Accomplishments
"Since being elected to Congress, my primary focus has been to work in a bipartisan way to improve the lives of Middle Tennesseans and citizens around the country."
— Congressman Bart Gordon
The following projects and pieces of legislation highlight some of Bart’s accomplishments since being elected as a representative from Middle Tennessee to the United States House of Representatives:
America COMPETES Act (Signed into law on August 9, 2007; Public Law #110-69): The America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science Act (the America “COMPETES” Act) will improve the United States’ ability to compete in the global marketplace. It authorizes $33.6 billion over fiscal years 2008-2010 for federal science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education programs. It also authorizes multiple grant programs to help educate current and future teachers in the areas of science and math. The bill invests in basic research and supports young researchers by expanding early career grant programs. It establishes the Advanced Research Projects-Agency (ARPA-E) designed to engage in high-risk, high reward alternative energy research under the Department of Energy (DOE). Finally, the bill authorizes doubling of funding for the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Science Foundation and the DOE Office of Science.
Stones River National Battlefield and Tennessee Civil War Heritage Area (Public Law #100-205, 12/23/1987; Public Law #102-225, 12/11/1991; and, Public Law #104-333, 11/11/1996): Since 1988 Bart has doubled the area protected by the historic Stones River National Battlefield, one of the nation’s 10 most endangered civil war battlefields, and acquired more than $19 million in federal funding for the battlefield. In 1995, Bart wrote legislation creating the Tennessee Civil War Heritage Area, which authorized $10 million of congressionally appropriated funds to help promote tourism and conserve the state’s Civil War Heritage. The legislation became law as part of Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996. With this legislation, Bart has been able to secure federal funding for Tennessee’s Civil War sites and promote tourism.
Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act (Signed into law on December 21, 2007; Public Law #110-143): The Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act directs the EPA to develop standards to help local communities clean up former meth labs. It also directs the National Institutes of Standards and Technology to develop meth detection equipment for field use.
NET 911 Improvement Act (Signed into law on July 23, 2008; Public Law #110-283): The NET 911 Improvement Act enhances public safety by providing IP-enabled voice service, or “VOIP providers,” access to the 911 network, improving 911 and E-911 access to those with disabilities. It has encouraged the nation’s transition to an IP-enabled 911 emergency system.
Family Medical Leave Act (Signed into law on February 5, 1993; Public Law #103 3): As a member of the House Rules committee, Bart coauthored the Family Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) compromise in 1990 that was ultimately signed into law in 1993 by President Clinton. This legislation mandated that private employers with at least 50 employees, and all public employers, provide job-protected unpaid leave for 12 work weeks to employees who needed to care for their own, a child’s, spouse’s, or parent’s serious health condition; to care for a newborn, newly adopted, or newly placed foster child; and upon the birth or placement of an adopted or foster child.
Energy Storage Technology Advancement Act (Signed into law on December 19, 2007; Public Law #110-140): The Energy Storage Technology Advancement Act directs the Secretary of Energy to conduct basic research on energy storage systems for electric vehicles. The Energy Storage Technology Advancement Act of 2007 was incorporated into Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 which passed into law as part of Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act (Signed into law on October 21, 2004; Public Law #108-355): The Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act authorizes the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to award grants to states and local communities, as well as colleges and universities, to implement youth suicide prevention programs. The bill created a national youth suicide research, training, and technical assistance center.
Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act (Signed into law on November 24, 2004; Public Law #108-304): The Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act (“SPARTA”) protects amateur athletes by making it an unfair or deceptive trade practice for a sports agent to entice students to sign an agency contract by: (1) giving false or misleading information; (2) providing anything of value to the student or any individual associated with the student, including friends and family; (3) failing to disclose in writing to the student that they will lose their eligibility to compete as a student-athlete if they sign an agency contract; or (4) predating or postdating contracts. Violations are punishable by a fine of up to $11,000 per incident per day.
Higher Education and Student Aid (Public Law #02-325, 7/23/1992; Public Law #103-322, 9/13/1994; and Public Law #04-134, 4/26/1996): Bart has been a key player in the last three Higher Education Reauthorization Acts. In 1990, he initiated a wide-ranging investigation into the federal student aid system that has been responsible for reducing the loan default rate by more than half, saving more than $3 billion a year in student loan defaults, and making financial aid more accessible to low- and middle-income students. Other important changes authored by Bart include barring schools with high default rates from participating in the Pell Grant program, eliminating the Pell grant for prisoners program and cracking down on fly-by-night schools.
Regulating 1-800 and 1-900 Numbers (Public Laws #102-556, 10/29/1992; Public Law #104-104, 2/8/1996): In 1990, Bart introduced legislation to regulate 1-800 and 1-900 numbers for the first time. The bill became law as part of the Telephone Disclosure and Dispute Resolution Act. The law prohibits charges on calls to 1-800 numbers, gives consumers the right to block 1-900 numbers, and requires 1-900 operators to disclose rates and give people the chance to hang up before they incur charges. Bart acted again in 1994 authoring legislation prohibiting any charges on telephone bills for calls routed through 1-800 numbers. The bill was passed into law as part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
