ExxonMobil Finances Astrophysicist Who Denies Polar Bears
(Washington, DC) U.S. House Committee on Science and Technology Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight Chairman Brad Miller (D-NC) has sent a letter to the ExxonMobil Corporation requesting all records since 2002 related to their support for scientists working on polar bears and other Arctic animals. This request comes in the wake of an "opinion" piece appearing in the journal Ecological Complexity by seven scientists claiming that there is no evidence of decline in the polar bear … Continue Reading
October 17, 2007Subcommittee Investigates Potential Permafrost Melt off as a Tipping Point in Global Warming, and the Danger it Poses to the Polar Bear Population
(Washington, DC) The Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee of the House Committee on Science and Technology convened a hearing today to examine the melting of the permafrost and sea ice in the Arctic, and the destruction of the boreal forests, as they relate to global warming and the survival of the polar bear population. "We must have a complete understanding of the potential threats of global warming. We must put this country and the world, on a path to reducing carbon emissions. We … Continue Reading
October 17, 2007Subcommittee Investigates Barriers to Women Seeking Science and Engineering Faculty Positions
(Washington, DC) - Although women are increasingly earning degrees in science and engineering, they are significantly underrepresented at the faculty level in almost all science and engineering fields. Today, Members of the Science & Technology Committee's Research and Science Education Subcommittee examined institutional and cultural barriers that exist for women seeking science and engineering faculty positions at U.S. colleges and universities. "Women are increasingly obtaining … Continue Reading
October 16, 2007Committee Grants Final Passage to Energy Legislation
(Washington, DC) Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology advanced two bills for consideration by the full House. Energy storage technologies and industrial energy efficiency research and development were the focus of separate bills before the Committee. Last week, both of these bills were cleared by the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment. H.R. 3776, the Energy Storage Technology Advancement Act of 2007 enhances the federal government's role in research and development of … Continue Reading
October 16, 2007House Passes Legislation Recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the Dawn of the Space Age
(Washington DC) The U.S. House of Representatives today overwhelmingly passed a concurrent resolution (H.Con.Res. 225) honoring the 50th anniversary of the dawn of the Space Age, which occurred on October 4, 1957 with the launch of Sputnik 1. That event was followed shortly by the successful launch of the American Explorer 1 satellite, which discovered the Van Allen radiation belts among other scientific accomplishments. H.Con.Res. 225 was introduced by House Committee on Science and … Continue Reading
October 12, 2007Chairman Gordon Commends IPCC, Gore on Nobel Award
(Washington, DC) The Chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology Bart Gordon (D-TN) today issued the following statement on the Nobel Committee's announcement that the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded jointly to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and former Vice President Al Gore for their work on climate change. In February of this year, Chairman Gordon's Committee was the first Congressional body to hear directly from the IPCC authors on their climate … Continue Reading
October 10, 2007Subcommittee Looks at National Science Board’s Action Plan for STEM Education
(Washington, DC) As part of ongoing investigations into improving the country's science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education system for students and teachers, members of the Science and Technology Committee's Research and Science Education Subcommittee today heard from educators and other experts on how to guarantee students are receiving the best education possible. On October 3, the National Science Board released a report, "A National Action Plan for Addressing the … Continue Reading
October 10, 2007Subcommittee Clears Legislation on Energy Storage Technologies, Industrial Energy Efficiency R&D, Ocean Exploration
(Washington, DC) Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Energy and Environment today advanced three bills for consideration by the full Committee. Energy storage technologies and industrial energy efficiency research and development were the focus of separate pieces bills before the subcommittee. H.R. 3776, the Energy Storage Technology Advancement Act of 2007 was the focus of a subcommittee hearing on October 3. The bill enhances the federal government's role … Continue Reading
October 04, 2007Exploration of Offshoring Issues Continue: Committee Looks at How Companies Choose Where to Locate Their R&D Facilities
(Washington, DC) The U.S. House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation today held the third in a series of hearings this Congress on the complexities of offshoring - or the movement of U.S. technical jobs to overseas locations. The hearing, entitled Globalization of R&D and Innovation, Pt. III: How do Companies Choose Where to Build R&D Facilities? explored the factors companies use to locate their research & development (R&D) and … Continue Reading
October 03, 2007Miller Works to Improve the Inspector Generals Act
(Washington, DC) Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 928, the Enhancing the Effectiveness and Independence of Inspectors General Act. Recent flawed Inspector Generals (IG) appointments have succeeded in undermining the public's and the Congress's confidence in many of the IGs. H.R. 928 is designed to improve the quality and working independence of IGs. Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight Chairman Brad Miller (D-NC) offered two amendments to this bill, both of which … Continue Reading
