[edit] Education

• Educational Training
  • With a vote of 416-0 the House of Representative approved the Green Energy Education Act of 2007 (H.R. 1716) in June of 2007. The bill will allow the Secretary of Energy to contribute research and development funds to the National Science Foundation for the purpose of supporting graduate education that is related to energy technology. It also authorizes the Secretary to provide funds for the improvement of undergraduate and graduate engineering and architecture curriculum on the design and construction of "high performance buildings." Representative Bartlett voted for this bill. H.R. 1716 was ultimately integrated into the America COMPETES Act (H.R. 2272) which is now law, but was not fully funded in the budget.
• Educational Funding
  • Representative Bartlett voted for the 10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds Science and Math Scholarship Act (H.R. 362). The legislation will require the National Science Foundation to increase its funding of the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship program with the goal of increasing the number of math and science teachers by up to 10,000 per year. The Noyce program provides scholarships to math, science, technology, and engineering students who commit to becoming teachers upon graduation. The legislation passed with a vote of 389-22.
• STEM Education
  • On his website (August 12, 2009), Representative Bartlett emphasizes the important role that Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education must play in educating America's children, saying:
    • "I also believe it is important to encourage students to pursue degrees in math, science and engineering, better enabling the United States to be on the cusp of R&D. I have always supported legislation to fund science education in order to better support students in their development toward important breakthroughs."
• Teaching Evolution/Intelligent Design
  • Nothing posted to date

[edit] Energy

• Clean Coal Technology
  • Nothing posted to date
• Drilling
  • In May of 2008, Representative Bartlett was criticized by his opponent for reversing his stance on drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) after co-sponsoring The American Energy Independence and Price Reduction Act (H.R. 6107), which directs the Secretary of the Interior to implement a gas leasing plan on the coastal plain of Alaska.^[1] ** In a press release announcing his sponsorship of the legislation, Bartlett states "I am joining as an original cosponsor of this new bill because it dedicates the entire federal share of revenues from ANWR to increase federal investments in the research, development and production of cleaner domestic, alternative and renewable sources of energy, energy efficiency and conservation. Of course, it is impossible to drill without some environmental impact. However, I have been to ANWR. I am convinced that the environmental impact will be minimal.” ^[2]
• Energy Efficiency
  • On June 29, 2009, Representative Bartlett hosted the Go Green Energy Conference in Frederick, Maryland, to provide constituents with "practical ways you can save money, use less energy, and help our country transition to domestic, cleaner and renewable energy sources" and to "make every day Earth Day."
• Energy Policy
  • Introduced on 5/15/2009 by Rep. Waxman and cosponsored by Rep. Markey, the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454) aims to create jobs, protect the environment, and increase American energy independence through new regulation of utilities and industry, as well as investment in an array of new technologies. Key provisions of this bill include: mandating that, by 2020, utilities meet 20% of their electricity demand through increased efficiency and/or renewable sources, implement new energy efficiency regulations for buildings and appliances, reduce carbon emissions from large US by more than 80% by 2050, as well as investing in new clean energy technologies and improving the energy efficiency of existing technology.
    
