Chairwoman Johnson Statement on the Passing of Former Chairman Sherwood Boehlert
(Washington, DC) - Last night, former New York Congressman and House Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert passed away. Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson's (D-TX) statement is below. "Last night, my friend and former colleague Congressman Sherwood Boehlert passed away. Congressman Boehlert served as Chairman of the House Science Committee from 2000-2006. We served on opposite sides of the aisle, but I had no better partner in advancing legislation to strengthen the U.S. scientific … Continue Reading
August 25, 2021Chairwoman Johnson Statement on State of the Climate in 2020 Report
(Dallas, TX) - Today, the American Meteorological Society published the 31st annual State of the Climate Report, led by scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In the report, scientists conclude that in 2020, greenhouse gases concentrations in the Earth's atmosphere were the highest on record and global sea level rose to a new record for the ninth consecutive year-among other major findings. This annual report is an international collaboration, with the work … Continue Reading
August 18, 2021Chairwoman Johnson Applauds EPA Decision to Ban Chlorpyrifos on Food
(Washington, DC) - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a ban on the use of chlorpyrifos on food. Chlorpyrifos is an agricultural pesticide that has been found to be neurotoxic to children and developing fetuses. The ban is a response to an order from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals directing a revocation of allowable residue levels in food. Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson made the following statement: "I applaud Administrator Regan's decision to ban the use of … Continue Reading
August 17, 2021Congresswomen Johnson and Lofgren Congratulate National Ignition Facility on Major Milestone Toward Fusion Ignition
(Washington, DC) - Today, Lawrence Livermore National Lab (LLNL) in Livermore, CA announced that an experiment at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) "made a significant step toward ignition, achieving a yield of more than 1.3 megajoules (MJ). This advancement puts researchers at the threshold of fusion ignition, an important goal of the NIF, and opens access to a new experimental regime. The experiment was enabled by focusing laser light from NIF - the size of three football fields - onto a … Continue Reading
August 10, 2021Chairwoman Johnson and Ranking Member Lucas Call for Standards to Avoid Spectrum Interference
(Washington, DC) - Today, Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), along with Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK), sent letters to the Commissioners of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) expressing concerns about out-of-band emission (OOBE) limits to protect the integrity of global weather forecasting, satellite-based climate measurements, and ground-based radio astronomy observations in the 23.6-24 GHz band. "We urge the FCC to modify section 30.203 of its rules to fully conform … Continue Reading
August 09, 2021Chairwoman Johnson Calls for Strengthened Climate Action after IPCC Report Release
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its report titled, Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. A topline finding from authors of the report is that human influence has unequivocally warmed the atmosphere, ocean, and land. The IPCC is currently in its Sixth Assessment cycle, and this report is the first of three working group reports that lead up to the release of the IPCC's Synthesis Report in 2022. "This report is a call to … Continue Reading
July 30, 2021Science Committee Members Stansbury and Kim Lead in Introducing Bipartisan Partnerships for Energy Security and Innovation Act
(Washington, DC) – To ensure that research and technology development carried out by our National Laboratories and other programs stimulates cutting-edge innovation and local economic development, Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), the newest member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, introduced the Partnerships for Energy Security and Innovation Act (H.R. 4863) with Congresswoman Young Kim (R-CA) and Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Ranking … Continue Reading
July 30, 2021Chairwoman Johnson Statement on La Porte TX Facility Chemical Leak
(Washington, DC) - On Tuesday night, a facility in La Porte, Texas began leaking 100,000 pounds of acetic acid, killing two and sending 30 workers to the hospital. The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) has deployed a team to the incident site. The CSB, tasked with investigating chemical incidents and relaying recommendations to industry and to and regulatory agencies, currently has a backlog of 19 site investigations. The chair of the CSB is currently the only member. … Continue Reading
July 27, 2021Chairwoman Johnson and Ranking Member Lucas Celebrate Successful Markup of Five Bipartisan Innovation Bills
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a full Committee markup on H.R. 4609, the "National Institute of Standards and Technology for the Future Act of 2021," H.R. 3858, the "National Science and Technology Strategy Act of 2021," H.R. 4588, the "Regional Innovation Act of 2021," H.R. 4606, the "Energizing Technology Transfer Act," and H.R. 4599, the "Steel Upgrading Partnerships and Emissions Reduction Act." "I am very excited to report these five … Continue Reading
July 26, 2021Representatives Foster and Obernolte Urge OSTP Examine Nation’s Lab Biosafety Policies
(Washington, DC) - Last week, Chairman Bill Foster (D-IL) and Ranking Member Jay Obernolte (R-CA) of the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight sent a letter to Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Director Lander requesting a review of the adequacy and implementation of their oversight policies for life sciences dual use research of concern and federally-funded research on potential pandemic pathogens. The OSTP advises the President and others within the Executive Office of … Continue Reading
