Report Released Today Illustrates Companies, Jobs Created Through Federally-Funded Basic Research
(Washington, DC) - Today, a report titled “Sparking Economic Growth: How federally funded university research creates innovation, new companies and jobs” was released by the Science Coalition, a non-profit, nonpartisan organization of 45 of the nation’s leading public and private research universities. The report identifies 100 companies that are the result of federal investments in basic research, including Google, Genentech, A123 Systems, and Arbor Networks. The companies … Continue Reading
May 06, 2010Subcommittee Chairwoman Giffords Congratulates NASA on Successful Launch Abort Test
(Washington, DC) -This morning, NASA successfully completed the first fully integrated flight test of the launch abort system being developed for the Orion crew vehicle. The test is part of an ongoing program to ensure the safety of the vehicles being developed for future human space flight and exploration missions. The test was conducted at the Orion Abort Flight Test Launch Complex at the U.S. Army's White Sands Missile Range near Las Cruces, N.M. Space and Aeronautics … Continue Reading
May 05, 2010Research Needed to Better Predict, Understand Impact of Volcanic Ash on Aircraft, Subcommittee Hears
(Washington, DC) -The House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a hearing to examine the role that federal research can play in understanding the impact that volcanic ash clouds have on aircraft operations. Most recently, the eruption of an Icelandic volcano paralyzed air travel in Europe for six days, inconvenienced countless passengers around the world, and is projected to have caused airline revenue losses of at least $1.7 billion. This is the … Continue Reading
May 04, 2010Rep. Marcia Fudge's floor speech on H.Res.1307
As prepared for delivery I rise today to recognize the National Science Foundation for 60 years of service in promoting the discoveries and innovations that have made this country great. As the Federal agency charged with ensuring U.S. excellence in science, engineering, and mathematics through basic research and education, the Foundation's efforts have been critical to maintaining our leadership in a competitive world. In addition to its primary mission to support fundamental … Continue Reading
May 04, 2010Rep. Marcia Fudge's floor speech on H.Res.1213
As prepared for delivery H.Res.1213 recognizes the need to improve the performance of American students in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. This resolution supports the ideals of National Lab Day, a nationwide effort to connect students, STEM educators, and volunteers in building the STEM community. All children have an innate curiosity about the world around them. Research shows students begin to lose this inquisitiveness as early as middle school. … Continue Reading
May 04, 2010House Passes S&T Resolutions to Honor NSF and Improve STEM Participation with Bipartisan Support
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House of Representatives approved H.Res.1307, honoring the National Science Foundation (NSF) for its 60 years of service to the nation, by a vote of 370 to 2, and H.Res.1213,recognizing the need to improve the participation and performance of America's students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields, and supporting the ideals of National Lab Day, by a vote of 378 to 2. H.Res.1307 honors NSF for the agency's 60 years of service. NSF … Continue Reading
April 29, 2010Chairman Gordon Applauds Announcement of the Second Round of Funding for Transformational Technology Development
(Washington, DC) - Today, House Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) applauded Vice President Joe Biden's and Secretary of Energy Steven Chu's announcement of the second round of funding awards through the Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). "I applaud all the winners-and the applicants. Our nation needs breakthroughs in technology now more than ever," said Gordon. "About half of the growth in GDP since World War II came from … Continue Reading
April 28, 2010Legislation Advancing Innovation Clears Committee With Bipartisan Support
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology approved an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to HR 5116, America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 by a vote of 29 to 8.“If we are to reverse the trend of the last twenty years, where our country’s technology edge in the world has diminished, we must make the investments necessary today,” said Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN). “The statistics speak for them themselves. More than half of our economic growth … Continue Reading
April 22, 2010Chairman Gordon Introduces COMPETES
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) introduced HR 5116, America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010.“The recent economic crisis has reminded us of the importance of our economic competitiveness. Investments in science, innovation, and education will help ensure that the U.S. maintains our scientific and economic leadership long into the future. I also believe that investing in research and development will add … Continue Reading
April 22, 2010Subcommittee Investigates the Shrinking Global Supply of Helium-3
(Washington, DC) -The House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight held a hearing to investigate the causes and consequences of the shrinking supply of the important helium-3 isotope. Helium-3 is a non-radioactive gas that is a by-product of the Department of Energy (DOE)'s production of tritium for nuclear weapons. It also is an essential component of neutron detectors used in a wide range of applications from radiation portal monitors at the … Continue Reading
