Remarks by the Hon. Mike Honda for the International Conference on Renewable Energy for Developing Countries
Thank you very much for having me here to speak and for attending the conference. I hope the past two days have been fruitful for all of you. Let me also express my thanks to Dr. Samuel Lakeou of the University of the District of Columbia Department of Electrical Engineering; Dr. Aboise Adebayo of the UDC Department of Engineering, Architecture, and Aerospace Technology; and Dr. Ben Latigo, Dean of the UDC School of Engineering and Applied Sciences for inviting me to be here today. As was … Continue Reading
April 06, 2006Rep. Honda Skeptical of Administration Nuclear Power Plan
Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA), Ranking Democrat on the Energy Subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Science, today questioned the economic rationality of domestic nuclear fuel reprocessing technologies as well as the impact of reprocessing on energy efficiency, nuclear waste management and weapons proliferation. Honda’s doubts were raised during the Energy Subcommittee’s examination of the Bush Administration’s proposed Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) program. "What troubles me about … Continue Reading
April 06, 2006Science Democrats Salute the 25th Anniversary of First Space Shuttle Flight
Democratic Members of the House Science Committee today expressed their strong support for a resolution honoring astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen on the 25th anniversary of the first flight of the Space Shuttle. "I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the resolution. Astronauts Young and Crippen personify 'The Right Stuff,' and we owe them and the entire Space Shuttle team - civil servants and contractors - our thanks for twenty-five years of dedicated service and … Continue Reading
April 05, 2006Rep. Baird, House of Representatives Honor 2005 Nobel Laureates in Physics and Chemistry, NIST
Today, the House passed Congressman Brian Baird's congressional resolution to honor the 2005 Nobel Prize winners in Physics and Chemistry. Congressman Baird's resolution also recognizes the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for contributing to the achievements of past and present Nobel Prize winners and for supporting research that strengthens U.S. global economic competitiveness. "I am pleased to have the opportunity to honor to work of these scientists … Continue Reading
April 05, 2006Dems Quest For Jobs Report Successful
House Science Committee Democrats today reached an agreement with their Republican counterparts to jointly request that the U.S. Department of Commerce turn over valuable data on offshoring of U.S. jobs. Obtaining the report containing an analysis of the state of U.S. jobs was the focus of H. Res. 717, a Resolution of Inquiry submitted by Science Democrats. Democrats were successful in reaching a compromise today with the Committee's Majority that will provide just that. "I thank the … Continue Reading
March 30, 2006Qualified, Well Trained Teachers Key To STEM Education
The U.S. House Committee on Science today reviewed the range of programs that support K-12 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education across several Federal agencies, with a concentration on their coordination and effectiveness. "The importance of STEM education for our nation's future cannot be understated - we're only as good as our human capital," said Ranking Member Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN). "The National Academies (NAS) report Rising Above the … Continue Reading
March 30, 2006Gordon Comments on Revised NASA Public Affairs Policy
U.S. House Committee on Science Ranking Member Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN) issued the following statement in response to NASA's release today of a revised public affairs policy. "I welcome NASA's responsiveness to our concerns about actions that appeared to be aimed at unduly restricting communications by its scientists. NASA's new public affairs policy is a constructive answer to those concerns. We will of course be watching to see how it is implemented, but it is an important step in … Continue Reading
March 29, 2006Udall: Effort to Develop Next Generation Air Transportation System Making Progress, But Major Challenges Loom
At a House Science Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee hearing today on the future of the U.S. air traffic control system, Democrats made clear that while they applaud the progress that has been made to date in the initiative to develop the nation's future air transportation system, they are concerned that a number of key policy, technical, and budgetary issues still need to be addressed. Democrats pressed for continued Subcommittee oversight of the initiative. "This topic should be of … Continue Reading
March 29, 2006Frustrated by Lack of Federal Commitment to Curb Offshoring, Dems Seek Commerce Report Containing Data on Loss of U.S. Jobs
U.S. House Science Committee Democrats today continued their efforts to compel the U.S. Department of Commerce to produce hard data and in-depth research on offshoring of U.S jobs in high-tech industries - data that the Department has consistently refused to provide. In the last five years, nearly 3 million Americans have lost manufacturing jobs due to offshoring. A recent poll conducted for National Public Radio found that offshoring is the number one concern (26%) of hardworking … Continue Reading
March 16, 2006Wu: EPA Can't Advance Research If Budget Is Shrinking & Science Is Censored
As ranking member of the U.S. House Science Subcommittee on Environment, Technology, and Standards, Congressman David Wu (D-OR) asked tough, well-directed questions in a hearing today on the research and technology budget for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The theme of today's hearing was clear: Sound science and greater investments in research at the EPA are necessary if the Federal Government wants to ensure America will enjoy a clean, safe, healthy and sustainable environment … Continue Reading
March 15, 2006Successful STEM Education Rests on Quality, Not Necessarily Quantity
As part of the Committee's continuing discussion on innovation and U.S. competitiveness, the Research Subcommittee of the House Committee on Science convened today to continue exploring means of attracting students to pursue careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), and insuring those students are prepared for the job force of the future. While typical discussions on this issue tend to focus on the hard numbers of STEM students graduating each year, Science … Continue Reading
March 10, 2006What Is Happening to American Jobs?
