), next generation radiation monitors, to detect and identify radiological and nuclear material entering the country. Specifically, this hearing is a follow-up to the I&O Subcommittee hearing, The Science of … Continue Reading
November 16, 2009Chairman Gordon and Subcommittee Chairwoman Giffords Congratulate NASA on Receiving TIME Magazine’s Best Invention of the Year Award for Its Ares Rockets
(Washington, DC) - House Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) and Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Chairwoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) congratulated National Administration of Space and Aeronautics (NASA) on making TIME's List of 50 Best Inventions of 2009. NASA's Ares rockets placed number one among the best inventions of the year. The Ares rockets placed before several remarkable inventions - the Smart Thermostat (#4), the AIDS vaccine (#8), and Tweeting by … Continue Reading
November 05, 2009Geoengineering Research Needed, Members Hear
(Washington, DC) - Today, House Committee on Science and Technology held a hearing to examine geoengineering, the deliberate large-scale modification of the earth's climate systems to counteract climate change, beyond traditional strategies to reduce emissions. "My decision to hold this hearing should not in any way be misconstrued as an endorsement of any geoengineering activity, and the timing has nothing to do with the pending negotiations in Copenhagen," said Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN). … Continue Reading
November 04, 2009Subcommittee Approves Cybersecurity Coordination and Awareness Act
(Washington, DC) Today, the Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation approved a Committee print of the Cybersecurity Coordination and Awareness Act. "Twenty-two years ago, this Committee paved the way for federal cybersecurity efforts with the Computer Security Act of 1987, which charged NIST with developing technical standards to protect non-classified information on federal computer systems and was the first of 13 major laws related to cybersecurity," … Continue Reading
October 29, 2009Subcommittee Examines DOE’s Fusion Programs and the Challenges and Benefits of Fusion Energy
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing to examine the next generation of fusion energy research. Specifically, the Subcommittee looked at both domestic and international partnerships in fusion energy research and programs within the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science's Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) program and DOE's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). "Fusion energy has … Continue Reading
October 28, 2009Chairman Gordon and Subcommittee Chairwoman Giffords Comment on Successful Ares I-X Test Launch
(Washington, DC) - Today, the National Administration of Space and Aeronautics (NASA) held the Ares I-X test launch at the Kennedy Space Center in Cocoa, Florida. The Ares I-X rocket is a 327 foot tall aerodynamic model of Ares I, but only stage one is active. NASA will use the test launch as a learning experience. Although the flight only lasted six minutes, Ares I-X used over 700 high-fidelity sensors to collect enormous amounts of data. NASA will use the data to support the development of … Continue Reading
October 27, 2009Subcommittee Examines Ways to Improve DHS Directorate’s Strategic Planning, Stakeholder Involvement, and Research Portfolio
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing to review activities at the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate, also known as the Directorate. Specifically, the hearing examined the strategic planning process, stakeholder involvement in setting research priorities, and the role of basic research in the Directorate's portfolio. "Research and development efforts at the … Continue Reading
October 26, 2009Chairman Gordon Applauds First Round of Funding Awards for Transformational Energy Technology Development
(Washington, DC) - Today, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced the first round of funding awards for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy, or ARPA-E. ARPA-E is a new agency at DOE tasked with developing transformational energy technologies. It was part of the America COMPETES Act of 2007 and a focus of the Committee's agenda in the 110th Congress. It received its first funding the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. House Science and Technology Committee Chairman Bart … Continue Reading
October 22, 2009Chairman Gordon and Subcommittee Chairwoman Giffords Comment on Augustine Committee Report
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Review of the U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee, chaired by Mr. Norman Augustine, retired Chairman and CEO of Lockheed Martin Corporation, publicly released its final report to the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). The final report was released six weeks after the committee had released its summary report. Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) … Continue Reading
October 22, 2009Subcommittee Reviews Possible NIST Action on Recommendations from Administration’s Cyberspace Policy Review and the Postponed Reorganization of NIST’s ITL
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing to discuss the recommendations made in the Administration's 60-day review of federal cybersecurity, Cyberspace Policy Review, that could be appropriate for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to take action on. In addition, the hearing also discussed the postponed reorganization of NIST's Information Technology Laboratory (ITL). "More … Continue Reading
October 22, 2009House Overwhelmingly Approves Creation of Strategic Roadmap to Advance Solar Energy Technology
(Washington, DC)-Today, the House of Representatives voted 310 to 106 to approve, H.R. 3585, a bill that creates an updatable strategic roadmap to advance solar energy technologies through prioritized research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) activities. H.R. 3585, the Solar Technology Roadmap Act, establishes a comprehensive process to create this roadmap for solar technology RD&D activities conducted by the federal government in partnership with the private sector, with a … Continue Reading
October 22, 2009Subcommittee Examines Technology Development at NASA
-{12562371036642}--> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; … Continue Reading
October 22, 2009Subcommittee Looks into the Potential Benefits of and Challenges to K-12 Engineering Education
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a hearing to examine the potential benefits of, challenges to, and current models for incorporating engineering education into grades K-12. In recent years, a small but increasing number of education stakeholders have advocated for pre-college engineering education. They argue that the current science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education system is … Continue Reading
October 22, 2009Chairman Gordon's Floor Speech on H.R. 3585
as prepared for delivery Madame Speaker, I am pleased that today we are considering H.R. 3585, the Solar Technology Roadmap Act, sponsored by Science and Technology Subcommittee Chair Gabrielle Giffords. This bipartisan bill has 32 co-sponsors including myself and Subcommittee Chairs Brian Baird and Dan Lipinski, as well as Committee Members Michael McCaul and Roscoe Bartlett. If solar power isn't the first thing you think of when I talk about Tennessee, I'll forgive you. But over the … Continue Reading
October 22, 2009Subcommittee Chairwoman Giffords' Floor Speech on H.R. 3585
as prepared for delivery Madame Speaker, the United States has some of the best solar resources of any industrialized country in the world - enough to power the whole country several times over - and these resources are not only limited to the American Southwest. It turns out that our friends up north in Alaska have about the same solar resource as all of Germany. And yet, in 2006 Germany installed about seven times more solar power than the entire U.S. Major companies in Europe … Continue Reading
October 21, 2009Committee Approves Bills to Support Firefighters, Advance Research to Mitigate Natural Disasters
(Washington, DC)—Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology held a markup to advance a bill to reauthorize the Fire Grants program, which provides support for local firefighters and communities, and a bill to advance research and development in the area of hazard mitigation, to help protect people and property from the damage caused by earthquakes, windstorms, and other natural disasters. H.R. 3791, The Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2009 passed by voice vote and was … Continue Reading
October 21, 2009Subcommittee Examines Federal Government’s Role in the R&D of Converting Biomass for Heat and Electricity
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology's Energy and Environment Subcommittee held a hearing to review the federal government and industry's role in developing technologies that convert biomass feedstock into biopower, focusing on thermal energy (heat) and electricity. Biomass is a renewable energy source which includes any organic matter that is available on a renewable basis - agricultural crops, agricultural waste and residues, wood, wood waste and … Continue Reading
October 20, 2009Chairman Gordon's Floor Speech on H.R. 3819
as prepared for delivery Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in strong support of H.R. 3819, a bill to extend the current commercial space transportation liability regime. First established by Congress as part of the Commercial Space Launch Act Amendments of 1988, the commercial space transportation risk-sharing liability and insurance regime has been extended four times since its original enactment. The current extension … Continue Reading