April 21, 2010Subcommittee Approves Legislation to be Rolled into COMPETES
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a markupand favorably reported a Committee Print of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Authorization Act of 2010. The Committee Print was comprised of legislative language fromH.R. 5074, introduced by Subcommittee Chairman David Wu (D-OR). “This new bill moves us forward to focus NIST on creating jobs, supporting competitiveness, and … Continue Reading
April 21, 2010Science and Technology Committee Wins Platinum Mouse Award for Best Committee Website in the 111th Congress
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) awarded the House Committee on Science and Technology the Platinum Mouse Award for designing and maintaining the best committee website in Congress. “In this day and age of technology and digital communications, the Internet has become the first place people search for information. It is vital that Congressional offices and committees use their websites as a tool to regularly communicate with the public,” … Continue Reading
April 14, 2010Subcommittee Approves NSF Reauthorization to be Rolled into America COMPETES Act
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April 14, 2010Chairman Gordon's Written Testimony to the House Committee on Appropriations's Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
I appreciate the opportunity to testify in front of the Subcommittee today on funding levels for Fiscal Year 2011. As we continue our work to create jobs and strengthen our economy today, we must also lay the foundation for economic prosperity in the future. This means making significant investments in science and innovation. These investments lead to the development of new technologies, creating whole new industries, new businesses, and new jobs. The America COMPETES Act, which is set for … Continue Reading
March 25, 2010Subcommittee Advances Energy Components to be Rolled into 2010 America COMPETES Act
(Washington, DC) - Today, House Committee on Science and Technology’s Energy and Environment Subcommittee held a markup on a Committee Printon Department of Energy programs, which included the titles: Department of Energy Office of Science Authorization Act of 2010; ARPA-E Reauthorization Act of 2010; and Energy Innovation Hubs Authorization Act of 2010. “Spanning the full gamut from the most basic research all the way to commercial applications, these three programs represent the … Continue Reading
March 24, 2010Members Question Changes to NASA’s Exploration Program
(Washington, DC) -The House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a hearing today to discuss the Administration's proposed changes to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) exploration program. Key proposed changes that were discussed included the cancellation of the Constellation Program, investment in a new "commercial crew" space transport industry, and a variety of implications resulting from the Administration's proposals. … Continue Reading
March 24, 2010Witnesses Advise Committee on the Best Way to Support Innovation and Ensure Global Competitiveness
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing to broadly examine factors and policies that foster innovation. “The importance of innovation—creating new ideas, products, and services—cannot be overstated. And in this global, highly competitive economy, it is increasingly the intangible inputs of R&D, education, and entrepreneurial risk-taking that drive that growth,” said Chairman David Wu … Continue Reading
March 23, 2010Reorganization Could Help NIST Better Meet Industry’s Needs in the 21st Century, Committee Hears
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation (T&I) held a hearing to review the proposed reorganization of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to better meet the needs of industry in the 21st century. Also, Members examined NIST's current role in assisting in the creation of technical standards and the need for coordination of these activities across the federal government. This is the T&I … Continue Reading
March 18, 2010Inclusive and Transparent Domestic and International Governance Vital to Geoengineering Research, Committee Hears
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology held its third hearing on geoengineering to explore the domestic and international governance needs to initiate and guide potential geoengineering research programs. In addition, Committee Members discussed which U.S. federal agencies and institutions have the capacity and authority to conduct geoengineering research. "Our changing climate has been the topic of sometimes heated discussion at many of our Committee's … Continue Reading
March 17, 2010Lack of Rare Earth Minerals Threatens U.S. Manufacturers, National Transition to Clean Energy Economy, Committee Warned
(Washington, DC) - Witnesses from both the public and private sectors warned Members of the House Committee on Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight that the lack of a domestic supply of rare earth minerals could severely affect the U.S.’s ability to manufacture advanced-technology products. A rare earth supply shortage would present a threat notably to the emerging clean energy industry but also to the telecommunications and defense sectors, according to … Continue Reading