[edit] Issues in the 110th Congress

Climate Change: There have been several hearings discussing various topics including clean coal, climate change research, and ocean acidification during the 110th Congress. (see April 2007, February 2007, May 2007, respectively)

Science and Space: Hearings have included topics such as the issues facing NASA after the retirement of the space shuttle, reauthorizing the vision of space exploration and improving scientific competition and innovation with science parks. (see November 2007, May 2008, October 2007, respectively)

[edit] Hearings on Science and Technology:

February 7, 2007 Climate Change Research and Scientific Integrity

Political influence in climate change science in federal agencies is examined. The hearing consists of witnesses representing the scientific community and the Administration.

February 28, 2007) NASA Budget

The hearing focused on the budget for 2009, and its potential setbacks.

February 8, 2007 The Present and Future of Public Safety Communications

Current and future capabilities of public safety communication systems are examined, as well as proposals to improve interoperability between voice communication systems and new broadband capabilities for public safety.

February 21, 2007 Oversight on the Importation of Canadian Beef

The subcommittee on interstate commerce, trade, and tourism conduct a hearing to determine the final ruling by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on importing Canadian beef from animals older than 30 months.

February 1, 2007 Assessing the Communications Marketplace: A View from the FCC

The five Federal Communications Commission commissioners discuss pending proceedings.

March 1, 2007 Universal Service

The goals, problems, and future of universal communication service are discussed.

March 6, 2007 Policy Implications of Pharmaceutical Importation for U.S. Consumers

The safety of imported pharmaceuticals and the overall cost of pharmaceuticals are discussed.

March 7, 2007 National Imperatives for Earth Science Research

The importance of satellite observations are examined in relation to their importance to Earth Science research.

Tuesday, March 20, 2007 Energy Innovation

March 22, 2007 Federal Aviation Administration Modernization

Modernization of air traffic control is examined in order to keep pace with the expected growth of air travelers and traffic.

March 28, 2007 Transitioning to a Next Generation Human Space Flight System

The need for and potential solutions for a smooth transition from shuttle space travel to Orion space travel are examined.

March 21, 2007 Oversight Hearing on the Consumer Product Safety Commission

An overview of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) mission, goals, resources, and activities is given to the Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs, Insurance, and Automotive Safety.

April 10, 2007 Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and the Future of 9-1-1 Services

Measures to improve Enhanced 911 services, and maintain its usefulness for VoIP are examined.

April 26, 2007 Clean Coal Technology

Different clean coal technologies available are considered, such as carbon capture and sequestration, to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants.

May 1, 2007 Electronic On-Board Recorders (EOBR's) and Truck Driver Fatigue Reduction

Thursday, May 10, 2007 Effects of Climate Change and Ocean Acidification on Living Marine Resources

The effects of climate change and ocean acidification on living marine resources are examined through testimony of members of the subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard.

June 7, 2007 Oversight Review of the Investigation of the NASA Inspector General (

A joint Hearing between the Senate Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Space, Aeronautics, and Related Sciences and the House Science and Technology Committee's Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight.

June 21, 2007 Energy Efficiency Technologies and Programs

Members of the Subcommittee consider currently available technologies, and both state-sponsored and corporate programs that reduce total energy use and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

June 28, 2007 Oversight Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2008 Budget for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The hearing examines the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) programs, proposed initiatives, and NOAA's 2008 budget request.

July 11, 2007 U.S. Weather and Environmental Satellites: Ready for the 21st Century?

The state of of U.S. weather and environmental satellites is examined.

October 18, 2007 Science Parks: Bolstering U.S. Competitiveness

The role of science parks in spurring scientific innovation and competition and encouraging partnerships with academia is discussed.

October 24, 2007 The Future of Radio

November 7, 2007 Carbon Sequestration Technologies

Efforts to safely and efficiently sequester carbon dioxide emissions are examined.

November 14, 2007 A Time for Change: Improving the Federal Climate Change Research and Information Program

Needed changes for the U.S. Global Change Research Program - which coordinates and directs federal climate change research - are discussed.

November 14, 2007 Briefing on the San Francisco Bay Oil Spill

November 15, 2007 Issues Facing the U.S. Space Program after Retirement of the Space Shuttle

Issues related to the retirement of the shuttle program are discussed, including NASA's plan of compensation if mission requirements are not met.

December 18, 2007 Oil Spills from Non-tank Vessels: Threats, Risks, and Vulnerabilities

The risks, threats and vulnerabilities of oil spills from non-tank vessels are examined.

February 19, 2008 Impacts of the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan on Maine’s Lobster Fishery

"This hearing will focus on the new regulations implementing the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan that were issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service in October 2007 and the impact of these regulations on Maine's fisheries and communities."

February 27, 2008 A Review of NASA’s Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Request

NASA's Fiscal Year 2009 budget request is reviewed.

March 11, 2008 The FY 2009 Budget Proposal to Support U.S. Basic Research

The importance of basic research to U.S. competitiveness is explored

March 19, 2008 Climate Change Impacts and Responses in Island Communities

Climate issues facing Hawaii and other Pacific islands are examined, as well as disaster preparedness, agriculture research, and clean energy technology.

