Gordon: Amended Energy Bill Preserves Important Committee Measures
(Washington, DC) House Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) issued the following statement today regarding final House passage of the Energy Independence and Security Act (H.R. 6), as amended: “The path forward to our energy future is lined with new technologies that will diversify our energy supply with renewable sources and clean uses of fossil fuels such as coal. This past year, the Science and Technology Committee focused on legislation to help develop the energy … Continue Reading
December 18, 2007Udall Introduces Resolution Marking Anniversary of Landsat
(Washington, DC) Today U.S. Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO), Chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, introduced a bipartisan House resolution to celebrate 35 years of space-based observations of the Earth by Landsat spacecraft - an accomplishment that has helped revolutionize our understanding of the Earth's land surface as well as enable a wide range of applications of Landsat data that have had significant societal benefits. The Landsat … Continue Reading
December 12, 2007U.S. Senate Clears Gordon’s Methamphetamine Bill
(Washington, DC) Legislation designed to stem the scourge of methamphetamine (meth) in local communities was given final approval by the U.S. Senate last night. "We have a duty to protect innocent families not only from the criminals who make and use this illegal drug, but also from the after effects of that crime," said the bill's author, House Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN). "I have pushed this effort for a long time and it is gratifying that it will soon … Continue Reading
December 06, 2007Gordon: Energy Bill Will Put U.S. on Path to a More Secure Future
(Washington, DC) House Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) issued the following statement today regarding passage of the Energy Independence and Security Act by the U.S. House: “I’m proud of the Science and Technology Committee’s contribution to this energy package. Over the past year, we have worked hard to clear fourteen bipartisan, consensus-driven energy and environment research bills through Committee. Nine of our bills are included in the House package passed … Continue Reading
November 30, 2007Chairman Urges U.S. Not to Take a Backseat on Climate Change
(Washington, DC) The Chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology Bart Gordon (D-TN) today issued the following statement on the upcoming meeting of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in Bali. World representatives will gather on the Indonesian island this weekend to begin discussions on a new climate change convention to replace the Kyoto Protocol. Committee representatives will be on hand in Bali as observers. In February of this year, Chairman Gordon's … Continue Reading
November 29, 2007Chairman Reacts to GAO Report on NASA’s Planned Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle
(Washington, DC) Today, U.S. House Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) reacted to the release of a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on its assessment of NASA's progress in developing the Ares I Crew Launch Vehicle (CLV). The Ares I rocket is one of the first major development projects undertaken as part of NASA's Exploration initiative. "GAO's assessment is a mix of good news and not-so-good news," said Gordon. "On the one hand, GAO has … Continue Reading
November 15, 2007Committee Members Urge NASA to Speed Release of Air Safety Survey Data
(Washington, DC) Several leaders of the U.S. House Committee on Science and Technology today urged NASA to speed the release of data on the safety of the nation's air travel system. Full Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN), along with Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Chairman Mark Udall (D-CO), Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Brad Miller (D-NC) and Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL) penned a letter to NASA Administrator Dr. Michael Griffin asking for further explanation as … Continue Reading
November 15, 2007Committee Considers Border and Maritime Security Research Technologies, Legislation
(Washington, DC) The Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation today held a legislative hearing on H.R. 3916, a bill to provide for the next generation of border and maritime security technologies. The bill's goal is to improve long term planning for research and development at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), especially in the area of border and maritime security technology. The bill also authorizes specific border security technology programs, … Continue Reading
November 08, 2007Subcommittee Questions NASA’s Plan for Detecting Hazardous Asteroids
(Washington, DC) The U.S. House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics today examined the status of NASA's Near-Earth Object (NEO) survey program, reviewed the findings and recommendations of NASA's report to Congress, and sought to assess NASA's plans for complying with the NASA Authorization Act of 2005 regarding NEOs. "NASA's NEO survey program is our 'insurance policy' against getting taken by surprise by an incoming asteroid. Much progress has been … Continue Reading
November 07, 2007Committee Concludes Series on Offshoring With Look at the Affect of Globalization on the U.S. Science and Engineering Workforce
(Washington, DC) Late yesterday, the Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Technology & Innovation completed the Committee's series of hearings addressing the offshoring of U.S. science and technical jobs. "This can sometimes be a heated issue," said Chairman Wu. "No one wants to think about losing their job, but today's science and engineering graduates could face an uncertain future. I'm sure we all agree that we must find a way to help our current and future science and … Continue Reading
