Gordon Comments on FutureGen
(Washington, DC) The Chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology Bart Gordon (D-TN) today issued the following statement on news the Administration is planning to pull their support for FutureGen - a project intended to demonstrate next generation coal-fired power production and the centerpiece of the Department of Energy's program on clean coal technology. FutureGen, as portrayed by the Administration, is intended to demonstrate technologies that capture and sequester … Continue Reading
January 28, 2008Chairman Comments on State of the Union Address
(Washington, DC) U.S. House Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) offered comment on this evening's State of the Union Address delivered by President Bush. Gordon outlined the Committee's priorities for the coming session and also urged the President to work with Congress in a bipartisan fashion to address the challenges facing the nation. Gordon offered the following comment: "The first session of the 110th Congress was one of the most productive and bipartisan … Continue Reading
January 28, 2008Subcommittees Demand Explanation for Attempts to Control Report on Formaldehyde in Trailers Housing Hurricane Victims
Washington, D.C. - The Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee and the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment of the U.S. House Committee on Science and Technology today demanded answers from Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, about why the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) tried to control the outcome of a health guidance report on formaldehyde in trailers used to house victims of Hurricane Katrina.Subcommittee Chairmen Brad Miller and Nick Lampson sent letters to … Continue Reading
January 23, 2008Committee Leaders Comment on NASA’s Astronaut Health Care Survey Report
Washington, DC - This afternoon, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) released a report on an astronaut and flight surgeon health care survey that it conducted last fall. The report summarizes the anonymous responses of astronauts and flight surgeons to a series of questions on the quality of astronaut healthcare. On September 6, 2007, the Committee's Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a hearing aimed at investigating the findings of two NASA reports concerning the … Continue Reading
January 16, 2008Gordon Adds His Voice to Call for Science Focused Presidential Debate
(Washington, DC) U.S. House Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) today added his support to an effort underway aimed at underscoring the importance of science, education, research and innovation in the 2008 presidential race. Gordon joined a group of Nobel laureates, business leaders, university presidents and other Congressional leaders in support of "Science Debate 2008" (www.sciencedebate2008.com) - an effort underway to urge the candidates for President to … Continue Reading
January 15, 2008Gordon Comments on National Science Board’s Release of Science and Engineering Indicators
(Washington, DC) U.S. House Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) today commented on the National Science Board's (NSB) release of their 2008 Science and Engineering Indicators. The Indicators are a biannual record of data on the U.S. and international science and engineering enterprise, from elementary and secondary education through industry, technology and the global marketplace. As a result of the America COMPETES Act - landmark science and math education and … Continue Reading
January 14, 2008Science & Technology Committee Website Receives Recognition for Excellence
Chairman Bart Gordon receiving the Golden Mouse Award from the Congressional Management Foundation (Washington, DC) Today the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) recognized the House Committee on Science and Technology for designing and maintaining one of the most impressive Congressional Committee websites on Capitol Hill. The Committee website (https://democrats-science.house.gov/) received the CMF's highest award, the Golden Mouse Award, for … Continue Reading
December 31, 2007Gordon Comments on NASA’s Initial Release of Air Safety Survey Data
(Washington, DC) The Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Science and Technology today acknowledged NASA for the initial release of data from their study of the nation's air travel system, and urged the agency to not delay in their complete release of the data. Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) and Members of the Committee have asked NASA for months to make public the National Aviation Operations Monitoring Service (NAOMS) pilot survey data it collected - at taxpayer expense - on the safety … Continue Reading
December 21, 2007Gordon’s Methamphetamine Bill Signed Into Law
(Washington, DC) Legislation designed to clean up methamphetamine (meth) in local communities across the country was signed into law by President Bush today. "While Tennessee has been hit especially hard by meth abuse, the problem certainly isn't limited to any one state. This bill can and will serve 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 … Continue Reading
December 18, 2007Gordon: 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