Brian Baird

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1736, to provide for the establishment of a committee to identify and coordinate international science and technology cooperation that can strengthen the domestic science and technology enterprise and support United States foreign policy goals, as amended.

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 1736, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. It is fitting that H.R. 1736 is coming to the floor of the House in the same week as the Foreign Relations Authorization Act because science and technology can play a truly unique role in improving our foreign relations. Science is a universal language built on a foundation of prior discoveries and advancements that have originated from all corners of the globe. Science diplomacy presents a unique and essential opportunity to develop its sustained friendships and collaborations into the future. International surveys consistently show that the people in other nations admire our scientific and technological achievements and opportunities more than almost any other feature of the United States. What is more, in countless nations, many of the political, economic, and social leaders have at one time or another studied in our Nation or have worked for an American business. From a diplomatic perspective, the benefit of these connections is valuable beyond measure. The scientists, their students and, of course, the science, itself, all benefit from this scholarly exchange, but so do our national security and economic prosperity. The intellectual input of the foreign scientists helps build that discovery that leads to new technologies and to new intellectual property in the United States, and the exchange of scientists and their students helps to build mutual trust and understanding between people who may otherwise be inclined to avoid or even fear each other. The science side of scientific diplomacy receives comparable benefits from international collaborations. While the U.S. continues to lead the world overall in scientific and technological achievements, by no means do we have a monopoly on knowledge or talent. Our scientists, students, industry, and academic institutions are all dramatically enhanced by interactions with international peers. Science diplomacy is also central to meeting shared global challenges and opportunities. Climate change, ocean acidification, drug resistant diseases, economic crises, energy shortages, poverty, food and nutrition, Internet and telecommunications, space exploration, and conflict resolution are all being addressed and advanced thanks to international scientific collaboration. In an Internet-connected world, everyone is impacted by these challenges. Everyone has a stake in the solutions, and we can only succeed if the brightest minds from around the world work together effectively. Ideally, science diplomacy is not just about U.S. scientists working collaboratively with others; it is about all scientists working together with all scientists regardless of physical location or of national boundaries. H.R. 1736 would reconstitute a Committee on International Science, Engineering and Technology, CISET, under the National Science and Technology Council, which is the interagency coordinating council managed by the Office of Science and Technology Policy. A renewed and reinvigorated CISET would strengthen interagency coordination among the technical agencies and between the technical agencies and the Department of State. Its purpose would be to ensure that the richness of S&T resources within our technical agencies are brought to bear on our foreign policy wherever appropriate and that our own domestic agencies are working closely with the State Department to leverage scientific and technical expertise and resources around the world in pursuit of solutions to global challenges and opportunities. I would urge its passage. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BAIRD. I thank the gentleman for his support and for his comments. Madam Speaker, this is a bill that has had a number of hearings and on which we have focused a great deal of attention in our committee. Having had the privilege recently to travel internationally and to meet with science leaders around the world, I know personally of the importance. I also want to acknowledge that President Obama mentioned the importance of scientific exchanges and collaboration in his recent speech in Cairo and in other recent speeches as has his head of OSTP, John Holdren. Finally, I want to thank Chairman Berman, Chairman Gordon, Dr. Ehlers from Michigan, and Mr. Carnahan for their work. I want to, at this point, insert an exchange of letters between Chairman Berman and Chairman Gordon into the Record. House of Representatives, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC, May 21, 2009. Hon. Bart Gordon, Chairman, Committee on Science and Technology, House of Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing to you concerning H.R. 1736, the International Science and Technology Cooperation Act of 2009. This bill contains provisions within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. In the interest of permitting your Committee to proceed expeditiously to floor consideration of this important bill, I am willing to waive this Committee's right to mark up this bill. I do so with the understanding that by waiving consideration of the bill, the Committee on Foreign Affairs does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in the bill which fall within its Rule X jurisdiction. Further, I request your support for the appointment of Foreign Affairs Committee conferees during any House-Senate conference convened on this legislation. I would ask that you place this letter into the Committee Report on H.R. 1736. I look forward to working with you as we move this important measure through the legislative process. Sincerely, Howard L. Berman, Chairman.

Mr. BAIRD. Having no further requests, again, I thank the gentleman, and urge passage of the bill.