April 3, 2008 International Fisheries: Management and Enforcement

International fisheries issues are addressed.

April 9, 2008 Gasification Technologies and the Need for Large Scale Projects (Wednesday, April 9, 2008)

Coal Gasification technologies are examined in terms of their advantages and challenges against traditional methods.

April 22, 2008 The Future of the Internet

The hearing will focus on developing applications, consumer expectations, and network operation.

April 24, 2008 National Nanotechnology Initiative: Charting the Course for Reauthorization

The five year period since the National Nanotechnology Initiative is examined to explore issues that should be considered for reauthorization.

April 10, 2008 Aviation Safety Oversight Hearing

The hearing examines aviation safety issues, and the FAA's response: Air Transportation Oversight System (ATOS).

May 6, 2008 The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Oversight Hearing of 2008

The hearing will provide an opportunity to address general NOAA oversight issues facing the agency during the remaining session of the 110th Congress, as well as the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2009 budget request. Additionally, this hearing will gather testimony from witnesses regarding current issues facing the National Marine Sanctuaries Program.

Specifically, the testimony will focus on legislation that was introduced earlier this Congress, which seeks to expand three existing National Marine Sanctuaries including the Thunder Bay Sanctuary in Michigan, and the Cordell Bank and the Gulf of the Farallones Sanctuaries in California. These bills were introduced by Senators Levin and Boxer respectively. (excerpted directly from hearing description)

May 7, 2008) Reauthorizing the Vision for Space Exploration

Challenges of the pending retirement of the Shuttle and the impending gap of U.S. human access to space as well as the need for balanced research are discussed.

May 8, 2008 Improving the Capacity of U.S. Climate Modeling for Decisionmakers and End-Users

The importance of computing power, continuous data, and the basic science needed to make reliable models and pursuing the ends needed to achieve accurate models are discussed.

May 14, 2008 Plastic Additives in Consumer Products

The hearing will examine: 1) chemicals in plastics found in consumer products, specifically phthalates and BPA; 2) the health implications of these chemicals and their alternatives; and 3) federal government assessments of the toxicity of these chemicals.(excerpted directly from hearing description)

May 27, 2008 Effects of Climate Change on Marine and Coastal Ecosystems in Washington

Witnesses will testify to the effects of climate change and ocean acidification on ecosystems, coastal communities, and living marine resources.

June 3, 2008 Energy Market Manipulation and Federal Enforcement Regimes

"The hearing will examine energy market manipulation and federal enforcement regimes. The hearing will also consider the current state of the oil and gas markets and their impact on consumers, as well as solicit testimony and discussion as to the key factors the Federal Trade Commission should incorporate into its upcoming rulemaking on its new responsibility to prevent manipulation in the wholesale oil and petroleum distillate markets".

June 23, 2008 Preparing for the Workforce Transition at Kennedy Space Center

Solutions to mitigate adverse affects of transition from Shuttle space flight to Orion space flight on the space community are discussed.

June 24, 2008 Climate Change Impacts on the Transportation Sector

The potential impacts of climate change on the transportation infrastructure are examined

July 9, 2008 Fishing Safety: The Policy Implications of Cooperatives and Vessel Improvements

"The hearing will address fishing safety issues in the context of cooperatives and vessel improvements, specifically with regards to legislative proposals on the topics of the American Fisheries Act vessel replacement, and the Freezer Longline Pacific Cod Cooperative. Senator Cantwell will preside."

September 24, 2008 The Safety and Security of Spent Nuclear Fuel Transportation

This full committee hearing examines the safety and security challenges facing the transportation of spent nuclear fuel, and reviews the current regulatory structure of spent nuclear fuel transportation.

September 25, 2008 Broadband Providers and Consumer Privacy

This full committee hearing examines the practices of the broadband providers in relation to consumer privacy.

October 14, 2008 Sustainability of Maine's Groundfish Industry

The Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard subcommittee addresses "...the impacts of impending changes to the regulatory structure of the New England Multispecies (groundfish) Fishery on Maine’s fishing industry." with a focus on "...the development of and need for the proposed changes...the state of the science that informs New England’s fisheries managers and...the long-term viability of Maine’s groundfish industry and ways to ensure a future for the traditional fishing communities."

[edit] Related Reports

An AAAS Funding Update for NASA's R&D in FY 2009 was released. It mentioned the Constellation Systems Program, the International Space Station, and research in the area. Also discussed were potential budgetary cuts to heliophysics and astrophysics. Finally, a table was prepared listing their 2008 estimates and requests for the fiscal year of 2009.

According to an article in Space Florida News, "Space Florida, the principal organization charged by the Florida legislature with promoting and developing Florida's aerospace industry, participated in a field hearing today held at the Cape Canaveral Port Authority. Steve Kohler, president of Space Florida, addressed Senators Nelson and Martinez regarding actions that Space Florida is taking to help address the workforce transition expected at Kennedy Space Center in 2010 when the Space Shuttle program comes to an end."