October 03, 2007Chairmen: A Concentration on Energy Storage Technologies Will Yield Big Benefits for U.S. Consumers, Security, Environment
(Washington, DC) Today, the House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Energy and Environment considered the status of developing competitive energy storage systems for stationary and vehicular applications - both of which could provide significant economic and environmental benefits for improving the nation's energy storage capability. "Better energy storage technologies will also enable us to operate electric utilities in a more flexible and efficient manner. Energy storage … Continue Reading
October 03, 2007Chairman Gordon Introduces House Resolution Honoring Landmark Space Anniversary
(Washington, DC) The Chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology Bart Gordon (D-TN) introduced a House resolution today aimed at honoring the 50th anniversary of the dawn of the Space Age. That landmark anniversary is tomorrow - October 4, 1957. Upon introduction of the House resolution, Chairman Gordon delivered the following statement: "Madame Speaker, I rise today to speak about the 50th anniversary of the dawn of the Space Age, an event that took place on October 4, 1957 … Continue Reading
October 02, 2007Chairman Gordon Notes 50th Anniversary of the Space Age
(Washington, DC) The Chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology Bart Gordon (D-TN) today issued the following statement in anticipation of the 50th anniversary of the dawn of the Space Age that occurred on October 4, 1957. That event in 1957 had a major societal impact, sparking a reexamination of the nation's educational system, especially in the areas of math and science. It also led Congress to focus increased intention on science and space, one outcome of which was the … Continue Reading
October 02, 2007Subcommittee Explores the Priorities of the U.S. Fire Administration in Anticipation of Reauthorizing USFA
(Washington, DC) House Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation Chairman David Wu (D-OR) today heard from representatives of the fire service community in preparation for the upcoming reauthorization of the U.S. Fire Administration. USFA is the primary federal organization serving the needs of firefighters and promoting fire safety for citizens. "As citizens, we place great trust in firefighter professionals to protect our lives and our homes. We believe they will respond quickly to … Continue Reading
October 02, 2007Subcommittee Examines the State of Nanotechnology Education
(Washington, DC) - The emerging field of nanoscale science and engineering (NSSE)- the science of manipulating matter at the molecular level- holds tremendous potential and has already led to medicine-dispensing contact lenses, stain-resistant clothing, and many other advances in science, health, and consumer products. For the United States to stay at the forefront of scientific research and development in NSSE will require talented engineers and scientists, and a scientifically literate … Continue Reading
September 27, 2007Subcommittee Investigates National Security Implications of Climate Change
(Washington, DC) The Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee of the House Committee on Science and Technology today convened a hearing to examine current thinking on the nature and magnitude of the threats that global warming may present to national security, and to explore the ways in which climate-related security threats can be predicted, forestalled, mitigated, or remedied. "The possibility of a world transformed by climate change is not a science fiction image of a post-apocalyptic … Continue Reading
September 26, 2007Committee Addresses Need for Interoperability, Security in Emerging Healthcare Information Technologies
(Washington, DC) The U.S. House Committee on Science and Technology today held a hearing to examine progress toward the broad implementation of information technology (IT) in healthcare, and the investments in technology and standards development that are needed to create a national system of secure, interoperable healthcare information technology."The broad use of IT in the healthcare sector could have far reaching benefits, including cost savings, improved quality of care, and a reduction in … Continue Reading
September 25, 2007Subcommittee Initiates Discussion on Draft Legislation to Improve Industrial Efficiency Technologies
(Washington, DC) - Members of the Science & Technology Committee's Subcommittee on Energy and Environment considered avenues for improving energy efficiency technologies and environmental performance of the country's most energy-intensive manufacturing processes. Today's hearing focused on the Department of Energy's (DOE) Industrial Technologies Program (ITP). Subcommittee Chairman Nick Lampson (D-TX) also released draft legislation at the hearing designed to enhance that program. The … Continue Reading
September 25, 2007Subcommittee Examines Relationship Between Social Behavior and Energy Choices
(Washington, DC) - Everyday millions of Americans make decisions involving the use of energy, from what type of car to purchase, whether to take public transportation, what temperature to set thermostats to, or if it’s worth purchasing energy efficient appliances. Today, Members of the Science & Technology Committee’s Research and Science Education Subcommittee examined how social and behavioral research can influence decisions effecting energy conservation. During the hearing, “The … Continue Reading
September 20, 2007House Passes FAA Reauthorization, Invests in Critical Aviation Research & Development
(Washington, DC) - Members of the U.S. House of Representatives today passed H.R. 2881, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007, which includes a series of provisions authored by the Science and Technology Committee to enable the nation's air transportation system to be able to handle the expected significant growth in future air travel demand over the next twenty years safely, efficiently, and in an environmentally friendly manner. H.R. 2881 incorporates the provisions of H.R. 2698, the Federal … Continue Reading