Recent Accomplishments (111th Congress)
Since January (the start of the 111th Congress), I have authored the pieces of legislation you see below, each of which as passed the U.S. House with bipartisan support.
To see all of the bills that I have sponsored or co-sponsored in the 111th Congress, click here.
National Nanotechnology Initiative Amendments Act of 2009 (H.R. 554, passed U.S. House on February 11, 2009): Nanotechnology is in our cell phones, cosmetics, paints, and refrigerators. It is showing promise in the treatment of cancer and will soon help to protect the lives of police officers and military servicemen. Bart authored H.R. 554 to further the development and commercialization of this technology, while ensuring public health and safety. H.R. 554 strengthens and provides transparency in federal research efforts to understand the potential environmental, health, and safety risks of nanotechnology. The bill also supports the commercialization of nanotechnology by helping U.S. companies to develop new prototypes and continue to compete in the growing nanotechnology industry.
National Water Research and Development Initiative Act of 2009 (H.R. 1145, passed U.S. House on April 23, 2009): Droughts have destroyed the harvests of farmers in Tennessee and throughout the Southeast over the past few years. During these dry spells, many local and county governments have been forced to resort to desperate measure to make water available, especially to those that rely on wells and water tanks for their water. Legislation that Bart authored, H.R. 1145 (press release), would require the President to create a national water strategy, which is an essential component to a stable economy. A coordinated federal water research effort will help states and local governments better manage their water supplies and get through dry seasons and droughts.
Electronic Waste Research and Development Act (H.R. 1580, passed U.S. House on April 23, 2009): E-waste includes electronic products such as computers, TVs, VCRs, stereos, printers, cell phones, and copiers at the end of their useful life. According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), roughly 100 million TVs, computers, and monitors become obsolete every year. Although many producers have made progress in product durability and efficiency, the e-waste problem continues to grow, both in the U.S. and globally. Many of these electronics contain valuable materials that can be reused, and as things stand, only about 15 percent are recycled. The legislation that Bart authored, H.R. 1580, would direct the Environmental Protection Agency to fund research and development projects that enable efficient and affordable electronic device recycling, and find other means of reducing the impacts of electronic devices on our environment.
Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Act of 2009 (H.R. 2020, passed U.S. House on May 12, 2009): Networking and information technology research drives innovation in national security, communication, and commerce in order to sustain U.S. technological leadership. The Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) Program was created in 1991 to invest in the development of these information technologies in the U.S. The NITRD Program has not only contributed to national security and U.S. competiveness, but this program has helped create jobs across all sectors of the economy. Bart authored H.R 2020 to ensure the ongoing success and effectiveness of the NITRD program. H.R. 2020 establishes specific metrics for measuring the progress of NITRD and makes certain jobs and education of the future NIT workforce remains an important component of the program.
STEM Education Coordination Act (H.R. 1709, passed U.S. House on June 8, 2009): In last Congress, the House Committee on Science and Technology explored the role the federal government can play in improving education in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The committee found that coordination and collaboration across the agencies must be improved in order to make the most of taxpayer dollars. Bart authored H.R. 1709 to improve the coordination of STEM education programs at the Federal agencies, so that federal efforts in STEM education can be better focused and more effective.