    Representative Bartlett voted against this bill.
• Fuel Economy Standards
  • Bartlett has expressed his support for switching our nation's automobiles to use flex-fuels, which includes gasoline, ethanol, and methanol. He believes our oil supply is in a permanent decline, and thus a new solution is necessary. He said, "[O]ur average car is on the road a number of years. And who knows what's going to happen 10-to-15 years from now when a number of these cars will still be on the road? Absolutely we should go flex-fuel with every one of our cars." ^[3]
• Nuclear Power
  • Template:Vote-EnergyDeptAppropriations2010House
• Renewable Energy
  • Representative Bartlett has been an outspoken critic of America's dependence on foreign oil and has often supported renewable energy legislation in Congress.^[4] In 2005, Representative Bartlett co-founded the Congressional Peak Oil Caucus with then-Representative Tom Udall (D-NM) to focus Congress on find a solution to America's oil dependency.^[5][6] On his website (August 12, 2009), Representative Bartlett says:
    • "Oil dependency is increasing at such a rapid rate that it will eventually pass current production and manufacturing capabilities. That is why I have been, and continue to be, a supporter of our renewable energy legislation and programs."
  • In a May 20, 2008, editorial in the Washington Examiner Representative Bartlett wrote about the importance of federal tax credits for renewable energy and energy efficiency systems and his bill before Congress to extend them, H.R. 5984. Bartlett writes:
    • "Maintaining consistent federal incentives for renewable energy policy will free up American businesses and workers to do what they do better than anyone in the world: innovate. That will result in American rather than German, Japanese or Chinese ownership of intellectual property and emissions-free electricity. More domestic production of energy will also reduce reliance upon foreign energy sources."
  • On February 14, 2008, during a hearing on the Bush Administration's Fiscal Year 2009 Budget with Dr. John Marburger III, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, Representative Bartlett said:^[7]
    • "The International Energy Agency (IEA) and our own Energy Information Administration (EIA) have both documented that world oil production has been virtually unchanged at a plateau during the last 30 months while demand has increased. That’s why oil is over $90 a barrel. The federal government has paid for four reports that have been ignored warning that global peak oil is imminent, for all practical purposes, and requires urgent action to prevent unprecedented negative consequences."
    • "This budget is business as usual in the area of energy research and development. In particular, most of the effort is focused on electricity. I’m pretty sanguine about sources of energy for electricity. But I’m really worried about liquid fuels for transportation. We really need an ARPA-E. The proposed budget doesn’t come close to meeting the seriousness of the situation and the really big threat and real challenge of energy in the world."
  • See stimulus discussion under Innovation section.
  • In January of 2007, the House of Representatives passed the CLEAN Energy Act of 2007 (H.R. 6). This legislation is intended to address a royalties oversight that occurred when the Department of the Interior issued leases for off-shore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico from 1998 to 1999. The bill would also deny income tax deductions for oil and gas companies. Revenues generated from these provisions would be used for the development of alternative fuels and renewable energy sources. Opponents of the bill claimed that the legislation would raise costs for the domestic production of oil and could increase foreign oil imports. Representative Bartlett voted for this legislation, which passed with a vote of 264-163.
    
    During consideration of H.R. 6 in June of 2007, the Senate changed the focus of the legislation into developing a more comprehensive energy bill that focused on the development of renewable fuels, energy conservation, and increased Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. In the face of a veto threat from President Bush, the House passed the Senate version of H.R. 6 with amendments by a vote of 235-181 on December 6, 2007. Representative Bartlett voted against this bill. The final Senate rendering of the bill, which passed with a vote of 86-8, still included language raising CAFE standards to 35 mpg by 2020. The final version of the bill passed in the House with a vote of 314-100 and was signed into law by President Bush on December 19, 2007.
  • In August 2007, Representative Bartlett voted for the final passage of the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 (H.R. 3221). The legislation would provide tax incentives to promote the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency, including guaranteeing up to $1 billion in loans for the development of biorefineries and biofuel production facilities. The measure also would repeal tax deductions to income attributed to the domestic production of oil and natural gas. It passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 241-172 and was sent to the Senate.
    
    A controversial amendment to the bill was H. Amdt. 748 sponsored by Representative Udall. This amendment would require retail electric suppliers to provide 15% of their electricity through a renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS) by 2020. Representative Bartlett voted against the amendment, which was adopted with a vote of 220 to 190.
  • In May of 2008, Representative Bartlett introduced the Clean Energy Tax Stimulus Act of 2008 (H.R. 5984) which calls for the continuation of the alternative energy tax credit for the investment in and production of wind and solar energy. Specifically, it would extend the solar energy and fuel cell investment tax credit to 2017 and extend the renewable energy production credit through 2010. Though the bill lacks a way to pay for the tax credits, Bartlett's spokesperson says "that it would be encouraging the creation of jobs and investment for American energy production [and] would produce income and tax revenue for the government in the out-years."^[8]
• Off Shore Drilling
  • On September 16, 2008 the House passed H.R. 6899, the Comprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act. This act allows oil and gas leasing in areas of the Outer Continental Shelf Planning Area that are more than 50 miles from the coastline and establishes a Strategic Energy Efficiency and Renewable Reserve. Representative Bartlett voted against this legislation. This legislation was passed with a vote of 236 to 189.

[edit] Environment

• On his website (August 12, 2009), Representative Bartlett make a case for engaging in a cost-benefit analysis when considering environmental legislation, saying:
  • "As a farmer and a scientist, I am a devoted conservationist. Every farmer understands that future harvests are contingent upon being a good steward now so that a healthy environment is preserved for future generations. I believe that any environmental regulation must pass at least two tests. First, prior to implementation a cost benefit analysis must be conducted in order to determine that there is a commensurate benefit to justify the cost and inconvenience of regulation. Second, the regulation must be founded on sound science. Too often those who claim to act in the best interest of the environment allow emotion to outrun facts. This results in intrusive federal mandates that ignore sound science and do little to protect the environment. We must recognize that the nation’s economic resources are limited, and establish and apply cost-effective criteria for formulating regulations that impact human health and the environment."
• After the House failed to pass S. 22 under suspension of the rules (which requires 2/3 to vote for a provision, but does not allow any amendments), the Senate called an unrelated bill, (HR 146), to carry the omnibus land bill. The bill is a combination of over 150 public land bills and will designate over 2 million acres of land as wilderness, improve the management of currently protected land, establish new water projects, and more. Swapping the original legislation in HR 146 for the land bill was designed to make finalizing the bill in the House easy.
  
