Subcommittee Passes NASA Authorization Act
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics unanimously passed HR 6063, the NASA Authorization Act of 2008 without amendment. Subcommittee Chairman Mark Udall (D-CO) introduced the bill to reauthorize the programs of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for Fiscal Year 2009. Science and Technology Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN), Ranking Member Ralph Hall (R-TX), and Subcommittee Ranking … Continue Reading
May 15, 2008Subcommittee Chairman Udall’s Statement on the NASA Authorization Act
(Washington, DC) - Today, House Committee on Science and Technology's Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Chairman Mark Udall introduced the "NASA Authorization Act of 2008" (H.R. 6063), a bill to reauthorize the programs of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for Fiscal Year 2009. Chairman Udall made the following statement: Madam Speaker, today I am introducing the "NASA Authorization Act of 2008", a bill to reauthorize the programs of the National Aeronautics and Space … Continue Reading
May 14, 2008Farm Bill Expands Biofuels R&D
(Washington, DC) - Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act conference report (H.R. 2419) by a vote of 318-106. The conference report includes provisions to expand biofuels research and development programs that were enacted last December in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-140). H.R. 2419 will strengthen the long-standing partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of Energy in developing … Continue Reading
May 14, 2008Committee Discusses Water Supply Challenges
(Washington, DC) - Today, House Science and Technology Committee held a hearing to discuss the challenge of managing water supplies to meet social, economic and environmental needs in the United States. Population growth, changes in water use patterns, competing demands for water supply, degradation of water quality, and climatic variation are all factors influencing the availability and use of water. "Recent droughts experienced in the west and the southeast and increased competition for … Continue Reading
May 12, 2008Committee Discusses How to Spark Younger Children’s Interest in Math and Science
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Science and Technology Committee held a hearing on efforts to engage students in math and science at an early age. Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) joined Ranking Member Ralph Hall (R-TX) and Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR) in Rep. Hall's congressional districtto hear witnesses discuss how to keep students interested in math and science throughout middle school and high school, and how to translate that interest into rewarding careers that will benefit the nation, … Continue Reading
May 09, 2008Chairman Gordon Presses Establishment of ARPA-E as a Key to Clean Energy Independence
(Washington, DC) - House Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) spoke at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory today at 11 am to discuss the path to clean energy independence. He was joined by Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN).“Rising costs of energy are hurting consumers at the pump, families at the supermarket, and threatening job security because high prices are weakening the competitiveness of our domestic industries,” said Chairman Gordon. “The … Continue Reading
May 08, 2008Subcommittee Reviews Legislation to Remove Barriers for Women in Academic Science and Engineering Fields
(Washington, DC) -Today, the House Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a hearing to discuss ways to remove barriers for women in academic science and engineering fields. The Subcommittee held a hearing to receive comments on draft legislation that incorporates recommendations from the National Academies panel that were presented at a hearing in October of 2007. "The United States cannot afford to continue losing our best and brightest women from … Continue Reading
May 07, 2008Committee Passes Legislation to Reauthorize NNI
(Washington, DC) - Today, House Science and Technology Committee approved H.R. 5940, the National Nanotechnology Initiative Amendments Act of 2008. This legislation amends the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act to make several changes to the implementation process and priorities of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI). It is based in part on recommendations from the formal reviews of NNI by the National Academy of Sciences and the NNI Advisory Panel. "H.R. … Continue Reading
May 06, 2008Subcommittee Passes Legislation to Increase Water Supply
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment passed two bills aimed at increasing water supply through research and new technologies. Subcommittee Chairman Nick Lampson (D-TX) led the markup on H.R. 3957, the Water Use Efficiency and Conservation Research Act and H.R. 2339, the Produced Water Utilization Act of 2007. "Water utilities across the country withdraw roughly 40 billion gallons of water per day for domestic … Continue Reading
May 05, 2008Gordon Speaks to NanoBusiness Alliance Regarding the Committee’s Work on Nanotechnology Reauthorization
(Washington, DC) - Today, House Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) spoke at the NanoBusiness Alliance's NanoBusiness 2008 Conference regarding advancement of nanotechnology. Chairman Gordon discussed legislation to reauthorize the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), H.R. 5940, which is scheduled to be marked up at the full Committee this Wednesday, May 7. Chairman Gordon made the following remarks: I am pleased to have been invited to address the NanoBusiness 2008 … Continue Reading
