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WASHINGTON, DC – This week, as Congress makes a final push before recessing for the election cycle, the House passed three important Science and Technology Committee bills with broad support. Earlier this week the House passed a resolution introduced by Ranking Member Ralph Hall (R-TX) honoring the 50th anniversary of the integrated circuit, and how this invention revolutionized the electronics industry. Last evening the House passed two pieces of Committee legislation, one promoting the development of hybrid heavy duty trucks, and the other supporting firefighter training.
H.R. 6323, the Heavy Hybrid Truck Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 2008
Introduced by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), H.R. 6323 encourages hybrid research for trucks by offering manufactures grants to build, test, and eventually sell hybrid heavy duty trucks. In addition, the bill encourages the Department of Energy (DOE) to expand its advanced energy storage technology research to include hybrid trucks. H.R. 6323 passed the House last evening by voice vote.
Rep. Sensenbrenner: “H.R. 6323 is an example of a better approach for achieving energy independence. Cap and Tax programs will increase our energy costs. Worse, they will have little effect on climate change. When gas prices reached record highs, Americans responded. Our gas consumption fell. Lower demand should have caused gas prices to follow. Why did prices remain high? Because Asian consumption grew. We drove less. They drove more. Cap and Tax will have the same result. We’ll emit less. They’ll emit more. Global emissions will continue to rise even as the American share of those emissions falls. H.R. 6323 takes a different approach. It encourages the development of technologies that can reduce fuel consumption and emissions. These reductions will lower the cost of fuel and they can be exported, so they can reduce emissions worldwide.”
S.2606,to Reauthorize the Unites States Fire Administration (USFA)
S. 2606 is the Senate companion bill to H.R. 4847, which the House passed on April 3rd of this year by a vote of 412-0. The legislation reauthorizes the United States Fire Administration (USFA) for fiscal years 2009 through 2012 for the agency’s activities in training, fire education and awareness, data collection, research, and standards development and promotion. The mission of USFA is to limit economic and life loss due to fire and related emergencies, through leadership, advocacy, coordination and support. This organization provides vital assistance in the areas of training, fire education and awareness, and awards grants to a number of local fire departments across the country. The bill passed the House last evening by a vote of 418-2, and is now ready to be sent to the White House.
The lead Republican sponsor of the House bill, Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA) said: “S. 2606 authorizes USFA to continue its current operations and expand training and research in a fiscally responsible manner. The bill will provide firefighter training to over 80,000 firefighters per year and facilitate the delivery of education and training programs to firefighters through local training efforts. The United States Fire Administration is a vital link to these first responders and this agency has made substantial contributions to improving fire services throughout the country. S. 2606 will ensure that USFA remains vibrant and productive in the years to come.”
H. Res. 1471, Honoring the 50th Anniversary of the Successful Demonstration of the First Integrated Circuit and its Impact on the Electronics Industry.
Rep. Ralph Hall (R-TX): “On September 12th, 1958, in a Dallas lab of Texas Instruments, Jack St. Clair Kilby gathered a small group of coworkers to unveil a stunning achievement. Before them sat a thin piece of metal attached to monitoring equipment. When powered on, it became clear that the single piece of metal was doing the work of several simple electronic components including transistors, capacitors, and resistors. Jack had created the first microchip.
“This breakthrough, the integrated circuit, has revolutionized the world. Jack Kilby’s work, as well as fellow integrated circuit pioneers Geoffrey Dummer and Robert Noyce, heralded the beginning of an all encompassing transformation of modern society. Their work paved the way for the modern electronics industry. Electronic devices that once required a small building and teams of engineers working round the clock, now fit neatly in a pocket.
“Integrated circuits continue to be a cornerstone of the American economy and an important priority of our research and development institutions. 50 years after the first demonstration of an integrated circuit, it is fitting that Congress recognize this achievement and the importance of this sector now and in the future.”
Earlier this week, the House also passed H. Res. 1466, Honoring Dr. Guion S. “Guy” Bluford, Jr. and the 25th Anniversary of his Historic Flight as the First African American in Space (Rep. Edwards (D-MD)); and H. Res. 1390, Expressing support for the designation of a 4-H National Youth Science Day (Rep. Cardoza (D-CA)).
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