Supported H.Res. 1315, commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). This resolution recognizes the value of NASA’s accomplishments and pledges to maintain America’s position as the world leader in space exploration and technology.
Supported H.Res. 1313, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the first American woman in space, Dr. Sally K. Ride. This bill honors Dr. Ride’s contributions to the space program and to science education.
Supported H.Res. 1312 , commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Space Foundation. The Space Foundation is a leading nonprofit organization that advocates space exploration and space education throughout the country.
Supported H.R. 4174, the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2007. This bill develops a plan for understanding, monitoring, and improving the increasing acidity levels of our oceans and its impact on marine ecosystems.
Supported H.Con.Res. 375, which honors the International Year of Astronomy, and encourages discoveries about the Universe and promotes the understanding of astronomical sciences during the IYA celebration.
Voted to support H.R. 6063, the NASA Reauthorization Act of 2008. This bill provides $20 billion in funding to NASA for next year. One purpose of the bill is to shorten the anticipated gap between the retirement of the Space Shuttle and NASA’s next space crew vehicle that is currently expected to enter service in 2015.
Spoke at the 3rd Annual Modeling & Simulation Leadership Summit, Education: Enabling Modeling and Simulation as a National Critical Technology. The event is sponsored by the National Training Systems Association (NTSA) and took place on February 11, 2008 at the Westin Hotel, Virginia Beach, Virginia. The Summit is the only M&S conference devoted to federal policy. The Summit hosted leaders from government, industry, academia, and Congress, including representatives from the White House and the Brookings Institution. Congressman Forbes is the founder of the Congressional Modeling & Simulation Caucus.
Supported H. Res. 966, which honors African American inventors for their leadership, courage, and significant contributions to our national competitiveness. The resolution specifically noted the contributions of Archibald Alphonso Alexander in the design and architecture of bridges, Ernest Everett Just in the fields of cell biology, and David Nelson Crosthwait Jr. for his contributions to the engineering of heating and cooling systems.
Supported H.Res. 943, which honors the crew members of the space shuttle Challenger, who lost their lives on January 28, 1986. January 28, 2008, marks the 22-year anniversary of the tragic accident of the space shuttle. The Challenger disaster occurred during takeoff after an O-ring seal in its right solid rocket booster failed. The seven-person crew included Commander Francis R. Scobee, Pilot Michael J. Smith, Mission Specialist Judith A. Resnik, Mission Specialist Ellison S. Onizuka, Mission Specialist Ronald E. McNair, Payload Specialist Gregory B. Jarvis, and Payload Specialist Sharon Christa McAuliffe.
Supported H.Con.Res. 287, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of the United States Explorer I satellite, the world's first scientific spacecraft. The resolution also celebrates the event as the birth of the United States space exploration program.
Sent a letter to fellow Members of Congress to urge them to join with him to support the Patients First Act, H.R. 2807, in light of a major scientific breakthrough in the field of stem cell research. Researchers James A. Thomson – the first scientist to isolate human embryonic stem cells ten years ago – and Shinya Yamanaka announced on November 20, 2007 that they had discovered a way to turn human skin cells into stem cells that behave just like embryonic stem cells. These embryo-like stem cells are capable of forming into virtually every kind of cell or tissue without the need to destroy human embryos. This will have a significant impact on the ability of researchers to develop advanced treatments for many devastating diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, cancer, heart disease and diabetes while maintaining ethical standards. The Patients First Act, introduced in July with Congressman Daniel Lipinski (D-IL), would promote this type of innovative research by supporting the creation of pluripotent stem cell lines without destroying human embryos, and intensifying funding for stem cell research that has the best chance of producing treatments for patients.
Cosponsored H.R. 2564, the Human Cloning Prohibition Act, which would amend the federal criminal code to prohibit any public or private person or entity, in or affecting interstate commerce, from performing or attempting to perform human cloning, participating in an attempt to perform human cloning, or shipping, receiving, or importing the product of human cloning for any purpose. This bill also would provide that nothing in the Act would restrict areas of scientific research not specifically prohibited by this Act, including research in the use of nuclear transfer or other cloning techniques to produce molecules, DNA, cells other than human embryos, tissues, organs, plants, or animals other than humans.
