La Vista
by Michael A. Fletcher
mfletcher@ccgmag.com
A STUDY IN CONTRASTS WITH A SINGULAR VISION REP. RALPH HALL WANTS AMERICA EXCITED ABOUT STEM
backer of fossil fuel development who is now overseeing much of what the na- tion does to prevent global warming.
Congressional Republicans may be all about cutting budgets and reining in the deficit, but Hall remains a strong strong backer of NASA, which is a source of jobs and economic vitality in Texas.
Hall stood against President Obama’s plan to halt the human space flight program, which was sharply curtailed by a law signed by President Obama in October. And he is wary of the the ad- ministration’s plans to use private com- panies to ferry astronauts and goods to the International Space Station.
Hall is also one of the key GOP filters of President Obama’s innovation agenda. His committee must pass a bill reautho- rizing a wide range of energy research, scientific innovation and education.
The administration says that work is key not only to keeping the U.S. globally competitive when it comes to emerg- ing industries, but also crucial to build- ing future prosperity.
Hispanic Engineer & Information Tech- nology magazine recently talked with the new chairman. The conversation follows here:
Representative Ralph Hall heads the House Science, Space and Technology Committee.
In many ways, Rep. Ralph Hall is a study in contrasts.
At 87, he is the oldest member of Con- gress, yet he leads the committee that is arguably most integral to the nation’s future: the House Science, Space and Technology Committee.
He was a longtime Democrat who switched to the GOP in 2004, in part
6 HISPANIC ENGINEER & Information Technology | 2011
because he thought the Democratic criticism of then-President George W. Bush was over the top.
He is also a former naval aviator who has worked as an attorney and banker. But now he runs a congressional com- mittee that deals with technical issues such as scientific research, space explo- ration and clean energy development.
He is a climate change skeptic and
HE&IT: How would you describe the role of science in fueling the nation’s future prosperity? Hall: I have a great respect and appre- ciation for the role of science in keeping our nation competitive. Advancements in science and technology can create jobs, keep the U.S. at the forefront of innovation, drive economic growth, and give Americans a greater standard of living.
Smart investments in basic research and development, coupled with proper business and tax incentives, will spur in-
www.hispanicengineer.com
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