Subcommittee Examines Troubled NPOESS Program
(Washington, DC) - Reorganization is necessary to limit deterioration of the National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) and maintain the present schedule of satellite launches, according to findings from a House Committee on Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight hearing held today to examine the troubled program. “This Committee has devoted years of oversight to NPOESS,” said Subcommittee Chairman Brad Miller (D-NC). … Continue Reading
June 17, 2009Committee Discusses Nuclear Waste Recycling Risks and Benefits, and Status of R&D
“I believe everything has to be on the table when it comes to meeting our growing need for energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. I believe nuclear power is part of the solution to the daunting challenge of climate change, and I also recognize that our 104 operating reactors provide very reliable baseload power,” said Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN). “To me, the best reason to consider reprocessing is that an expansion of nuclear power may make the once-through fuel cycle inadequate for … Continue Reading
June 16, 2009Witnesses, Members Discuss How to Secure Cyberspace
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation and Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a joint hearing to hear responses to the Administration’s Cyberspace Policy Review from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). “In order to secure government … Continue Reading
June 16, 2009Subcommittee Advances Bills to Update Oil Spill R&D, to Authorize National Environmental Research Parks, and to Advance Natural Gas Vehicle R&D
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Committee on Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment approved three bills: H.R. 2693, which will update the federal government’s research and development (R&D) of oil spill prevention, detection, recovery, and mitigation; H.R. 2729, which will formally authorize existing National Environmental Research Parks; and H.R. 1622, which will restart a natural gas vehicle R&D program at the Department of Energy (DOE). H.R. 2693, … Continue Reading
June 11, 2009Subcommittee Examines EPA’s New IRIS System
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight held a hearing to examine the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new process for chemical entries in the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). Subcommittee Members questioned witnesses regarding the effectiveness of the reformed IRIS process announced by EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson on May 21, 2009. “It’s a start, but we need to see how this works in practice to tell if it goes … Continue Reading
June 11, 2009Successful Earthquake Model Could Inform R&D for Other Hazards, Committee Hears
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing on the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) in preparation to write legislation for the program’s reauthorization. “It is vital that we examine programs like this closely, since earthquakes and other natural threats can be devastating in their impact,” stated Subcommittee Chairman David Wu (D-OR). “For example, in the United States, wind … Continue Reading
June 10, 2009Subcommittee Examines Federal Cyber Security Measures, Looking for Ways to Improve R&D
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Committee on Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a hearing to explore federal cyber security R&D. Specifically, the hearing examined the priorities and gaps in the cyber security research portfolio to determine how effective federal programs are at addressing our nation’s existing security concerns and future threats. “Last year, the Pentagon reported more than 360 million attempts to break into its network,” said … Continue Reading
June 09, 2009Subcommittee, Witnesses Discuss Environmental Research, Including Bill to Preserve Valuable Research Parks
(Washington, D.C.)—The House Committee on Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing to discuss H.R. 2729, sponsored by Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), which formally authorizes the seven existing National Environmental Research Parks as permanent research reserves. The long-term data sets that have been collected from the Parks are used to understand natural ecosystem development and variability, including how ecosystems respond to climate change and … Continue Reading
June 08, 2009House Approves Bills to Coordinate International Science and Technology Partnerships, STEM Education Programs in Federal Agencies
H.R. 1736, the International Science and Technology Cooperation Act of 2009, passed by a vote of 351 to 52, and H.R. 1709, the STEM Education Coordination Act of 2009, passed by a vote of 353 to 39. The House also approved H.Res. 492,supporting the goals and ideals of High-Performance Building Week, by a voice vote. The International Science and Technology Cooperation Act of 2009 will recreate a committee under the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) to coordinate the … Continue Reading
June 08, 2009Committee Members Examine Need for Improved Storm Forecasting and Warnings
(Washington, DC) - Federal R&D to improve forecasts of tornadoes and severe storms may lead to better warnings and a reduction in the number of false alarms, according to weather experts gathered today at a roundtable discussion organized by House Science and Technology Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) and attended by Committee Member Rep. Lincoln Davis (D-TN). “Emergency management officials and meteorologists agree that one of the largest barriers to getting the … Continue Reading
June 08, 2009E&E Subcommittee Chairman Baird’s Floor Speech on H.R. 1736, the International Science and Technology Cooperation Act of 2009