Mr. BAIRD. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1709) to establish a committee under the National Science and Technology Council with the responsibility to coordinate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education activities and programs of all Federal agencies, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 1709, as amended, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. BAIRD. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, over the past decade, report after report has come out highlighting the importance of science, technology, engineering, and math, so-called STEM education, to our Nation's competitiveness in the rapidly changing 21st century economy. The National Academy's report ``Rising above the Gathering Storm'' sent up a red flag that our Nation's standing as a global leader is at risk if we do not improve STEM education in the country. The first and highest priority recommendation of the Gathering Storm report was to ``increase America's talent pool by vastly improving K-12 science and mathematics education.'' My colleagues and I on the Science and Technology Committee are passionate about this issue. Over the course of the last 2 years, under the leadership of Chairman Gordon, the committee held several hearings with STEM educators and agency representatives to explore what role the Federal Government can play in improving STEM education. A key recommendation that came up time and time again was the need for the interagency coordination of Federal STEM education activities and to improve the dissemination of these activities to practitioners. It will undoubtedly require strong commitment and leadership at the local and State levels to address the shortcomings of our Nation's science and math education system. The Federal Government also has a role to play because of the richness of the S&T resources in our Federal agencies. There are already many valuable programs being funded through the Federal agencies that could play an important role in sharing knowledge and passion for STEM with students, teachers, and with the general public. Unfortunately, many of the agencies have had difficulty in evaluating their programs and in building an awareness of those programs among teachers. In order to make the most effective use of our Federal investment in STEM education, it is crucial that the agencies have a forum where they can come together to discuss tools for improved dissemination, to share research findings, and to create common metrics for evaluation. H.R. 1709 would establish a committee on STEM education under the National Science and Technology Council at the Office of Science and Technology Policy. This committee would be charged with coordinating the STEM education programs and activities being funded through the Federal R&D mission agencies. This bill also requires that the committee establish and maintain a comprehensive inventory of federally sponsored STEM education activities. This will be a valuable database that will help STEM educators across the country learn of the resources the Federal Government has to offer. This is a strong, bipartisan bill. I want to commend Chairman Gordon, Mr. Hall, Dr. Lipinski, and Dr. Ehlers for introducing it and for their continued leadership on this issue. I would also like to thank Chairman Miller of the Education and Labor Committee for working with us to bring this bill to the floor. I would like to insert an exchange of letters between Chairman Gordon and Chairman Miller at this time. House of Representatives, Committee on Education and Labor, Washington, DC, June 1, 2009. Hon. Bart Gordon, Chairman, Committee on Science and Technology, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Gordon: I write to confirm our mutual understanding regarding H.R. 1709, the STEM Education Coordination Act of 2009. This legislation contains subject matter within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Education and Labor. However, in order to expedite floor consideration of this important legislation, the Committee waives consideration of the bill. The Committee on Education and Labor takes this action only with the understanding that the committee's jurisdictional interests over this and similar legislation are in no way diminished or altered. The Committee also reserves the right to seek appointment to any House-Senate conference on this legislation and would appreciate your support if such a request is made. Finally, I ask that you please include this letter in the Congressional Record during consideration of H.R. 1709 on the House Floor. Thank you for your attention and cooperation. Sincerely, George Miller, Chairman.

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis), a valuable member of the committee who has been particularly concerned about STEM education.

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I would just recognize myself for just a brief comment. The gentleman from Georgia has repeatedly in the Science Committee and on the floor of the House demonstrated the urgent need to improve STEM education in this country, and I thank him for that. I would reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, with no other speakers, I urge passage of this important legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 492) supporting the goals and ideals of High- Performance Building Week.

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 492, the resolution now under consideration.

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I'm pleased the House is considering H. Res. 492, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of High-Performance Building Week, which is next week, June 15 through June 19. I would like to thank my good friend from Missouri, Congressman Russ Carnahan, and our colleague Judy Biggert from Illinois for their leadership on this important issue and for their outstanding work as the cochairs of the High-Performance Buildings Caucus. Buildings consume 40 percent of the energy in the United States. This is more energy than any other sector of the economy. Deployment of high-performance buildings can reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment of the Science and Technology Committee, I recognize the importance of energy efficiency and sustainability in the building sector. On April 28 of this year, we held a hearing entitled Pushing the Efficiency Envelope: R&D for High-Performance Buildings. I am happy to report that we are working on legislation to address several important issues identified at this hearing. H. Res. 492 creates a greater public awareness about high-performance buildings and recognizes the need to continue research and development for innovative energy-efficient technologies. I urge all Members to support H. Res. 492. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BAIRD. I have no speakers at this time. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I just want to commend Mrs. Biggert and Mr. Carnahan. It is particularly impressive to me when Members of Congress pick issues that might be under the radar for most people but have tremendous importance. And as the gentlelady's comments and my colleague from Texas observe, the percentage of energy consumed by buildings is phenomenal. It is the largest single energy consumer in this country, and their leadership on recognizing this and moving forward with positive solutions is particularly noteworthy and merits commendation. We argue sometimes here about whether it should be one form of power or another, but we can all agree that saving energy is in the best interest of this country and that buildings, and high- performance buildings, are one of the best possible and most economically responsible ways to do so. And I would commend the gentlelady and her colleague, Mr. Carnahan. With that, I reserve my time.

