Bart Gordon

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 2009 Riverdale High School Lady Warriors for winning their first TSSAA Class AAA State Softball Championship. In a best of three series, the Lady Warriors fought back after a game-one loss and beat Beech High School's Lady Buccaneers two games in a row to secure the tournament championship. They showed tenacity and perseverance to emerge as victors, and finished the season with an overall record of 47-7. I know the parents of these young ladies must be very proud, and much credit is due to them for their many hours of support, attending practices and games, helping with fundraisers and volunteering when needed. I commend Riverdale High School Head Coach Jeff Breeden and Assistant Coaches Dennis Weaver and Falon Catalano, Athletic Director Barry Messer, and Principal Tom Nolan. I congratulate each player of the 2009 AAA State Champion Lady Warrior Softball Team: Kacie Walker, Amber Castleman, Amber Bailey, Anne Russell, Samantha Hoadwonic, Megan Chesney, Hannah Porter, Alice O'Brien, Maria Frebis, Morgan Lester, Courtney Clark, Breana Thomas, Donte Souviney, Brittany Pendergrast, Ashia Terry, Jessica Ayers, Mary Beth Canterberry, Megan Kelley, Taylor Lee, Casey Clark, Kelsey Choate, Dene Souviney, Leslie Cope, Tara Greer, Amy Russell, Megan Quinn, Rachel Albritton, and Katie Brown.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of the ``FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009''. The bill that is before us represents Congress working together on a bipartisan basis across committee boundaries to meet the needs of the American people. I am pleased that the base text of H.R. 915 includes the updated set of provisions of H.R. 2698, the ``Federal Aviation Research and Development Reauthorization Act of 2007'', which was passed unanimously by the Science and Technology Committee in the 110th Congress. I appreciate the leadership of Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar and Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Jerry Costello and their willingness to work with my committee to ensure that our provisions were included so that we can present this House with a comprehensive piece of legislation. I also want to express my appreciation to Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member John Mica and Aviation Subcommittee Ranking Member Tom Petri. In addition, none of this would have been possible without the support and cooperation of Ranking Member Ralph Hall. I feel that our work together across party lines and across committee jurIsdictions is in many ways a model of how committees should cooperate to move important legislation. Mr. Chair, in view of the limited time, I will not dwell on the many good provisions included in this bill. I would simply assure my colleagues that this legislation authorizes funding in sections 102 and 104 for a number of important R&D programs related to improving safety, reducing noise and other environmental impacts, and increasing the efficiency of the air transportation system. In addition, the bill establishes important new research initiatives on the impact of aviation on the climate, research on runway materials and engineered materials restraining systems, and aviation gas, as well as calling for independent assessments of FAA's safety R&D programs and its energy and environmental R&D programs. This legislation also incorporates provisions intended to ensure that the Next Generation Air Transportation System [NextGen] initiative succeeds. Everyone recognizes that changes are needed to our air transportation system. Thus this bill includes measures to address the needs of the NextGen system, including strengthening both the authority and the accountability of the NextGen Joint Planning and Development Office--JPDO--because the success or failure of NextGen is going to determine in large measure whether or not the nation will have a safe and efficient air traffic management system in the future. However, it is clear that FAA cannot ensure the successful development of the nation's future air transportation system on its own. As the establishment of the interagency JPDO by Congress in the Vision 100 Act indicates, it is going to take the combined efforts of multiple federal agencies, working in partnership with industry and the academic community, to make the NextGen initiative a success. NASA, in particular, has an important R&D role to play, and that is something that the Science and Technology Committee will devote attention to as we work on reauthorizing NASA in this Congress. For now, however, our focus is on the FAA, and I think that H.R. 915 is a good bill that will help ensure that America's aviation system remains safe and preeminent in the world. I support the bill, as well as the manager's amendment that will be offered by Chairman Oberstar that contains several provisions in the jurisdiction of the Science and Technology Committee. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 915.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 387) supporting the goals and ideals of National Hurricane Preparedness Week.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 387, the resolution now under consideration.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, on June 1, hurricane season begins in the Atlantic Ocean. Noted hurricane forecasters at Colorado State University have predicted an above-average year for tropical storms and hurricanes for 2009. It is, therefore, very timely to consider this resolution recognizing the importance of Hurricane Preparedness Week. As the tragedy of Katrina in 2005 showed us, it is not just the strength of the storm that determines the destruction on the ground. Just as important is the preparedness of the communities that are impacted. Katrina took almost 1,500 lives and caused damages totaling $81 billion. It was the one of the costliest natural disasters in the Nation's history. However, Katrina, a category 3 storm at landfall, was not an especially powerful storm. In fact, there were three other category 3 storms that struck the U.S. in 2005, but none of them caused the same level of damage and destruction. This is a sobering lesson in the importance of hurricane preparedness. It is vitally important that Federal, State and local governments work together to better prepare the coastal communities for these powerful storms. And I want to thank my friend from Florida who has firsthand knowledge of these problems, Mr. Diaz- Balart, for introducing this important resolution. I urge my colleagues to support it. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, in conclusion, I want to again thank Mr. Diaz-Balart for introducing this legislation. He understands this in a very personal way. This resolution can help save lives. I urge adoption of the resolution. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H. Res. 413, supporting the goals and ideals of IEEE Engineering the Future Day on May 13, 2009. I want to thank my good friend from Florida (Mr. Stearns) for working with me to introduce this resolution. Mr. Stearns holds a degree in electrical engineering and served in the Air Force as an aerospace engineer. So I think his sponsorship of this resolution is very appropriate. The IEEE is the world's largest technical professional society, with more than 375,000 members worldwide, including 210,000 in the United States. It is made up primarily of engineers, scientists, engineering professors, computer and technical professionals. The organization's core purpose is to foster technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity. IEEE supports programs that improve K-12 science, technology, engineering and mathematics education and technical literacy. Its vast library of technical publications, worldwide conferences and global standards make it a powerful force for technological leadership. To celebrate its 125th anniversary, IEEE will hold the IEEE Engineering the Future Day tomorrow, May 13, 2009, to recognize the contributions and impact that IEEE, its members, and the engineering and technological professions have made, and to raise public awareness of the diverse opportunities available in different technological fields. I ask my colleagues to help pass H. Res. 413, to recognize the importance of engineering and technology in meeting our Nation's most pressing challenges; congratulate IEEE on its 125th anniversary; and support the goals and ideas of the IEEE Engineering the Future Day on May 13. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I will conclude by thanking Mr. Stearns, my friend from Florida, for introducing this resolution. 125 years is a long time in the history of this country, and certainly to originate out of Thomas Edison demonstrates this is a very important organization. I thank Mr. Stearns for bringing this to our attention.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my friend from Florida (Mr. Stearns), a cosponsor of this resolution.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 413) supporting the goals and ideals of ``IEEE Engineering the Future'' Day on May 13, 2009, and for other purposes.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. 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. 413, the resolution now under consideration.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. We have no further speakers. I reserve the time.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 2020 is a good bipartisan bill which I and Mr. Hall introduced along with a number of our committee colleagues. H.R. 2020 continues to improve and update a program that was originally created in the High- Performance Computing Act of 1991. The NITRD program, as it is known, involves a collaboration of more than one dozen Federal research and development agencies for a current total Federal investment of approximately $3.5 billion. This may sound like a lot, but the European Union is investing $7 billion over the next 5 years in cyberphysical systems alone. To ensure we make the most effective use of our own resources and to remain a leader in these fields, it is critical that these many agencies come together to develop common goals and well-defined strategies. H.R. 2020 strengthens the interagency planning, coordination and prioritization for NITRD by requiring the development and periodic update of the strategic plan, informed by both industry and academia. This plan is meant to create a vision for networking and information technology, R&D, across the Federal Government, and provides specific metrics for measuring progress toward that vision. Next, the bill calls for an increased support of large-scale, long- term interdisciplinary research in networking and information technology that will help us tackle national challenges. These large- scale, long-term investments can provide substantial benefits to society, such as improving the effectiveness and efficiency of our health care and energy delivery systems. Finally, H.R. 2020 promotes partnerships between the Federal Government, academia, and industry to foster technological transfer. It makes certain that the existing independent advisory committee will have the technical knowledge necessary to guide the program, and it ensures that the education of the future NITRD force remains an important component of the program. Many organizations support this legislation, including IBM, Association of Computing Machinery, Computing Research Association, IEEE-USA, and Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics. Our nearly 20-year investment in the NITRD program has helped create jobs across all sectors of our economy and contributed immeasurably to our economic and national security. Given how rapidly these fields evolve, a comprehensive look at the NITRD program by Congress is timely. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2020. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida for his kind remarks and associating with his description of this very good bill. I also want to say a special thanks to a former staff member of our committee, Jim Wilson, who was the staff director for the Research, Science and Education Committee. One of his last pieces of work before he left our committee was to put the framework for this bill together, and then working together with the good bipartisan staff that we have now, we have even a better bill. I thank him and I thank our current staff.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, we have no further speakers.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. 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. 2020, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2020) to amend the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 to authorize activities for support of networking and information technology research, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Chairman, Chairman Oberstar and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee staff have worked with us very constructively on this legislation, and I'd like to insert an exchange of letters into the Record between Mr. Oberstar and myself. House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Washington, DC, April 17, 2009. Hon. Bart Gordon, Chairman, Committee on Science and Technology, House of Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Gordon: I write to you regarding H.R. 1145, the ``National Water Research and Development Initiative Act of 2009''. This legislation directs the President to implement a National Water Research and Development Initiative. H.R. 1145 contains provisions that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. I recognize and appreciate your desire to bring this legislation before the House in an expeditious manner and, accordingly, I will not seek a sequential referral of the bill. However, I agree to waive consideration of this bill with the mutual understanding that my decision to forgo a sequential referral of the bill does not waive, reduce, or otherwise affect the jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure over H.R. 1145. Further, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure reserves the right to seek the appointment of conferees during any House-Senate conference convened on this legislation on provisions of the bill that are within the Committee's jurisdiction. I ask for your commitment to support any request by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for the appointment of conferees on H.R. 1145 or similar legislation. Please place a copy of this letter and your response acknowledging the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure's jurisdictional interest in the Committee Report on H.R. 1145 and in the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure on the House Floor. I look forward to working with you as we prepare to pass this important legislation. Sincerely, James L. Oberstar, Chairman.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this motion; although I do not oppose the motion.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Halvorson).

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), and I want to thank her for her important contribution to this amendment.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Let me just thank the gentlewoman for her amendment and her leadership on our committee in terms of space and science. This amendment makes our bill a better bill.

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Clerk be authorized to make technical corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 1145, including corrections in spelling, punctuation, section and title numbering, cross-referencing, conforming amendments to the table of contents and short titles, and the insertion of appropriate headings.