  When HR 146 was brought to the Senate, Sen. Coburn (R-OK) introduced several amendments, though only one passed:
  • Amendment 682: to make it less likely that casual stone collectors would run afoul of the criminal restrictions on taking paleontological fossils from federal land (passed)
  • Amendment 675: to stop federal officials from using the power of eminent domain to take land from citizens. Critics say this amendment was unnecessary as eminent domain would not be used in any lands included in the bill.
  • Amendment 677: to require an annual report on the total size and cost of federal property.
  • Amendment 679: to strike provisions that would block renewable-energy development on public land
  • Amendment 680: to bar new construction in national parks until the Interior secretary certifies that current sites are up to date, and
  • Amendment 683: to eliminate what Coburn considers to be "frivolous" projects

The bill passed the Senate on March 19, 2009. It passed the House by a vote of 285-140 on March 25, 2009. Representative Bartlett voted against this bill. It was then signed into law by President Obama on March 30, 2009.

• • Bartlett voted against the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 (S.2739). This bill establishes 106,000 acre wilderness preservation in Washington. It eventually passed the House and became public law 110-229 after it was signed by President Bush on May 8th, 2008.[1]

• • Bartlett voted for the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (HR.1495). This bill authorized $23.87 billion for the Secretary of the Army for water resource improvement and construction projects.[2]

[edit] Climate Change

• December 17, 2009 - Rep. Bartlett asks President Obama to Initiate Win-Win Deal with China at Copenhagen Climate Summit.^[9]

“China has expressed an interest in obtaining technologies to produce its energy in a more environmentally responsible manner. We view this as an important opportunity for the United States to advance our trade interests, incentivize high-paying American technology and manufacturing jobs, reduce global emissions of traditional pollutants, all while paying down the national debt. We therefore request that you proactively engage the Chinese delegation in Copenhagen to begin these discussions.

“…Due to the availability of coal and the economic realities facing China as it works to provide reliable power to its over 1.3 billion citizens, coal-fired power plants are being built at an unprecedented rate within China’s borders. These generation facilities are held to a fraction of the environmental regulations overseeing a comparable plant in America.

“…we recommend that you consider redirecting stimulus dollars towards the purchase of BACT [Best Available Control Technology] equipment and services from American-owned manufacturers and assist the Chinese government in retrofitting or employing these purchased technologies in existing or future coal-fired plants. In return for these services, China would ‘sell back’ a predetermined amount of held U.S. debt commensurate with the value of the services rendered.

“…On November 16th of this year, you stated that, ‘During these difficult economic times, we have a responsibility to consider all good ideas to encourage and accelerate job creation in this country.’ We agree. Thank you in advance for your consideration of our proposal.”

