Andy, Today, I received a reply from my Congressman Timothy (Tim) V. Johnson (15th District; member of the Science Committee, Research Subcommittee). Tim concludes his first paragraph by writing: "I am honored to be in a position to potentially offer some assistance." Tim's second paragraph: "House Resolution (H.R.) 66, as sponsored by my colleague Rep. Vernon Ehlers of Michigan is a bill that would amend the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 to require Federal agencies to impose requirements and guidelines on government use of the metric system in regard to receipt of monetary awards for scientific and engineering research." Beginning with the word "amend" this is an exact quotation from H.R. 4414. I have not yet seen H.R. 66. What is the difference in wording, if any? Tim's third paragraph: "Currently, the bill awaits action in the Environment, Technology and Standards Subcommittee, of which Mr. Ehlers is the Chairman, of the House Committee on Science. As he is the Chairman, and this is one of his sponsored pieces of legislation, I fully expect that action, of some sort, will be taken on this bill in the near future. As for myself becoming a cosponsor, I shall discuss the bill with Mr. Ehlers and then take the appropriate action as needed." My request that Tim cosponsor Ehler's legislation is copied below. Gene Mechtly. .......... > Date: Thu, 7 Jun 2001 17:33:23 -0500 (CDT) > From: Gene Mechtly <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: Tim Johnson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Executive Order 12770 > > Dear Tim, > > Several times in recent years, as my representative in the Illinois > General Assembly, you have called me at home to ask if there is anything > you could do for me. > > Now, as my representative in Washington from the U.S. 15th Congressional > District, you are in a position to help on an important national issue. > > President Bush (the elder) signed Executive Order 12770 (in 1991) which > directs the use of the metric system of measurement by Federal agencies and > departments. > > The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (my employeer for ten > years before I became a faculty member at the University of Illinois) > has complied with EO 12770 in most of its science programs, including > trajectory calculations for the Mars Climate Orbiter (MCO). > > Although the NASA contract with Lockheed Martin for the MCO program > required data from Lockheed Martin in metric units, Lockheed Martin failed > to deliver certain trajectory data in metric units, and the result was a > failure of the Orbiter at a cost to taxpayers of about $125,000,000. > > Congressman Vernon Ehlers is introducing legislation to strengthen > President Bush's Order for application to Federal Grants and Contracts. > > Please investigate Ehlers' draft legislation and act as a co-sponsor in > the interest of maintaining United States preeminence in space sciences. > > I would be pleased to discuss this issue with you in greater depth on some > weekend when your are in our District. You may expect a call from me. > > Sincerely, > > Eugene (Gene) Mechtly > Your near neighbor five minutes away > at 1289 on County Road 2125 East, > St. Joseph, IL 61873 > Home Telephone: 688-2626
