Since I was elected to Congress I have had the honor of serving on the House Science Committee. I am currently the Chairman of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee. This all comes too late to help either of my nearly-grown kids with their science homework, but it has been a great committee to help Colorado - because our state, believe it or not, is ranked #2 in the country for growth in aerospace jobs. One of the best ways we can ensure that our country and Colorado competes effectively in a global economy is to keep up our investment in science and technology.

Overview

• One of the best ways we can ensure that our country and Colorado compete effectively in global economy is to keep up our investment in science and technology.
• This means continued investment into those federal agencies charged with scientific research with a significant presence in Colorado, including: the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), the Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the National Science Foundation (NSF).
• It also means dedicating time and money towards enhancing the quality and increasing student opportunity in our science and math education programs.

Support for scientific and technological discovery means investment in the federal agencies charged with scientific research. The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) and Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) both have a major presence in Colorado and are achieving technological advancements on a daily basis. NIST is a world leader in semiconductor research and nanotechnology. ESRL is a branch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the lead federal agency dealing with our water ecosystems, atmosphere, and weather. ESRL is the largest concentration of NOAA staff in the nation. The work of both agencies can be credited with significant technological progress.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is the home of the space program that created the Hubble Telescope and the Space Shuttle. NASA continues to modernize and revitalize the space program through the replacement of the Space Shuttle with the new Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV), and the launch of a new exploratory telescope, the James Webb Telescope in 2013.

Space is not NASA's final frontier, nor is it the only NASA program essential to our survival. NASA's Earth Science Program is critical to increasing our understanding of the impacts of climate and weather variables on the Earth, and is especially important as we monitor the impacts of global climate change. NASA is also the lead agency for aeronautics research and development and has helped the U.S. become a leader in the aeronautics industry, vital to maintaining our competitiveness in the global market, our national security, and the efficiency and safety of the National Air Traffic Management System.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is the national agency willing to engage in high-risk research that pays off in incredibly worthwhile scientific discovery. In fact, NSF is responsible for many of the scientific discoveries having a significant positive impact on our lives including the first web browser, advances in the field of molecular genetics, and early research into the development of speech activation and recognition technology. The NSF is also frequently the major source of support for the education and training of Ph.D. scientists and engineers.

I'd like to share some of the accomplishments in this area of economic development and space research that I am most proud of:

• I have worked to ensure that NASA obtains funding adequate to meet its needs, particularly in the aeronautics and science programs where funding has recently been cut.
• I am a co-sponsor of legislation passed in 2007 that fully reauthorizes the programs at NIST and includes funding for new construction at the Boulder, Colorado facility that will prevent the facilities from being impacted by humidity and traffic vibrations.
• I am a co-sponsor of legislation that will ensure that NSF has the resources it needs to support the pursuit of innovative scientific research and secondary math and science education.
• I have also championed legislation intended to supporting development of the Next Generation Air Traffic System (NextGen) and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Federal Aviation Administration.

I am also the co-sponsor of legislation that makes the research and development tax credit a permanent federal tax credit. Investment in space, technology, and science is one of the ways America can maintain its edge in the global economy. It is also critical to our colleges and universities, and leads to practical solutions for many of the problems we face. This is not an area of public policy that gets enough attention, and I am hopeful that we can change that.