[edit] Health

• Template:Vote-HHRAndEducationAndAppropriations2010
• Introduced on March 3, 2009 by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (H.R. 1256) aims to increase the authority of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in regulating tobacco in America. The legislation would empower the FDA to require larger warning labels on cigarette packaging, control nicotine levels, and regulate the advertising and marketing of cigarettes. During the 110th Congress, an identical bill had passed in the House in July of 2008 but was never considered in the Senate. The current bill passed in the House on April 2, 2009 by a vote of 298-112. Representative Bartlett voted for this bill. The Obama administration has released a statement in support of the bill and Senator Edward Kennedy stated that “the Senate will approve it expeditiously.”
• See stimulus discussion under Innovation section.
• Healthcare
  • On July 10, 2009, Representative Bartlett held a Small Business/Health Care Roundtable entitled "The Future of Long-Term Care and Medicaid." Speaking on the purpose of the roundtable, Representative Bartlett said, "Congress recently made changes to the Medicaid program as part of the Deficit Reduction Act. The Deficit Reduction Act is projected to save taxpayers $39 billion over the next five years. This roundtable was designed to answer questions about these changes and how they will affect the future of Medicaid and long-term care for many senior citizens."^[10]
  • After being vetoed twice by President Bush in 2007, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) (H.R. 2) bill was reintroduced in the 111th Congress on January 13, 2009. SCHIP provides a subsidy for children’s insurance for families that cannot afford private insurance yet earn too much to qualify for Medicaid. The cost of the program is funded by an increase in cigarette taxes of 62 cents per pack. The House of Representatives voted 289-139 to pass the bill on January 14, 2009. Representative Bartlett voted against this bill. The Senate also passed SCHIP, and it was signed into law by President Obama on February 4, 2009.
  • In April of 2007, the House of Representatives passed the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007 (H.R. 493) with a vote of 420-3. Representative Bartlett voted for this bill. If enacted, GINA will prevent health insurance companies from adjusting premiums on the basis of genetic information and forbid requiring individuals to undergo genetic tests. The bill will also prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of genetic information. This legislation was passed by the Senate in a vote of 95-0. The House passed the Senate amended version of the bill on May 1, 2008, by a vote of 415-1. Rep Ron Paul was the only representative to vote against the bill. President Bush signed GINA into law on May 21, 2008.
  • On July 15, 2008, both Houses of Congress voted to override President Bush’s veto of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (H.R. 6331), a bill to put off an almost 11% cut of payments to doctors who care for Medicare patients. The legislation offset putting off the payment cuts for doctors by reducing reimbursements to insurance companies that include Medicare patients in their managed-care programs.[3] The House voted 383 to 41 in favor of a veto override. Representative Bartlett voted for this legislation.
• Embryonic Stem Cell Research
  • Representative Bartlett expressed his opposition to embryonic stem cell research in joint letter with Representative Gingrey (R-11-GA) to House colleagues. The letter is available on his website.
• Non-Embryonic Stem Cell Research
  • Representative Bartlett sponsored the Alternative Pluripotent Stem Cell Therapies Enhancement Act of 2007 (H.R. 322) in the 110th Congress, which would pursue the development of pluripotent stem cell lines from non-embryonic sources. The bill did not leave committee.
• Food
  • Template:Vote-FoodSafetyEnhancementAct2009House

[edit] Innovation

• Stimulus
  • On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1). This stimulus bill contains over $30 billion for energy initiatives including the Smart Grid Investment Program and advanced battery systems; $20 billion in tax incentives for renewable energy for both businesses and homes; over $8 billion for augmenting energy efficiency in federal buildings and housing programs; and $7 billion to extend broadband service to underserved communities. The Act also gives the National Science Foundation $3 billion for research; the National Institutes of Health over $10 billion for research and renovations; NASA $1 billion, a portion of which to employ more scientists; and the Department Of Energy’s Office of Science $1.6 billion for energy research. Finally, it provides $19 billion for a modernized Health Information Technology (HIT) system; $87 billion to help fund Medicaid programs; $1 billion for health prevention programs; subsidies for temporary insurance; and $19 billion for clean water and environmental restoration programs. For a more complete listing of the bill’s provisions, click here.
    
    It passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 246-183 on February 13th and passed the Senate on February 13th. Representative Bartlett voted against this bill.
• COMPETES Act
  • On August 9, 2007, President Bush signed the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science (COMPETES) Act (H.R. 2272) into law. The law authorizes the increased funding of the National Science Foundation putting it on track to double funding over the next seven years, increased funding for the National Institute of Standards and Technology and competitive grants for teachers and schools with the goal of strengthening the quality of education in science, math, and critical foreign languages. The bill was passed with unanimous consent in the Senate and was agreed to by a vote of 367-57 by the House after being reconciled in a conference committee. Representative Bartlett voted for this legislation. The America COMPETES Act was not fully funded in 2008.

[edit] National Security

• Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Attack
  • On April 15, 2009, Representative Bartlett wrote on his Facebook, "As a scientist and engineer now serving my 17th year on the House Armed Services Committee, I have studied the threat of EMP with the world’s experts. It is real. It is very disturbing that EMP is well understood and EMP capability is actively pursued by America’s potential foes, but is virtually unknown by the American public. Imagine a world where the only person you could talk to is the person next to you, the only way you could go anywhere is to walk and the electronic grid was destroyed. That is the beginning of the impact from an EMP attack."^[11]
  • Representative Bartlett has led the effort in Congress to protect the United States from electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack. During the 106th Congress, Bartlett's proposal for an EMP Commission was included in the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 (H.R.5408). In 2005, the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse Attack delivered its report before Congress, with specific recommendations for steps the United States should undertake to protect its infrastructure against EMP attack. In 2006, Representative Bartlett sponsored legislation that extended the Commission for 18 months, which passed the 109th Congress with the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (H.R. 1815). The Commission released its Critical National Infrastructures Report in April 2008, and testified before the House Armed Services Committee on July 10, 2008. Representative Bartlett has continued to focus on reducing the threat of EMP attacks on the United States. He will speak on National Public Radio's Science Friday program about the vulnerabilities of "Smart Grid" technology to EMP attack on August 14, 2009.^[12][13]

[edit] Research and Research Management

• Funding
  • See stimulus discussion under Innovation section.
  • In May of 2007, Representative Bartlett voted for the final passage of the National Science Foundation Funding Authorization Act of 2007 (H.R. 1867), which authorizes appropriations for the National Science Foundation for the fiscal years 2008, 2009 and 2010. The final vote count was 399 to 17.
    
