Democrats:
David Wu (Oregon),
Chairman
Laura Richardson (California)
Jim Matheson (Utah)
Harry E. Mitchell (Arizona), Vice Chairman
Charles A. Wilson (Ohio)
Ben Chandler (Kentucky)
Mike Ross (Arkansas)
Bart Gordon (Tennessee),
ex officio
Republicans:
Phil Gingrey (Georgia),
Ranking Member
Vernon J. Ehlers (Michigan)
Judy Biggert (Illinois)
Adrian Smith (Nebraska)
Paul Broun (Georgia)
Ralph M. Hall (Texas),
ex officio
Subcommittee Chairman David Wu questioning NIST’s safety procedures |
On June 9, 2008, there was an accidental plutonium spill at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) laboratory in Boulder, CO. Despite the Committee’s inquires, NIST did not provide clear information regarding the collection and disposal of the radioactive materials. So, on July 9 Chairman Bart Gordon, and Subcommittee Chairmen David Wu and Mark Udall sent the Secretary of Commerce a letter urging him to immediately investigate the environmental, health and safety programs at NIST. Following the letter, Subcommittee Members held a hearing to investigate NIST’s response to the plutonium spill on July15.
This Subcommittee has been the strongest champion of NIST in Congress, and its Members have spent a lot of time educating our colleagues about the outstanding scientific and technical work of NIST employees,” said Subcommittee Chairman David Wu. “However, along with scientific and technical excellence must be an equal dedication to safe laboratory practices. This is especially true at NIST, where staff routinely work with hazardous materials and high powered equipment, such as radioactive material and lasers.”
Legislative jurisdiction and general oversight and investigative authority on all matters relating to competitiveness, technology, standards, and innovation:
Subcommittee Quick Links |
(July 24, 2008) Subcommittee Reviews NWIRP’s R&D Program to Reduce the Loss of Life and Property Due to Windstorms
(July 15, 2008) Subcommittee Investigates Plutonium Spill at NIST
(April 15, 2008) Science and Technology Innovation Act of 2008
(February 6, 2008) Green Transportation Infrastructure Research and Technology Transfer Act
(July 24, 2006) Globalization and the American Workforce
(February 27, 2007) Hooley, Wu Host Capitol Hill Display of First Electron Microscope for Science Education