Chairman Works to Ease Transition to Alternative Fuels
In a continued effort to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil and diversify the nation's fuel supply, House Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) today introduced legislation that sets up R&D programs to tackle infrastructure issues for the next generation of fuels. "This is an area where sound science and new technologies can provide consumers with accessible fuel alternatives," added Rep. Gordon. "We have a responsibility to make alternative … Continue Reading
January 16, 2007Chairman Reacts to National Academies’ Earth Science and Applications Assessment
Upon the release of Earth Science and Applications from Space: National Imperatives for the Next Decade and Beyond - the long-awaited assessment of the nation's Earth science and applications programs by the National Academy of Sciences - House Science and Technology Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) issued the following statement: "At a time when accurate weather forecasting and climate research is becoming increasingly important to the well-being of our citizens, this … Continue Reading
January 12, 2007Committee Bolsters Policy/Outreach Staff
The U.S. House Committee on Science and Technology has chosen two seasoned professionals to manage and coordinate the Committee's legislative activities in the 110th Congress. Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) today announced that he has hired Louis Finkel to serve as the Committee's Director of Policy and Outreach and Alisa Ferguson for the position of Legislative Director. As Director of Policy and Outreach, Louis Finkel will assist in managing the Committee's agenda and will organize the … Continue Reading
January 11, 2007Chairmen Agree: OMB Bulletin "Fundamentally Flawed"
Last May, House Chairmen Bart Gordon (D-TN, Science & Technology), John D. Dingell (D-MI, Energy & Commerce), Henry A. Waxman (D-CA, Oversight & Government Reform), and James Oberstar (D-MN, Transportation & Infrastructure) wrote to the National Academy of Sciences when they initiated their review of the White House Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin. The four Chairmen urged the NAS to either expand the scope of their review to address … Continue Reading
January 10, 2007Chairman Renews Effort to Make U.S. Most Innovative, Well-Educated Country in the World
Renewing his effort to strengthen global competitiveness and improve math and science education, House Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) today re-introduced several pieces of legislation he authored in the 109th Congress, and vowed to make these bills among the first the Committee considers in the 110th Congress. "Innovation and competitiveness are just buzzwords until Congress takes action to make them a reality," said Chairman Gordon. "These bills are … Continue Reading
January 04, 2007Committee Begins 110th Congress With New Name, Website And Ambitious Agenda
Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) began his tenure as a House Committee Chairman with the announcement of a new name for the Committee, a new website and an overview of action areas that will comprise an ambitious agenda for the 110th Congress. The House Rules Package (H.Res. 6) passed today changes the Committee's name from the Committee on Science to the Committee on Science and Technology. This name change brings the Committee back to its roots to more accurately reflect its broad jurisdiction … Continue Reading
December 18, 2006Gordon 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