Dozens filled the Chemistry Building Friday to hear U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., speak about the status of science and research in Congress, and the upcoming changes she anticipates when the next congressional session starts in January.
""My love for science and for this university started very early on,"" Baldwin said.
She joked about how her grandfather, a researcher at UW-Madison, influenced her growing up.
""As young kids my age were learning how to draw stick figures from things they saw, I was learning how to draw mitochondria,"" Baldwin said.
But Baldwin took a more serious tone when she discussed her feelings about what will change during the next congressional session, when Republicans will have control of the House of Representatives.
""I am sad to tell you that after Tuesday's election, I really can't quite be as enthusiastic about the prospects working forward,"" Baldwin said.
Baldwin criticized committees she said try to poke any small hole in the science supporting climate change. She compared judicial hearings on climate change that took place under the Bush administration to those of tobacco companies.
""These are exactly the same tactics that were used to protect big tobacco by those who didn't want to see additional regulation or warnings about the danger of smoking,"" Baldwin said.
She criticized fellow Congressman U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., who is slated to become the chair of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming if the committee is extended to the next Congress.
""In an interview this week, Congressman Sensenbrenner said to the Associated Press that he intends to use that panel to investigate and overturn environmental regulations that it took us many years to institute,"" Baldwin said.
The event included a question and answer session, where Baldwin was asked about how she works with people of differing ideologies than her own.
""My leadership won't let me bring a bill to the floor for consideration unless I have Republican support for it,"" Baldwin said.
Eight graduate students presented Baldwin with their theses to thank her for her support of research at UW-Madison.