I rise in support of H.R. 1736, the International Science and Technology Cooperation Act of 2009, and yield myself such time as I may consume. It is fitting that H.R. 1736 is the coming to the Floor of the House in the same week as the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, because science and technology can play a truly unique role in improving our foreign relations. Science is a universal language built on a foundation of prior discoveries and advancements that have originated … Continue Reading
June 08, 2009E&E Subcommittee Chairman Baird’s Floor Speech H. R. 1709, the STEM Education Coordination Act of 2009
Over the past decade, report after report has come out highlighting the importance of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education to our Nation’s competitiveness in the rapidly changing 21st century economy. The National Academies’ Rising Above the Gathering Storm report sent up a red flag that our nation's standing as the global leader is at risk if we do not improve STEM education in the country. The first and highest priority recommendation of the Gathering … Continue Reading
June 05, 2009Updates Needed for U.S. Oil Spill R&D Strategy, Witnesses and Members Conclude
(Washington, D.C.)—The House Committee on Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing to examine current federal research and development efforts to prevent, detect, or mitigate damage from oil spills. Witnesses and Members discussed legislation introduced on June 3rd by Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), H.R. 2693, The Federal Oil Spill Research Program Act of 2009. “The United States needs a more robust research and development strategy to reduce the … Continue Reading
June 03, 2009Committee Passes National Climate Service Bill
(Washington, DC) - Yesterday, the House Committee on Science and Technology passed H.R. 2407, the National Climate Service Act of 2009 by a vote of 24 to 12. H.R. 2407was introduced May 14, 2009 by Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN). As amended, the bill would establish a Climate Service Program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and it outlines an interagency process to establish a National Climate Service.“State and local governments, private industry and resource … Continue Reading
June 02, 2009Rep. Ben Ray Luján's remarks on the introduction of H.R.2729, to authorize the designation of National Environmental Research Parks by the Secretary of Energy
Madame Speaker, today I am pleased to introduce a bill to authorize the seven National Environmental Research Parks (NERPs) at Department of Energy (DOE) sites, including the Los Alamos Environmental Research Park in my district. These parks are unique outdoor laboratories that offer secure settings for long-term research on a broad range of subjects including, wildlife biology, ecology, climate change effects, environmental remediation, and maintenance of freshwater ecosystems. … Continue Reading
May 28, 2009Gordon Joins Members for Release of Cyber Security Report
(Washington, DC) - tomorrow, Science and Technology Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) will join other Members at the White House for the release of the Administration’s 60-day Cyberspace policy review report.“A more secure cyberspace equals a more secure nation. The path forward must focus not only on near-term solutions to current cyber attacks, but also on leap-ahead technologies and innovative research that will fundamentally change the future state of play,” stated Gordon. “The … Continue Reading
May 23, 2009Chairman Gordon, Chairwoman Giffords Comment on President’s Choice to Head NASA
(Washington, DC) — Today, President Obama announced his intention to nominate retired Marine Corps General Charles Bolden to be the next NASA Administrator. Gen. Bolden is a former astronaut, who flew on the shuttle four times. “Naming an administrator is a big step forward,” said House Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN). “This is a critical time for NASA. The agency needs a strong leader at the helm to ensure it is able to meet the many … Continue Reading
May 21, 2009EPA Announces Reformed IRIS Process
(Washington, DC) - Today the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced reforms to the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) that are designed to speed new chemical risk entries. During the Bush Administration, the IRIS process became bogged down in endless reviews and rewrites managed from the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). IRIS was the subject of two hearings by the Subcommittee on Investigations and … Continue Reading
May 19, 2009Subcommittee, Top Economists Discuss the Science of Insolvency
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight held a hearing focusing on what it means to be “solvent” at a time when financial instruments are far more complex than ever before. Members questioned leading economists on how the tools and theorems from economic science can be applied to making determinations of current solvency and projections of future solvency.“This Subcommittee has championed scientific integrity as … Continue Reading
May 19, 2009Committee Examines NASA Budget Request
(Washington, DC) — Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology held the first congressional hearing on NASA’s Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Request since the release of the president’s detailed budget plan on May 7th. NASA’s proposed budget for FY10 is $18.7 billion, an increase of 5.1% over the enacted FY 09 appropriation for NASA. The proposed budget plan for NASA beyond FY 10 is essentially flat funding through FY 13. In addition, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act … Continue Reading