Mr. BAIRD. Having no further speakers, I yield back the balance of my time and urge passage of this valuable legislation.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dewey Smith, a young man who tragically lost his life on Tuesday, May 5, this past Tuesday, in the course of his duties at the Aquarius Undersea Research Station. He will be greatly missed by his friends, his family, and his colleagues. Dewey's life was tied to the sea from his childhood growing up on the Gulf Coast in Panama City, Florida. As a young man, he served his country as a United States Navy hospital corpsman. For 5 years, he cared for the health and well-being of his fellow sailors. After leaving the Navy and attending college, he found himself at home back in the water, training at Florida State University's underwater crime scene investigation program focusing on scientific and surface supply diving. Eventually, his path led him to NOAA's Undersea Research Center, Aquarius. Aquarius combined the elements of Dewey's passion for science and the sea. Located 3\1/2\ miles off the coast of Key Largo, Florida, the underwater laboratory is dedicated to scientific research and training missions. It is the only permanent underwater laboratory in the world, and its facilities are used in partnership with NASA, the Navy, and countless scientists around the world to train astronauts, divers, and develop new technology. Since it began operation in 1993 at its current location, Aquarius and its team have safely conducted more than 90 missions with no significant prior accidents. The contribution to ocean science by Dewey Smith and his fellow aquanauts is immeasurable. The Aquarius Reef Base supports a long-term coral reef monitoring platform, an ocean observation platform, and surface-based research. Since its inception, the team at Aquarius has employed a coral reef and fish monitoring assessment program to track the devastating impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems. Aquanauts such as Dewey Smith have also successfully reached out to the world beyond the scientific community, successfully educating school children, environmental activists, and government agencies on the changes occurring in the world's oceans. Employing state-of-the-art communication technology, the aquanauts correspond with students and the public while underwater on long-term missions. Dewey's response to school children's questions reveal not only his expertise and eloquence, but his sincere desire to share that knowledge gained at Aquarius in the hopes of saving the marine ecosystem he worked with. The work done at Aquarius by brave aquanauts such as Dewey Smith improves the lives of many Americans, from astronauts, whose health and safety are ensured through technology developed underwater, to fishermen, whose livelihoods depend on understanding the effects of climate change on the world's marine ecosystems. Mr. Speaker, this Monday, quite rightfully, our Nation will gaze in wonder and admiration at the astronauts who will lift off yet again in the space shuttle. As courageous and important as the work those astronauts do, I believe that the work done by the aquanauts at Aquarius is no less courageous and no less essential to our understanding of our world and the well-being of civilization. Dewey Smith, along with the other Aquarius aquanauts, risked and committed his life daily not only for his love of the sea but for the cause of research, education, and conservation, which benefits us all. In a few short minutes on Tuesday afternoon, a dedicated aquanaut was suddenly lost in the course of an otherwise standard mission. Let us not risk losing the work, however, that he was so passionate about. I stand today not only to mourn the death of a beloved friend, son, brother, and colleague, but to urge that this mission continue. Looking forward, I hope that Dewey's life will continue to inspire the important work of preserving the world's oceans. I offer my sincere condolence to Dewey Smith's family, to the entire Aquarius team, and ask that this House honor him as a man who died serving his country in pursuit of scientific progress. Mr. Speaker, I ask the House observe a moment of silence in honor of this courageous government employee and researcher.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to highlight the NOAA Underseas Research Program Act which is included in this bill, and establishes an important and proven system of undersea research techniques. The language in the present legislation does not specifically mention the Aquarius Undersea Laboratory, and I would like to recognize the crucial and cutting-edge work done at Aquarius, and I want to mention for the record it is owned by NOAA. Therefore, I wish to clarify that whenever the legislation we are considering mentions the extramural centers and the National Institute for Science and Technology, it is understood that Aquarius is included. In closing, I wish to commend the staff at Aquarius for the critical work they have done, and I wish to express my support for their continued research.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Will the gentleman yield? Mr. Speaker, the prior gentleman described greed, dishonesty, and some other thing as a motivation for the bill. Would the Speaker please remind the gentleman that questioning motivation is not acceptable? Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. BAIRD. Title XII of S. 22 contains four important ocean bills, including the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act. For those who are unfamiliar with it, what this bill deals with is one of the grave threats of carbon buildup in the atmosphere and in the oceans. Briefly, 25 percent of the carbon that is emitted is dissolved in the ocean. That makes the water more acidic, more acidic water creates difficulties for shellfish acquiring the minerals they need, and that applies to everything from phytoplankton to oysters, crabs, et cetera. It is a grave threat to the Nation and to the environment of the planet, and this bill is a major step forward in addressing this critical need. I applaud this bill not only for this portion of the ocean element, but three other critical pieces of legislation to better understand our ocean, and urge its passage.