U.S. House Science Committee Ranking Member Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN) led Committee Democrats in introducing a Resolution of Inquiry (H. Res. 717) to compel the Secretary of U.S. Commerce Department to divulge a copy of a report on off-shoring American jobs. This report, titled Six-Month Assessment of Workforce Globalization in Certain Knowledge-Based Industries, was produced by analysts in the Office of the Technology Administration (TA) in 2004. It represents the most thorough examination to … Continue Reading
March 09, 2006Bold Action on Energy Is Key to U.S. Competitiveness
The U.S. House Committee on Science heard from a panel of experts today on ideas to advance U.S. competitiveness in the energy arena - specifically, whether the creation of a new research agency (ARPA-E) within the Department of Energy (DOE) could streamline the movement of Federal research into practical ideas that advance U.S. energy independence. "We all agree that energy research and development is key to energy independence, innovation, workforce development and U.S. security," … Continue Reading
March 07, 2006Science Democrats Honor National Engineers Week
Today, the House passed H. Res. 681, Supporting the Goals and Ideals of National Engineers Week. Science Committee Member and sponsor of the resolution, Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-IL), emphasized the important and positive contributions made by engineers to our quality of life. "As one of the few Members of Congress with an engineering background, I appreciate the important role that engineers have played in American history," stated Rep. Lipinski. "Military engineers like … Continue Reading
March 06, 2006Science Democrats Highlight Inadequacy of Administration’s Commitment to Science, Competitiveness in Budget
As a means of expressing extreme discomfort with the way science is treated in the FY07 Federal budget, today U.S. House Science Committee Democrats submitted dissenting "Views and Estimates" to the House Budget Committee. Committee Democrats once again made clear that inadequate Federal science and technology funding in the FY07 Administration budget will not put the U.S. on a path to increased U.S. competitiveness in the global marketplace. Last year, the Administration's FY06 … Continue Reading
March 02, 2006NASA Budget Puts Key Science Priorities at Risk
At a House Science Committee hearing today on the FY07 Federal budget request for NASA's science programs, Committee Democrats expressed grave concern for the future of space and Earth science research at the agency. "NASA's science programs have helped to nurture and develop generations of scientists and engineers through university-based research, participation in space science missions and data analysis," stated Ranking Member Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN). "But NASA's proposed … Continue Reading
March 02, 2006Why Can’t This Administration Honestly Admit Katrina Failures?
Once again, the White House is denying advance knowledge of the potential devastation of Hurricane Katrina last August. "This is not an 'I told you so,'" stated House Science Committee Ranking Member Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN) today. "This is a renewed call for an end to stalling, an end to the cover-ups, and an end to finger-pointing. We know who knew what and when they knew it - the scandal now is the lack of action." The re-emergence of Associated Press video and … Continue Reading
February 28, 2006Prepared Remarks by the Hon. Bart Gordon for the Nuclear Energy Institute Research and Development Symposium
Thank you, Dr. Hanson, for that kind introduction and thanks to NEI for inviting me here today. Also, I want to recognize NEI for its foresight in putting together this symposium to address current research and development issues that affect not only your industry but the nation as a whole. That’s why Senators Alexander and Bingaman and House Science Committee Chairman Boehlert and myself asked the National Academies to conduct an assessment of America’s ability to compete and prosper in … Continue Reading
February 28, 2006Energy Innovation Will Bolster U.S. Competitiveness
U.S. House Committee on Science Ranking Member Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN) reiterated a call for House action on competitiveness legislation to insure U.S. jobs and industries are equipped to compete in the global marketplace. Speaking before a crowd attending the Nuclear Energy Institute's (NEI) Nuclear Energy R&D Summit in Washington, D.C., today, Rep. Gordon sought their support for legislation that will equip the U.S. in retaining and creating quality jobs, educating the next generation … Continue Reading
February 23, 2006Wu Convenes U.S. House Science Committee Hearing on Health Care IT in Oregon
(Portland, Oregon) - As Ranking Member of the U.S. House Science Subcommittee on Environment, Technology and Standards (ETS), Congressman David Wu (D-OR) convened a Committee field hearing in Oregon on health information technology (IT) systems. Congressman Wu brought the hearing to Oregon, and the First Congressional District in particular, because it is home to a growing cluster of private sector health care IT companies, as well as the Oregon Health and Science University, which is … Continue Reading