Today marks the day when the drilling moratoria on oil shale and most of the Outer Continental Shelf will expire, meaning that the Democrats have surrendered to the pleas of Americans across the country to lower gas prices and keep us on the path to energy independence. This achievement is a step in the right direction, but it is far from a solution to our nation's energy crisis. While most of the focus of our nation is on the current economic situation, we should not be ignorant of the fact that part of American’s economic woes today are due, in large part, to skyrocketing energy prices. We must demand energy policy that will include coal, nuclear, coal-to-liquids, renewables, and support for new ways to power automobiles. We are dependent on foreign crude oil and must deal with our current situation and drill domestically to achieve lower prices. Congress owes it to hardworking Americans to implement real energy solutions. - Anna Koch, Press Secretary to Rep. Conaway

A new NASA contest challenges college-level students to design tools or instrument packages that could be used on the next generation of human-driven moon rovers. Student will have the opportunity to engage in NASA's return to the moon by designing equipment that will help astronauts accomplish tasks on the lunar surface.

Moon explorers will need to navigate in darkness around the moon's south pole and collect lunar regolith, or moon dust, for on-site analysis and radiation detection. They will need to communicate with Earth, a lunar outpost and spacecraft orbiting the moon. Moon inhabitants also will conduct video surveys of the moon's surface for transmission back to Earth, and practice rescue and the safe return of astronauts to their outpost from sorties.

Moon dust has the potential to serve as an on-site resource for building materials, water and oxygen. However, because of its structure, the dust can damage space suits, rovers and other equipment. The particles have sharp, jagged edges and contain microscopic shards of glass. Tool or instrument designs that can withstand the sharp-edged particles could help future astronauts and might earn students an internship at a NASA facility.

The contest is open to full-time students enrolled in accredited post-secondary institution such as universities, colleges, trade schools, community colleges and professional schools in the United States or its territories. Individuals or teams may apply, and interdisciplinary teams from across departments and institutions are encouraged.

NASA plans to invite contest winners to the next set of lunar technology mission tests planned for the summer or fall of 2009. Paid internships also are planned as student awards. The contest continues NASA's tradition of investing in the nation's education programs and ties into the agency's goal of strengthening NASA and America's future workforce.

To participate in the contest, students must submit a notice of intent to NASA by Dec. 15, 2008, with final papers due May 15, 2009. Specific details about how participation in the NASA University Design Contest in Exploration Systems, including submission requirements, can be found on the Web at http://moontasks.larc.nasa.gov.

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In August, while Democrats were on vacation, Republicans took to the dark House floor to protest Speaker Pelosi’s inaction on energy legislation. The Republican message centered primarily on domestic energy production. The Republicans’ protests – which reflected the views of the American public – were successful in keeping the Congressional moratorium on oil and gas exploration from being extended.

Today is a monumental day in the quest for energy independence, as the federal ban on energy exploration off our coasts has expired. To ensure Americans have access to the vast resources available in areas such as the Outer Continental Shelf, the Alaska National Wildlife Reserve and the Mountain West, Congress must continue to work on legislation that enables these resources to be brought to market and reduce our dependence on foreign sources of oil.

Rep. Culberson is a co-sponsor of a bi-partisan energy bill (H.R. 6709) that will bring relief to Americans by increasing domestic exploration and diversifying our country’s energy portfolio. The bill would increase energy conservation by extending tax credits for renewable energy production and hybrid cars, and improve energy efficiency by establishing tax credits for energy efficient buildings and homes. Additionally, the bill would increase domestic energy supply by allowing drilling 25 miles off our coasts. More production means more American jobs and growing our ailing manufacturing industry. Congress must act now or the victory will be short-lived.

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Mike discusses the current economic crisis and the two opposing proposals.