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, unfortunately, due to record flooding in my congressional district and across Washington State, I was unable to be present on January 9, 2009 for votes. I take my voting responsibility very seriously. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on final passage of H.R. 11, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. I would also have voted ``aye'' on final passage of H.R. 12, the Paycheck Fairness Act. I am an original cosponsor of both bills, voted for their passage in the 110th Congress, and have been a strong and consistent supporter of legislation to end gender-based wage discrimination. I strongly oppose all forms of discrimination and believe that we must act to restore the right for women to challenge wage discrimination. I was also not able to cast a vote on H. Res. 34, Recognizing Israel's right to defend itself against attacks from Gaza, reaffirming the United States strong support for Israel, and supporting the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. I have traveled to the region and met the families and individuals who are affected by the cycle of violence that continues to claim lives and wreak havoc on all sides of this conflict. As we continue to witness the humanitarian crisis spiral out of control in Gaza, and while rocket attacks persist against Israel, we are reminded that it is imperative for the United States to play a constructive role in pursuing a legitimate peace process that provides security and stability to the many innocent people trapped in the midst of this untenable status quo. Therefore, I would have voted present on this resolution.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Clark College, located in America's Vancouver, on its 75th anniversary. Clark College can trace its beginnings to the Nation's Depression. The school's founders had a simple, but challenging concept: provide opportunity to students who might otherwise give up on college because they couldn't afford to live away from home. Even though the founders were driven by a sense of urgency, they took the time to make sure that they provided students with a quality education. They offered smaller classes with more personalized instruction. The goal was to deliver courses for lower-division students that would give them the background and tools they needed to go on to larger institutions for specialized, upper-division work. And as many transfer students would discover time and again, Clark graduates often were regarded as having superior training to those who had completed freshman and sophomore levels at the very 4-year universities accepting those transferred credits. In its 75th year, Clark College continues to meet the ever-evolving education needs of people in our community. Graduates continue to share stories of how Clark College was a starting point for professional and personal achievement. During the 2007-2008 academic year, 1,129 Clark College students earned more than 1,252 associate degrees and certificates from Clark College. In addition, 25 students received their high school diplomas and 853 men and women earned their general educational development certificates. Clark also welcomed more than 1,000 ``Running Start'' students from 29 local high schools. Besides diplomas and certificates, Clark College students receive career and technical training that provides access to immediate employment. Through these programs, displaced workers receive retraining. Mature students and other lifetime learners have access to a variety of courses to enrich their lives. Clark College forges community links by consulting with businesses to ensure that students are meeting the needs of employers. Clark College assists businesses with training and has formed partnerships with companies to offer specialized workforce skills. Clark College is also a community resource for political forums and arts-related events such as concerts, plays, lectures, exhibits, films and its perennially popular jazz festival. Together with YWCA Clark County, Clark hosts the annual Women of Achievement awards, an occasion of regional significance. Not content with merely following trends, Clark's faculty and staff members have taken the lead in devoting their time and talents to many pioneering efforts. In 2006, Clark became the first college in the state to become tobacco-free. Clark was one of the first Washington community colleges to harness the Internet for student education, and continue to expand technical programs such as eLearning, which provides classes via the Internet and multimedia formats. On behalf of the citizens of Washington's Third Congressional District, I am proud to congratulate Clark College on its 75th anniversary. Members of the Clark College community can rightfully take pride in their history, their legacy, and--more importantly--their future in building a foundation for student success.

Mr. BAIRD

Mr. BAIRD. I thank the gentleman. Before coming to Congress, I spent 23 years as a clinical psychologist. Let me share with you two key points. One, mental illness is not only debilitating, it can be fatal. But we can treat mental illness. The treatment for mental illness is research based. It is effective, it is cost effective, and it saves the American people in terms of quality of lives and dollars, and it is long past time that we stop discriminating. I want to commend Patrick Kennedy, Jim Ramstad, all the cosponsors of this bill, and all the associations and the individuals who have worked so hard to, at long last, see it pass. Support this good bill. Make mental health parity reality at long last.