[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 167 (Wednesday, October 31, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2295-E2296]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 FLOOR CONSIDERATION OF THE MINE COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION 
                              ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 29, 2007

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam Speaker, as a cosponsor, I rise in 
strong support of H.R. 3877, the Mine Communications Technology 
Innovation Act, which was introduced by our colleague from Utah, Mr. 
Matheson.
  Mining is an important part of our history and it will be critical to 
our future as well, but we have seen too many mining accidents that 
have ended in tragedy. Too often, these tragedies have been related to 
difficulties with communication. The unfortunate deaths of six miners 
and three rescuers at the Crandall Canyon Mine this year has 
highlighted the severe communication challenges that miners face when 
deep underground.
  While mines generally use reliable communications systems, some 
mines--specifically, deep underground mines--present a number of unique 
challenges that make communications and tracking more difficult. For 
example, the open air pathway required for radio signals and WiFi often 
do not exist in underground mines and less than ten percent of the 
radio spectrum that is used above ground can be used underground. 
Additionally, in the event of a catastrophic event, existing 
communications systems are often compromised.
  This bill would help improve tracking and communications systems for 
two-way communication between the miners and people above ground. 
Specifically, H.R. 3877 would accelerate the research and development 
of innovative mine tracking and communications technologies. Since the 
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) addresses 
oversight of immediately available technologies, this legislation is 
targeted R&D for new technologies to advance our ability to communicate 
underground. Under this legislation, the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology (NIST) would establish an initiative to 
promote the research, development, and demonstration of miner tracking 
and communications systems and to promote the establishment of 
standards and other measurement services regarding underground miners.
  Not only will this legislation help miners, but it will draw upon the 
expertise of Colorado researchers. NIST's Boulder labs have already 
begun similar work for communications in collapsed buildings and are 
well positioned to support this new effort with its experience in 
developing technical standards, best practices and conformance testing.
  This bill will ensure that our miners have the state-of-the-art 
equipment they need to communicate with people above ground, especially 
in times of emergency. I urge the House to support this important 
legislation that will help us save lives in the future.
    

[[Page E2296]]

                       SENATE COMMITTEE MEETINGS

  Title IV of Senate Resolution 4, agreed to by the Senate on February 
4, 1977, calls for establishment of a system for a computerized 
schedule of all meetings and hearings of Senate committees, 
subcommittees, joint committees, and committees of conference. This 
title requires all such committees to notify the Office of the Senate 
Daily Digest--designated by the Rules Committee--of the time, place, 
and purpose of the meetings, when scheduled, and any cancellations or 
changes in the meetings as they occur.
  As an additional procedure along with the computerization of this 
information, the Office of the Senate Daily Digest will prepare this 
information for printing in the Extensions of Remarks section of the 
Congressional Record on Monday and Wednesday of each week.
  Meetings scheduled for Thursday, November 1, 2007 may be found in the 
Daily Digest of today's Record.

                           MEETINGS SCHEDULED

                               NOVEMBER 5
     3 p.m.
       Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
         To hold hearings to examine the twenty-first century 
           security in the Organization for Security and Co-
           operation in Europe (OSCE) region, focusing on 
           challenges among member states, protracted and 
           unresolved conflicts, shifting political and military 
           alliances, while still confronting the threat of 
           terrorism.
                                                         2212-RHOB

                               NOVEMBER 6
     10 a.m.
       Energy and Natural Resources
         To hold hearings to examine the efficacy of the domestic 
           energy industry, focusing on its available workforce to 
           meet our nation's growing needs.
                                                            SD-366
       Judiciary
         Business meeting to continue consideration of the 
           nomination of Michael B. Mukasey, of New York, to be 
           Attorney General.
                                                            SD-226
     2:30 p.m.
       Finance
       Social Security, Pensions and Family Policy Subcommittee
         To hold hearings to examine the Government Pension Offset 
           (GPO), and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), 
           focusing on policies affecting pensions from work not 
           covered by Social Security.
                                                            SD-215

                               NOVEMBER 7
     9:30 a.m.
       Small Business and Entrepreneurship
         Business meeting to markup an original bill entitled, 
           ``Small Business Contracting Revitalization Act of 
           2007''.
                                                           SR-428A
       Veterans' Affairs
         To hold an oversight hearing to examine the performance 
           and structure of the United States Court of Appeals for 
           Veterans.
                                                            SD-562
     10 a.m.
       Judiciary
         To hold hearings to examine the United States government 
           enforcement of intellectual property rights.
                                                            SD-226
       Rules and Administration
         To hold hearings to examine the Government Accountability 
           Office report focusing on funding challenges and 
           facilities maintenance at the Smithsonian Institution.
                                                            SR-301
     1:30 p.m.
       Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
         To hold hearings to examine sovereign wealth fund 
           acquisitions and other foreign government investments 
           in the United States, focusing on economic and national 
           security implications.
                                                            SD-538

                               NOVEMBER 8
     10 a.m.
       Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
         To hold hearings to examine ways to protect the 
           employment rights of those who protect the United 
           States.
                                                            SD-430
       Joint Economic Committee
         To hold hearings to examine the employment-unemployment 
           situation for November 2007.
                                                            SH-216
     2:30 p.m.
       Energy and Natural Resources
       National Parks Subcommittee
         To hold hearings to examine S. 86, to designate segments 
           of Fossil Creek, a tributary to the Verde River in the 
           State of Arizona, as wild and scenic rivers, S. 1365, 
           to amend the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management 
           Act of 1996 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior 
           to enter into cooperative agreements with any of the 
           management partners of the Boston Harbor Islands 
           National Recreation Area, S. 1449, to establish the 
           Rocky Mountain Science Collections Center to assist in 
           preserving the archeological, anthropological, 
           paleontological, zoological, and geologic artifacts and 
           archival documentation from the Rocky Mountain region 
           through the construction of an on-site, secure 
           collections facility for the Denver Museum of Nature 
           and Science in Denver, Colorado, S. 1921, to amend the 
           American Battlefield Protection Act of 1996 to extend 
           the authorization for that Act, S. 1941, to direct the 
           Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and 
           feasibility of designating the Wolf House, located in 
           Norfolk, Arkansas, as a unit of the National Park 
           System, S. 1961, to expand the boundaries of the Little 
           River Canyon National Preserve in the State of Alabama, 
           S. 1991, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
           conduct a study to determine the suitability and 
           feasibility of extending the Lewis and Clark National 
           Historic Trail to include additional sites associated 
           with the preparation and return phases of the 
           expedition, S. 2098, to establish the Northern Plains 
           Heritage Area in the State of North Dakota, S. 2220, to 
           amend the Outdoor Recreation Act of 1963 to authorize 
           certain appropriations, and H.R. 1191, to authorize the 
           National Park Service to pay for services rendered by 
           subcontractors under a General Services Administration 
           Indefinite Deliver Indefinite Quantity Contract issued 
           for work to be completed at the Grand Canyon National 
           Park.
                                                            SD-366

                              NOVEMBER 13
     2:30 p.m.
       Energy and Natural Resources
         To hold an oversight hearing to examine the Surface 
           Mining Control and Reclamation Act (Public Law 95-87), 
           focusing on policy issues thirty years later.
                                                            SD-366