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Category: On the Hill

Congressman Reichert Recognizes UW School of Medicine on House Floor

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UW SCHOOL OF MEDICINE                                

HON. DAVID G. REICHERT

of washington

in the house of representatives

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Mr. REICHERT. Madam Speaker, today I rise in recognition of the University of Washington School of Medicine and their incredible standing as one of the best medical schools in the world. According to US News & World Report, the University of Washington tops the list of national primary care medical schools for the 16th consecutive year.

The groundbreaking and life-saving work done at the UW School of  Medicine is beyond extraordinary. I feel a sense of pride to know that the best primary care medical school in the nation is located in my home state of Washington.

The School of Medicine was also ranked first in family medicine and  rural medicine for the 18th straight year, fourth in women’s health medicine, sixth in geriatric and pediatric medicine and eighth in internal medicine. Additionally, six active and retired members of the UW community are among 210 new Fellows named to the American Academy of  Arts & Sciences: David Baker, William Gerberding, Andrew Meltzoff, Ed Miles, James Truman and Gunther Uhlmann.

Previously, the University of Washington was ranked the 17th best university in the world by the Institute of Higher Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and 22nd among the top 100 global universities by Newsweek. The University of Washington has proven itself to be a world-class institution and it is truly a privilege to represent a region boasting some of the greatest minds in the world. I congratulate them on the honor for the School of Medicine and look forward to continue working together to make sure we provide the best medical care and training possible.

Bill Would Create National Climate Service

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The House Science and Technology Subcommittee on Energy and Environment is expected to mark up draft legislation today that would create an office similar to the National Weather Service to predict changes in climate.  The new “National Climate Service” would be established within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).  A National Climate Service (NCS) would provide a single point of contact of information for the user-community.  An NCS would provide climate forecasts and support for planning and management decisions by federal agencies; state, local, and tribal governments; and the private sector.

NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco has indicated that an NCS is a high priority for the administration.  Similar legislation is included in a draft climate and energy bill that the House Energy and Commerce Committee plans to mark up before Memorial Day.

Some members in the scientific community worry that an NCS would duplicate existing programs and others worry that the service should not be housed within NOAA because other agencies and departments hold more of the required expertise. Continue reading “Bill Would Create National Climate Service”

Senator Specter Switches Parties

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Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) announced today that he is switching parties and will run for re-election as a Democrat in 2010, drastically altering the balance of power in the Senate.  Specter has been a Republican for more than 40 years. His switch would make him the Democrats’ 60th vote in the Senate if Democrat Al Franken is seated (Franken is still in the midst of a legal recount battle in Minnesota).  Specter’s switch comes as he faced an increasingly unfavorable electoral environment in Pennsylvania.

Senator Specter is currently the Ranking Member on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, and has long been an advocate for increased funding for health research through NIH.  It is unclear at this point how his switch will affect his committee assignments but he is sure to have an even larger role in determining funding levels for federal health and education programs.

Read Senator Specter’s statement here.

House Science Committee Holds Oversight Hearing on Recovery Act Funding

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The National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC) has prepared the following summary of the March 19th House Science Committee Hearing on the use of funding for science provided in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

NASULGC Summary

The House Science Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight held a hearing on Thursday, March 19, on accountability and transparency related to investments of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds in science.  Titled, “Follow the Money: Accountability and Transparency in Recovery Act Science Funding,” the hearing was convened by Subcommittee Chairman Brad Miller (D-NC) and attended by Ranking Member Paul Broun (R-GA), Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper (D-PA), and Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-CA).

The hearing was comprised of two panels:  1) “Senior Accountability Officers” responsible for planning for spending ARRA funds from the National Science Foundation (NSF), NASA, Department of Commerce (DOC), and Department of Energy (DOE); and 2) the Inspectors General from NSF, DOE, DOC, a representative from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and a Research Fellow from George Mason University. Continue reading “House Science Committee Holds Oversight Hearing on Recovery Act Funding”