Signed a letter supporting the inclusion of $4.5 billion for the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science in the Fiscal Year 2008 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill. The letter was addressed to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, and requested that they maintain funding at $4.5 billion, which is the same amount that was appropriated last year. The DOE Office of Science supports over 40 percent of total funding for basic physical sciences research – more than any other agency – and continued funding is critical if America is to compete with Asian and European nations who are making significant investments in their scientific research capabilities.
Joined Members of the Hampton Roads Delegation in sending a letter to the House Appropriations Committee in support of increased funding for NASA in fiscal year 2008. Increased funding for NASA in Fiscal Year 2008 will support NASA Langley Research Center, which celebrated its 90th Anniversary this year. NASA Langley began in 1917 as the nation's first aeronautical research laboratory and has become a world leader in aeronautics research and space exploration.
Supported H.Res. 751, which supports the goals and ideals of National Chemistry Week. This resolution recognizes the important contributions of chemical scientists and engineers to the technological progress and the health of many industries through new jobs, higher economic growth, and an improved standard of living. This resolution also recognizes the need to increase the number of Americans from under-represented groups that participate in science and technology fields like chemistry and supports the goals of National Chemistry Week as founded by the American Chemical Society. The resolution encourages the people of the United States to observe National Chemistry Week to demonstrate the importance of chemistry to our everyday lives. To learn more about National Chemistry Week, click here.
Voted in favor of H. Con. Res. 222, Commending NASA Langley Research Center in Virginia on the celebration of its 90th anniversary on October 26 and 27, 2007. This legislation was sponsored by Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis and cosponsored by the Virginia Congressional Delegation. After being established in 1917 as the nation's first civilian aeronautics laboratory, Langley's mission and contributions to aerospace, atmospheric sciences and technology commercialization have made significant improvements to the United States. To learn more about the Langley Research Center, click here.
Supported H. Con. Res. 225, a resolution honoring the 50th anniversary of the dawn of the Space Age, and the ensuing 50 years of productive and peaceful space activities.
Cosponsored a resolution introduced by Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis (VA-01) to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the NASA Langley Research Center. After being established in 1917 as the nation's first civilian aeronautics laboratory, Langley's mission and contributions to aerospace, atmospheric sciences and technology commercialization have made significant improvements to the United States. To learn more about the Langley Research Center, click here.
Supported H. Res. 736, a resolution honoring the 60th anniversary of the aeronautics research accomplishments embodied in "the breaking of the sound barrier." Much of NASA’s aeronautics research takes place at the NASA Langley Research Center, which just celebrated its 90th anniversary. To learn more about the Langley Research Center, click here.
Supported H. Res. 716, which expresses the sense of Congress with respect raising awareness and enhancing the state of computer security in the United States, and supporting the goals and ideals of National Cyber Security Awareness Month. Each year, the National Cyber Security Division of the Department of Homeland Security joins with the National Cyber Security Alliance, the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center and other partners to support National Cyber Security Awareness Month, a national campaign focused on educating the American public, businesses, schools and government agencies about ways to secure their part of cyber space, computers and our nation's critical infrastructure.
Voted in favor of H.R. 694, the Minority Serving Institution Digital and Wireless Technology Opportunity Act of 2007, which was introduced by Congressman Forbes. H.R. 694 establishes a grant program within the Department of Commerce to assist eligible institutions in acquiring and augmenting their use of digital and wireless networking technologies to improve the quality and delivery of educational services at eligible institutions. This legislation will help to ensure Minority Serving Institutions have the technology tools necessary to prepare their students to engage and participate in today’s workforce. In Virginia, there are six HBCUs that could benefit from this program: Virginia State University, Norfolk State University, St. Paul’s College, Virginia Union University, Virginia University of Lynchburg, and Hampton University.
Supported H.R. 2850, the Green Chemistry Research and Development Act of 2007. H.R. 2850 would establish a Green Chemistry Research and Development program to promote and coordinate federal green chemistry research, development, demonstration, education, and technology transfer activities. The term green chemistry refers to chemistry and chemical engineering that focuses on creating chemical products and processes that reduce the generation and use of hazardous substances. The program would provide merit-based grants for researchers as well as grants for collaborative research and development partnerships among universities, industry, and nonprofit organizations.
