Gordon Names Atkins Science Committee Chief of Staff
Incoming U.S. House Science Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) announced today that he has named Chuck Atkins to be the Committee's Chief of Staff in the 110th Congress. "Chuck has a long and distinguished career history, both on the Hill and off. We are fortunate that he will continue to be an asset to this Committee," said Rep. Gordon. Atkins has served concurrently as Gordon's personal office Chief of Staff and the Committee's Democratic Staff Director for the past two … Continue Reading
December 13, 2006Science Committee Leaders Urge Implementation of Aeronautics Report Recommendations
The Republican and Democratic leaders of the House Science Committee and the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics today called on the Administration to implement the recommendations in a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on the challenges of creating a new air traffic control system, known as the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NGATS). The report, requested in spring 2005 by Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) and Ranking Member Bart Gordon (D-TN), … Continue Reading
December 12, 2006Science Democrats Track NASA Foreign Contract Reporting
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has determined that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will not be able to issue its required annual report to Congress in January 2007 regarding their contracts and subcontracts performed overseas, as well as on NASA purchases from foreign entities. Reps. Jerry Costello (D-IL) and Mark Udall (D-CO) asked the GAO to look into the matter. The annual reporting requirement was authored by Rep. Costello and incorporated in … Continue Reading
December 09, 2006Gordon, Udall Congratulate NASA on Successful Shuttle Launch
Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-116) lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida this evening marking NASA's first night launch since 2002. Discovery begins a 12-day mission to continue building the International Space Station. U.S. House Science Committee Ranking Member Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN) and Space Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO) offered the following comments after the launch: Ranking Member Gordon: "STS-116 looks to be off to a great start. During their … Continue Reading
December 07, 2006Gordon Chosen to Lead House Science Committee
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi today nominated Rep. Bart Gordon (TN-06) for the Chairmanship of the House Science Committee for the 110th Congress. The full Democratic Caucus unanimously approved the nomination. "I am honored by this assignment," said Rep. Gordon. "Under my leadership, the Science Committee will be the committee of 'good ideas.' We will be reaching out to individuals and groups on the Hill and off to participate at every … Continue Reading
December 06, 2006Tsumani Preparedness Legislation Clears House
The U.S. House of Representatives today approved legislation authorizing the expansion of the Tsunami Warning System to the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. The bill also authorizes funds to assist community-based mitigation programs improve tsunami preparedness in at-risk areas of the United States. "Catastrophic tsunamis are rare events, but we must never neglect the fact that they can happen here at home," stated Science Committee Ranking Member Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN). … Continue Reading
November 30, 2006Members Push to Stop EPA Library Closures
In an ongoing effort to protect and preserve the vast environmental resources of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), prominent House leaders today called on the agency to immediately stop efforts to close libraries across the country pending a review by Congress. In a letter to EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson, Ranking Members Reps. Bart Gordon (D-TN), John Dingell (D-MI), Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) and James Oberstar (D-MN) expressed their serious concerns over the current implementation … Continue Reading
November 28, 2006Gordon Questions NRC’s Double Standard on Nuclear Plant Secrets
In response to recent concerns raised by House Science Committee Ranking Member Bart Gordon (D-TN), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has acknowledged that the agency made a deliberate decision after 9/11 not to "retrieve or restrict access" to sensitive security documents regarding U.S. nuclear power plants contained in more than 80 public libraries across the nation. This decision left thousands of documents on U.S. nuclear facilities - including details on their … Continue Reading
November 20, 2006Remarks by Rep. Dan Lipinski before the National Science Board Commission on 21st Century Education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Good morning. I would like to thank the National Science Board for inviting me to be here today to join this critical discussion on improving our nation's science, technology, engineering, and math education, more commonly known as STEM Ed. As many of you may know, before being elected to Congress I was a college professor, and before that I was an engineer. I earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Northwestern University and an M.S. in engineering-economic systems from Stanford … Continue Reading
November 15, 2006Committee Calls For Implementation of New Nanotechnology Report
WASHINGTON - House Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) and Ranking Democrat Bart Gordon (D-TN) today issued the following joint statement in response to a paper that is being published the journal Nature tomorrow laying out a research agenda to understand the environmental, health, and safety implications of nanotechnology. (The paper, "Safe Handling of Nanotechnology," is by Dr. Andrew Maynard, Chief Science Advisor for the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies at the Woodrow … Continue Reading