October 31, 2007Committee Members to NASA: Public Has a Right to See U.S. Air Safety Survey Data
(Washington, DC) The Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Science and Technology Bart Gordon (D-TN) and Committee Members today heard from NASA Administrator Dr. Michael Griffin on his agency's management of the National Aviation Operations Monitoring Service (NAOMS). "It was important that this Committee meet as soon as possible to get to the bottom of what has been going on here, and what NASA intends to do from this point forward," said Chairman Gordon at today's hearing. "The American … Continue Reading
October 31, 2007Subcommittee Examines Relationship Between Environmental and Health Policy and Nanotechnology
(Washington, DC) - Competition in the 21st century global marketplace and development of new technologies to support that economy has been a topic of investigation and study in recent years by the House Committee on Science and Technology's Research and Science Education Subcommittee. That assessment continued today with a look into the potential risks to the environment and human health associated with the developing field of nanotechnology. Nanotechnology, which involves the manipulation of … Continue Reading
October 30, 2007Water-Use Efficiency Technologies Focus of Subcommittee Work
(Washington, DC) Today, the U.S. House Committee on Science Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a legislative hearing on H.R. 3957, The Water-Use Efficiency and Conservation Research Act of 2007. The hearing evaluated the need for research and development of technologies and processes to enhance water-use efficiency and water conservation. The dwindling supply of water in the U.S. has made headlines across the country in recent weeks and has served to echo increasing … Continue Reading
October 29, 2007House Endorses Bill to Improve Communication Technologies for Mines and Miners
(Washington, DC) Today, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed legislation to improve communication and tracking capabilities within our nation's mines Over the past few years, several mine tragedies resulting in multiple deaths have brought nationwide attention to the significance of mine and miner safety. The Sago mine explosion in West Virginia in 2006, followed by the 2007 disaster at the Crandall Canyon mine in Utah, has underscored the need for such improvements. … Continue Reading
October 25, 2007Subcommittee Examines U.S. Laboratory Capacity to Effectively Respond to a Radiological Attack
Today, members of the House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations heard testimony about the United States' current environmental and clinical radiochemistry laboratory capacity to respond to a detonation of a Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD). Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC), Chairman of the Subcommittee, led today's hearing. Witnesses testified that the U.S. only has the capacity to test 6 of the 13 highest priority radioisotopes. They also noted that … Continue Reading
October 25, 2007Gordon, Miller Criticize Censoring of Federal Climate Science
The Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Science and Technology Bart Gordon (D-TN) and the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight Brad Miller (D-NC) are calling on the White House to turn over all documents and records relating to their editing of Congressional testimony on the health impacts of climate change and global warming. In a letter to White House Science Advisor Dr. John Marburger, the Chairmen demanded an explanation and all documentation surrounding the … Continue Reading
October 24, 2007Committee Clears Vital Legislation on Health IT
(Washington, DC) Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology advanced three bills for consideration by the House.Coordinating information technology (IT) in healthcare (H.R. 2406), improving miner tracking and communication systems (H.R. 3877), and establishing a national ocean exploration program (H.R. 1834) were the focus of the separate bills passed by the full committee.H.R. 2406, to authorize the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to increase its efforts in … Continue Reading
October 23, 2007Subcommittee Hears Findings of New Report Assessing GOES-R Weather Satellite Progress
(Washington, DC) The House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Energy and Environment today continued its oversight of the next-generation Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) program. The hearing examined just-released findings by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) progress with the satellites' development. NOAA, with the aid of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration … Continue Reading
October 23, 2007Members Hail Successful Discovery Launch
(Washington, DC) Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-120) lifted off earlier today from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The shuttle crew, commanded by Pamela A. Melroy, is on an ambitious mission to continue construction of the International Space Station (ISS). Leaders of the U.S. House Committee on Science and Technology - the Committee with jurisdiction over U.S. civil space and aeronautics activity - offered the following comments on the successful launch and upcoming mission: Committee … Continue Reading
October 22, 2007House Passes Science Committee Energy Legislation, National Science Week Recognition
(Washington, DC) Today, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed two pieces of energy legislation shepherded by the House Committee on Science and Technology. Bills focusing on energy storage technologies and industrial energy efficiency research and development cleared the House today under suspension. H.R. 3776, the Energy Storage Technology Advancement Act of 2007 provides for research, development, and demonstration programs to accelerate the development of advanced energy … Continue Reading