July 23, 2021Science Committee Members Ross and Meijer Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Facilitate Commercial Application of Clean Energy Technology
(Washington, D.C.) - Earlier this week, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (D-NC) was joined by Congressman Peter Meijer (R-MI) to introduce H.R. 4606, the Energizing Technology Transfer Act, bipartisan legislation that will leverage federal resources to grow technology transfer programs and public-private partnerships to address climate change. Specifically, this legislation would allow universities and private sector companies the opportunity to capitalize on the Department of Energy's research to … Continue Reading
July 21, 2021Science Committee Members Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Reauthorize NIST
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology's Subcommittee on Research and Technology Chairwoman Haley Stevens (D-MI) and Ranking Member Mike Waltz (R-FL) along with Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK) introduced the NIST for the Future Act. The NIST for the Future Act is a comprehensive reauthorization of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). "NIST is a critical agency that supports U.S. … Continue Reading
July 21, 2021Science Committee Member Rep. Wild Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Create Regional Innovation Hubs
(Washington, DC) - This week, Representative Susan Wild (PA-07) introduced the Regional Innovation Act of 2021, bipartisan legislation to bolster American technology leadership by creating new regional hubs of innovation. The bill would incentivize collaborative partnerships between local governments, colleges and universities, private industry, non-profits, and community organizations to promote and support regional technology hubs in places like the Greater Lehigh Valley. Rep. Wild is a … Continue Reading
July 20, 2021Chairwoman Johnson Applauds Nomination of Dr. Laurie Locascio to Lead NIST
(Washington, DC) - On Friday, July 16, President Biden announced his intent to nominate Laurie E. Locascio, Ph.D. for Under Secretary for Standards and Technology at the Department of Commerce and Director of National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). "I'm pleased to congratulate Dr. Locascio on her nomination for Under Secretary for Standards and Technology at the Department of Commerce and Director of NIST," said Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX). "With an impressive … Continue Reading
July 19, 2021Chairwoman Johnson and Ranking Member Lucas Emphasize Continued Need for Effective Spectrum Management after Release of GAO Report
(Washington, DC) - Today the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report, Spectrum Management: Agencies Should Strengthen Collaborative Mechanisms and Processes to Address Potential Interference. The report, which was requested by Chairwoman Johnson and Ranking Member Lucas in December of 2019, examined how spectrum interference concerns were treated during the design of the Federal Communications Commission's 24 GHz spectrum auction, how the National Aeronautics and … Continue Reading
July 19, 2021Chairwoman Johnson and Ranking Member Lucas Introduce Legislation to Advance Engineering Biology Research
(Washington, DC) - Today, Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) along with Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK) introduced the Bioeconomy Research and Development Act of 2021. This legislation would establish a National Engineering Biology Research and Development Program to advance engineering biology research. The bill would also expand the number of engineering biology researchers; accelerate the translation and commercialization of engineering biology; and improve interagency planning and … Continue Reading
July 01, 2021Chairwoman Johnson Statement on House Passage of the INVEST in America Act
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) released the following statement after voting to pass the INVEST in America Act—a $715 billion bipartisan plan to rebuild and reimagine our nation’s infrastructure, while also creating good-paying jobs and addressing the climate crisis. “As the senior Texan on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I was proud to support the INVEST in America Act on the floor today,” said … Continue Reading
June 30, 2021Chairwoman Johnson Applauds Announcement of NASA’s Johnson and Kennedy Space Centers Directors
(Washington, DC) - Today, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson named Vanessa Wyche, to serve as the director of the agency's Johnson Space Center. Janet Petro was named director of the agency's Kennedy Space Center. Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) made the following statement. "Administrator Nelson has selected two exceptional women to lead the Johnson and Kennedy Space Centers. I am confident that Vanessa Wyche, a 31-year NASA veteran, will be an invaluable asset as the United States … Continue Reading
June 28, 2021Science Committee Leaders Celebrate Passage of Legislation to Fund American Science and Innovation at NSF and DOE
(Washington, DC)-Today, the House passed H.R. 2225, the National Science Foundation for the Future Act by a vote of 345-67 and H.R. 3593, the Department of Energy Science for the Future Act by a vote of 351-68. The United States has long been a beacon of excellence in science and engineering," said Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) "We are at a time of markedly increased global competition in research and development. However, while we should be cognizant of our increasing global … Continue Reading
June 16, 2021Chairwoman Sherrill Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Redefine NOAA Chief Scientist Qualifications, Guidelines
(Washington, DC) - Today, Chairwoman Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) of the Subcommittee on Environment introduced the NOAA Chief Scientist Act with Congressman Randy Feenstra (R-IA). Under current law, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Chief Scientist is appointed by the president and given a broad outline of their duties, but details on the qualifications of who would be eligible to serve as Chief Scientist or how the Chief Scientist establishes standards within NOAA's … Continue Reading