    During debate on this legislation, H. Amdt. 128 was offered by Rep. Honda that will allow the NSF to support the creation of K-12 curriculum focused on global warming, climate change, and actions people can take to lower greenhouse gas emissions. Rep. Sullivan of Oklahoma offered a secondary amendment, H. Amdt. 129, that would have required the education materials referenced in Rep. Honda’s amendment to "reflect the diversity of scientific opinion, including the diversity of opinion regarding the impact of human activities on climate change." Congressional Democrats criticized the Sullivan amendment as seeming "to suggest that there is an equal weight of evidence against that perspective [that humans are causing climate change] as there is in favor of it" (read the full debate). The Sullivan amendment failed by a vote of 166 to 250. The Honda Amendment passed by a vote of 252 to 165.
    
    Representative Bartlett voted against the Sullivan amendment and voted for the Honda Amendment.

[edit] Technology

• On March 18, 2009, Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN) introduced the Electronic Waste Research and Development Act (HR 1580) which works to reduce the waste caused by dumping unwanted electronics and to boost awareness of how to recycle such products. The bill would fund increased research on how to separate out hazardous material from waste as well as fund grants to universities to create curriculums to help in the reduction of this waste. HR 1580 passed in the House by voice vote on April 22, 2009. Representative Bartlett voted for this legislation.
• See stimulus discussion under Innovation section.
• In the summer of 2008, the House met to consider the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 (H.R. 6304), which would give retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that wiretapped customers’ phones for the Bush administration shortly after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The legislation also allows the warrantless wiretapping of American citizens for up to 7 days before obtaining court approval. The House passed the bill with a vote of 293 to 129, and the legislation was signed by President Bush on July 7, 2008. Representative Bartlett voted for this legislation.
  • Representative Bartlett voted against the "Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007" (S. 5). After the veto of an identical bill in 2006, Bartlett said "I can state unequivocally that it is morally reprehensible and scientifically unnecessary to kill human embryos to provide raw fodder for scientific research" July 18, 2006 press release.

[edit] Endnotes

1. ↑ Bartlett opponent blasts his reversal on Arctic drilling, The Associated Press, May 22, 2008, http://www.examiner.com/a-1404195%7EBartlett_opponent_blasts_his_reversal_on_Arctic_drilling.html
2. ↑ Rep. Roscoe Bartlett Cosponsors ANWR Oil Production Bill With Federal Revenues Dedicated to Alternative & Renewable Energy Program Funding, Press Release, May 22, 2008, http://bartlett.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=91983
3. ↑ Chad Groening. "Bartlett pushes legislation for flex-fueled cars." OneNewsNow. December 18, 2008. http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=357046
4. ↑ Brown, Matthew. "Rep. Bartlett pursues lonely energy crusade" Baltimore Sun 31 August 2008.
5. ↑ Representative Bartlett's House Website. Accessed 12 August 2009. http://bartlett.house.gov/Issues/Issue/?IssueID=2057
6. ↑ Bartlett, Roscoe and Tom Udall. "Congressional peak oil caucus responds to CERA study" Energy Bulletin 14 November 2009. http://www.energybulletin.net/node/22396
7. ↑ Representative Bartlett's House Website. "Congressman Roscoe G. Bartlett Criticizes "Business As Usual" Energy R&D Budget" 14 February 2008. http://bartlett.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=84006
8. ↑ Meg Bernhardt, Frederick News Post, May, 15, 2008, http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=75022
9. ↑ Representative Bartlett's News Center. http://bartlett.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=163977
10. ↑ Representative Bartlett's House Website. Accessed 12 August 2009. http://bartlett.house.gov/Issues/Issue/?IssueID=2034
11. ↑ Facebook: Congressman Roscoe G. Bartlett. 15 April 2009. http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=69585533602&ref=mf
12. ↑ Representative Bartlett's House Website. Accessed 12 August 2009. http://bartlett.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=141370
13. ↑ Graham, William. "Invisible nuclear threat" Washington Times 2 September 2008. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/02/invisible-nuclear-threat/