October 31, 2006Udall Hails Hubble Servicing Mission Decision
Westminster, CO - Colorado Congressman Mark Udall (D-Eldorado Springs), Ranking Member on the House Science Committee's Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, released the following statement regarding NASA's decision to launch a Hubble space telescope servicing mission: "As a longtime supporter of the Hubble Space Telescope, I am pleased that NASA is moving forward with a servicing mission and that Administrator Michael Griffin reversed his earlier plans to cancel efforts to save the … Continue Reading
October 04, 2006Gordon Seeks Answers on NOAA’s Cover-Up of Hurricane Report
U.S. House Committee on Science Ranking Member Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN) today asked the NOAA Administrator for all documentation relating to the suppression of a NOAA Hurricane FAQ report. A Nature report last week ("Is U.S. hurricane report being quashed?" Jim Giles, 9.26.06), noted that scientists at NOAA had composed a consensus statement on factors contributing to the more intense and more frequent hurricanes that have occurred in recent years. Among the factors mentioned … Continue Reading
October 03, 2006Science Democrats Congratulate Nobel Physics Prize Winners
U.S. House Science Committee Ranking Member Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN) and Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO) today offered their congratulations to the 2006 Nobel Prize for Physics winners Dr. John Mather of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Dr. George Smoot of the University of California at Berkeley. Drs. Mather and Smoot were recognized for their groundbreaking research on the early history of the universe. That research was enabled by … Continue Reading
September 30, 2006House Republicans Leave Town – Fail to Address Vital Legislation on Education, Competitiveness
Study after study and report after report agree - the U.S. stands to lose its leading edge in the global marketplace without immediate action. Yet, today House Republicans adjourned the Congress without addressing vital legislation to insure that American students and workers are prepared for the careers of the future and that our nation is equipped to compete in the global economy. "Providing high quality jobs for hard-working Americans must be our first priority - and in order to … Continue Reading
September 29, 2006GAO Cautions: Continuity of U.S. Weather Forecasting Satellites Not Assured
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report today on the status of a next-generation NOAA weather forecasting satellite system, GOES-R. The report raises concerns about the current plans for acquiring new weather satellites relied upon to provide the U.S. with daily and severe forecasts. "We have an opportunity to take steps to avoid problems with GOES-R that we are currently experiencing with NPOESS," stated Ranking Member Bart Gordon (D-TN). "We simply … Continue Reading
September 29, 2006House Approves Measure to Address U.S. Energy Challenges
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved energy legislation designed to address many of America's looming energy challenges, including the development and transition to alternative sources of fuel. "If our country is serious about reducing our dependence on foreign oil, we must get serious about mobilizing the infrastructure necessary to distribute and dispense the next generation of fuels. We need less talk about alternatives and more action that is relevant to the real … Continue Reading
September 29, 2006Democrats Call for Increased Oversight of NASA’s Exploration Program
The U.S. House Committee on Science today examined NASA's development strategy for its new Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) Orion - the vehicle intended to fly astronauts to the International Space Station, and eventually to the Moon after the retirement of the current Space Shuttle fleet. The CEV is the first major system to be developed as part of the Administration's announced "Vision for Space Exploration" (VSE). "I want to see the CEV program succeed," said Ranking … Continue Reading
September 26, 2006Democrats Question Wisdom of NASA’s Plans to Cut and Restructure Aeronautics Research Program
The House Committee on Science's Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics today held a second hearing on the state of NASA's aeronautics research program. As noted at a previous hearing in July, funding for NASA's aeronautics programs is scheduled to decline under the Administration's plan by 32% between FY 2004-2007, with continued erosion in purchasing power at least through the rest of the decade. "Ill-advised budget cuts and changes in NASA's priorities are putting the nation at risk … Continue Reading
September 21, 2006Consumers Deserve Plan Ensuring Safety of Nanomaterials
The U.S. House Committee on Science today continued efforts to address emerging needs in the growing field of nanotechnology; specifically the lack of guidelines and regulations needed to insure the environmental, health and safety (EHS) of products resulting from nanotechnology. "Without a prioritized Federal EHS research plan, I see no way to initiate a carefully crafted set of research programs that are relevant to the needs of the companies that will be developing and using … Continue Reading
September 20, 2006Committee Seeks Stronger Federal Plan on Climate Change
The Energy Subcommittee of the House Science Committee today heard from the Administration and stakeholders on the Administration's Climate Change Technology Program (CCTP) Strategic Plan. The final plan was made public today. "I believe that climate change is one of the most important issues we face as a nation and as a member of the global community," said Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA). "Most of my colleagues on this Committee, from both sides of the … Continue Reading