Rep. Mitchell Tapped for Science and Technology Post

U.S. Rep. Harry E. Mitchell today earned a seat on the House Committee on Science and Technology, where he will serve as an important voice for Arizona State University and science efforts in the state.

“This is a very exciting appointment,” said Mitchell. “There is a lot of great work happening at ASU, and as a state, Arizona is on an upward trajectory to becoming a top high-tech hub. I’m also looking forward to investing in clean, renewable sources of energy and taking real steps to combat global warming.”

The committee’s jurisdiction includes all non-defense federal scientific research and development at a number of federal agencies, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, National Science Foundation, Federal Aviation Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Fire Administration, and U.S. Geological Survey.

ASU received about 40 percent of its federal research expenditures from the National Science Foundation in Fiscal Year 2005. NSF awarded the Center for Nanotechnology in Society at ASU $6.2 million to research how nanotechnology will influence democracy and affect our privacy.

The Science and Technology Committee had been absent a representative from Arizona over the last 10 years, but will now have two. Last week, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who represents Arizona’s Eighth Congressional District, was named to the committee.

Posted Thursday January 18, 2007 by