May 01, 2008Subcommittee Examines NASA’s Aeronautics R&D Program
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a hearing to review NASA's current Aeronautics R&D program and discuss ways to make it more relevant to the nation's needs. This hearing is part of a series of oversight hearings to review the major programs and to provide input to the Committee's NASA reauthorization legislative activity. Among other topics, the hearing examined the R&D challenges related to the … Continue Reading
April 30, 2008Committee Reviews National Management of E-Waste and Ways to Make Recycling Easier
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Science and Technology Committee held a hearing to review the current management and overall challenges of waste electronic equipment (E-waste) in the United States. Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) and Committee Members questioned witnesses on industry practices for recycling, refurbishment, re-sale and disposal of electronic products. "It’s important to bear in mind that a computer is not a soda can and a TV is not newspaper. These are products that contain … Continue Reading
April 29, 2008House Approves Natural Resources Legislation Containing S&T Energy Bills
(Washington, DC) - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed, S.2739, the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008. S.2739 contains two bills (H.R.1126 and H.R.85) previously approved by the House Science and Technology Committee and the full House of Representatives. "These two bills mark the 19th and 20th Science and Technology Committee bills that will be enacted into law during 110th Congress," said Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN). "I'm proud that my colleagues have … Continue Reading
April 24, 2008Subcommittee Holds Joint Hearing with Armed Services Subcommittee to Examine the Role of Social Science in Enhancing National Security
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a joint hearing with the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities to examine the role social and behavioral sciences play in meeting our national security needs. Subcommittee Chairman Brian Baird (D-WA) today joined Armed Forces Subcommittee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA) in investigating the opportunities for collaboration between the … Continue Reading
April 24, 2008Subcommittee Examines the Status of the International Space Station
(Washington, DC) - Today, House Science and Technology Committee's Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held an oversight hearing to examine the status of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) International Space Station (ISS) program. Committee Members discussed the challenges facing the program and questioned witnesses regarding how it should be operated, managed, and utilized. "While ISS has had a long, and at times controversial and frustrating development path, … Continue Reading
April 24, 2008Subcommittee Members Review Aviation Security R&D at the Department of Homeland Security
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing to examine the aviation security-related research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDT&E) activities of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Subcommittee Members stated the importance of basic and applied research to develop new security technologies that detect potential threats while reducing the prevalence of false alarms. Effective security … Continue Reading
April 23, 2008Committee Reviews Benefits and Challenges of Nuclear Energy
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Science and Technology Committee held a hearing on the opportunities and challenges for expanded nuclear power production. "For the first time in decades, we are witnessing a renewed interest in nuclear power production in our country. Higher prices for fossil fuels, federal incentives for nuclear power authorized in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the safe operating record of existing nuclear power plants, and the possibility of a national cap on … Continue Reading
April 23, 2008House Passes Legislation To Advance Small Business Innovation
"Innovation is crucial for maintaining America’s competitive lead in this global economy," said Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN). "SBIR and STTR are good economic stimulus programs that support research and innovation among our country’s leading job creators - small businesses." Together, SBIR and STTR comprise the largest source of federal support for private-sector technological innovation, providing over $2.3 billion annually to small, high-tech entrepreneurial companies that are creating … Continue Reading
April 22, 2008House Approves Legislation To Support The Goals Of Earth Day
(Washington, DC) - Today, on the 38th annual celebration of Earth Day, the U.S. House of Representatives passed three bills introduced by House Science and Technology Committee Members (H.Res.1112, H.Res.1117, H.Res.891) that recognize the contributions of scientific research and technological innovation in addressing environmental issues. "Throughout the years, Earth Day has been a successful way to raise awareness and encourage action on critical environmental issues such as air pollution, … Continue Reading
April 16, 2008Subcommittee Approves Bill To Support Innovative Technology Development
(Washington, DC) - Today, the U.S. House Committee on Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation passed legislation that supports the development of innovative technologies by small high-tech companies.Subcommittee Chairman David Wu (D-OR) introduced H.R. 5789, the Science and Technology Innovation Act of 2008, to reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) program. SBIR and STTR … Continue Reading