Technology

This recent announcement gives me hope that the scientific community can advance medical research without the political and ethical roadblocks. Scientists are right to alert us that while these medical treatments are not immediately available, the potential to transform adult cells into embryo-like ones is real, and progress is moving steadily in this area.  While the ultimate potential remains unclear, I strongly support the development of all ethical forms of medical research to help scientists understand and treat diseases.

Access to federal funding can enable American scientists to lead the world in medical breakthroughs in this area, as we do in so many other fields of research.  My passion for advancing and expanding the federal support for research on stem cells comes from years of meeting with those who suffer from diseases, such as diabetes and Alzheimers, and the family and friends who care about them.

My judgment is that embryonic stem cell research will move forward with a new president, but if this new potential can trigger increased federal support, then this is great news.  This announcement is a very significant step and one that I hope can overcome the ethical debate over the development and use of embryonic stem cells, while advancing medical research for millions of people who suffer.

This breakthrough provides further evidence that the most promising avenues of stem cell research are also the most ethical. Politicians should note that the scientific community is moving rapidly without the assistance of laws requiring the taxpayer-funded destruction of human life.

This breakthrough highlights an important truth about the intersection between science and policymaking in our society: Congress is always several years behind science, yet, when we act, the precedents we set reach decades into the future. This breakthrough helps vindicate President Bush’s policy and his vetoes of Congress’ short-sighted and outdated approach to stem cell research. History will note the wisdom of President Bush’s refusal to set a dangerous precedent that could not be easily undone. Read more...

The disaster at the Crandall Canyon mine in August, which claimed 9 lives, focused my effort on improving mine safety. One of the most difficult aspects of the mine collapse was not knowing where the trapped miners were when the cave-in occurred. It made for an excruciating ordeal for the families, the mine owner and the mine rescuers.

The lack of tracking and communications left rescuers with the frustrating scenario of trying to drill through hundreds of feet of rock with the hope of locating survivors. While mines generally have reliable communications systems in place, most mines have properties that make implementation of current technology difficult. For example, the open air pathway required for radio signals and WiFi does not exist.

My bill seeks to speed up the development of innovative, next-generation mine tracking and communications technology. It directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish an initiative to promote the research, development and demonstration of miner tracking and communications systems. There's no time to waste, in order to spare mining families, and mining communities from a similar ordeal.

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) yanks a student's ethernet cable out of its wall socket and makes him pay her before he continues researching a term paper in the National Republican Senatorial Committee's (NRSC) latest web ad.

The NRSC has targeted Landrieu for an objection to Sen. John Sununu's (R-N.H.) bill to make permanent the moratorim on Internet taxes.

Landrieu has since denied that she supports Internet taxes. In a letter to supporters, Landrieu said this week that she voiced the objection on behalf of an absent member (Delaware Democrat Tom Carper) while holding the floor in an attempt to save funding for a Louisiana children's mental health program.

Representing a rural state in the Senate presents some great opportunities to bring unique issues to the attention of national leaders. Certain things are frequently on the minds of constituents, including improving access to high-quality, affordable health care. At a time when Congress is looking for ways to improve access to affordable health care, expanding access to telehealth technology is a common-sense investment.

Through telehealth, a patient in Platte, South Dakota can visit with his specialist in Sioux Falls through a video screen without traveling two hours for the visit.  In South Dakota, telehealth technologies are utilized by all three of our major hospital networks. Additionally, many of the rural health clinics that serve the health care needs of some of the smallest communities in our state also utilize these technologies.

As the Senate recently began work on legislation funding various health and education programs, I was pleased to introduce an amendment that would increase funding for telehealth. Read more...

Fifty years ago on October 4, the Soviet Union changed the world by launching Sputnik I into orbit. People who were alive in 1957 vividly remember Sputnik.

It shocked the American public and dwarfed the achievements of our rocket program. It was so serious that President Dwight Eisenhower had to go on national television to apologize for our failure, and promised a boost to our science efforts. This led to an awakening of innovation, which resulted in the United States launching a comparable satellite of its own, the Explorer I, into orbit fewer than four months later. More importantly, Sputnik spurred U.S. investment in math and science education programs and sparked an intense focus on equipping our workforce with the skills needed to compete with the Russians.

Unfortunately, once again the United States is falling behind other nations. Read more...

In this video, David Isaacs of Hewlett-Packard says the country's patent system needs extensive change.

Today, the President signed into law legislation I authored to improve math and science education and foster energy research to help secure U.S. competitiveness.  As far as I'm concerned, this is among the most important legislation he will sign this Congress.

Why?  Because the bill, know as the America COMPETES Act, is designed to ensure that U.S. students, teachers, businesses and workers are prepared to continue leading the world in innovation, research and technology.

This will help us keep American jobs on our shores by making sure we have the most skilled workforce in the world.  Other countries will always have lower wages, so in an effort to remain competitive our workforce must have the technical skills to make it advantageous for companies to keep their businesses here in the U.S. instead of moving overseas.  We start by making sure our children are receiving the best math and science preparation in grades K-12. Read more...

Jonathan E. Kaplan, a staff writer for The Hill, is covering the YearlyKos convention and will provide periodic updates on the Congress Blog.

Before I head off to Time Magazine’s party a few blocks from the McCormick Place Convention Center, here are a few highlights from the days’ events.

First, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) had been scheduled to participate in the "candidate forum" on Saturday, but she had not planned a post-forum with the bloggers here. That's changed. To see why, click here.

Second, fireworks flew during a panel discussion between bloggers and some members of the so-called Mainstream Media (MSM). The bloggers ripped the media for a host of sins relating to its coverage of the run-up to the Iraq war and not holding the Bush administration accountable.

Finally, I've sat in on panels talking about the emergence of a new politics and innovations in campaigning. Right now, I’m listening to Joe Trippi, an advisor to former Gov. Howard Dean (D-Vt.) in 2004, Stephanie Cutter, spokeswoman for Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) in 2004, and Jerome Armstrong, the founder of mydd.com. Simon Rosenberg, the president of NDN, the New Democratic Network, is moderating the discussion, which is centered on how the Internet has changed campaigning.

Jonathan E. Kaplan, a staff writer for The Hill, is covering the YearlyKos convention and will provide periodic updates on the Congress Blog.

One dominant theme at the second YearlyKos convention is the outright anger toward the mainstream media (MSM in blogging parlance).

Lane Hudson, who first disclosed Rep. Mark Foley’s (R-Fla.) emails to a former congressional page, S.R. Sidarth, whom former Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) called “macaca,