Gordon Finds Success In First Year As Chairman

January 15, 2008, WASHINGTON – In his first year as chairman of the House Science and Technology Committee, U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon found a formula for success that he says he will continue to follow in 2008.

Gordon became Tennessee’s first full House committee chairman in 30 years when he was named chairman of the House Science and Technology Committee last year. The committee maintains jurisdiction over all federal nonmilitary research and development programs, including those at the Department of Energy, NASA and the National Science Foundation.

“When I became the committee’s chairman, I wanted it to become the committee of good ideas and consensus,” said Gordon. “By working in that spirit, we’ve been able to cut through the partisanship that can stall other committees, and we accomplished good things for the nation.

“Last year alone, bills went through the committee and became laws that will reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign energy, allow the U.S. to stay competitive in the global marketplace and combat meth in Tennessee and other states.”

Consensus was reflected in the passage of Gordon’s Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act, which President Bush signed into law in December. The law, which passed the Senate with unanimous consent and passed the House by a vote of 426-2, will establish guidelines to help states and communities clean sites that were once used as makeshift meth labs.

“Tennessee has been hit especially hard by meth abuse,” said Gordon. “About 400 meth lab seizures were made in Tennessee in 2006. Only four states had more. That’s a lot of homes, motel rooms and apartments that need to be cleaned properly to ensure there is no toxic residue left behind from the production of meth. Currently, there are no federal guidelines to help communities determine if a meth lab site is clean and safe for people to live there again.”

The Science and Technology Committee also ensures that federal investments in science and technology are focused in the right areas and are succeeding in boosting the nation's economy. Gordon focused on boosting the economy and securing U.S. jobs with his America COMPETES Act, which the president signed into law in August.

The new law aims to keep the United States competitive with other nations by strengthening math and science education so the American workforce will be prepared for the jobs of the future. The America COMPETES Act also establishes an agency at the Department of Energy to concentrate on high-risk, high-reward research to produce the next generation of energy technologies.

“America COMPETES is an example of how the legislative process should work more often,” said Gordon. “Senator Lamar Alexander and I were part of a group of lawmakers who asked the National Academies for recommendations on how to keep America competitive in today’s global marketplace. The National Academies’ report advised us to improve math and science education and work to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign energy. That report was the blueprint for this legislation.”

This year, Gordon said the committee will examine issues many Middle Tennesseans have contacted him about, such as nuclear waste, water shortage problems and border security. One of the first pieces of legislation the committee plans to mark up this session is a bill to improve border security through the use of new technology.

“The Border Patrol needs all the help it can get to prevent illegal border crossings,” said Gordon. “Technology is not a substitute for manpower, but it can help the Border Patrol do its job more effectively.”