Chairwoman Johnson Applauds Naming of WFIRST Space Telescope in Honor of Nancy Grace Roman
(Dallas, TX) - Yesterday, NASA announced the next-generation space telescope currently under development, the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST), will be named in honor of NASA's first chief astronomer, Nancy Grace Roman. The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is set to launch in the mid-2020s, and is planned "to study dark energy, measure the history of cosmic acceleration, complete the exoplanet census begun by NASA's Kepler Space Telescope and demonstrate technology for direct … Continue Reading
May 21, 2020Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Foster Holds Bipartisan Briefing on Using CRISPR Technologies for COVID-19
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology's Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight held a bipartisan briefing with Dr. Charles Chiu, Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Infectious Diseases and Director of the UCSF-Abbott Viral Diagnostics and Discovery Center at UCSF School of Medicine; Dr. Philip Santangelo, Professor of Biomedical Engineering and the Principal Investigator at the Laboratory of Spatial Biology at Georgia Institute of Technology; … Continue Reading
May 20, 2020Chairwomen Johnson and Horn Comment on the Resignation of Doug Loverro
(Washington, DC) - Yesterday afternoon, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced that Associate Administrator for Human Exploration and Operations (HEO) Doug Loverro had resigned from his position effective the previous day. Mr. Loverro stepped into the Associate Administrator for HEO role six months ago, replacing his predecessor, William Gerstenmaier, who had been removed from the same position less than a year ago. "I was shocked to … Continue Reading
May 18, 2020Science Committee Members Submit Comment on Supplemental to Proposed EPA Rule to Undercut Science
(Washington, DC) - Today, Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) along with Representatives Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Ami Bera (D-CA), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Jerry McNerney (D-CA), Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Bill Foster (D-IL), Don Beyer (D-VA), Sean Casten (D-IL), and Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) submitted a comment to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler for the supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) … Continue Reading
May 14, 2020Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Foster Holds Bipartisan Roundtable on COVID-19 Vaccine Research and Development
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology's Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight held a bipartisan roundtable with Dr. Jesse L. Goodman, Director at Georgetown University's Center on Medical Product Access, Safety and Stewardship (COMPASS), formerly the Director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) from 2003-2009 and the Chief Scientist of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from 2009-2014; Dr. Peter Smith, Professor … Continue Reading
May 12, 2020Research and Technology Subcommittee Chairwoman Stevens Holds Bipartisan Teleconference on Manufacturing USA COVID-19 Response and Recovery
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology's Subcommittee on Research & Technology held a bipartisan teleconference with Ms. Chandra Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Manufacturing times Digital (MxD); Dr. Kelvin Lee, Director of the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL); and Mr. John Wilczynski, Executive Director of America Makes so that the Subcommittee can carry out its oversight of how Manufacturing USA … Continue Reading
May 11, 2020Chairwomen Johnson and Stevens Statements on the 70th Anniversary of the Establishment of the National Science Foundation
(Washington, DC) - Yesterday was the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the National Science Foundation (NSF). "Seventy years ago, after the second world war demonstrated the critical importance of scientific innovation for meeting the needs of society, Congress established the National Science Foundation," said Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX). "Since then, the Foundation's support for research across all fields of science has laid the groundwork for countless benefits for … Continue Reading
May 08, 2020Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Chairwoman Horn Holds Bipartisan Teleconference on NASA’s Response to COVID-19
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology's Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a bipartisan teleconference with National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator Jim Bridenstine and Dr. Mike Watkins, Director at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The purpose of the teleconference was for Members to discuss NASA's uniquely skilled workforce and their activities and role in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the … Continue Reading
May 07, 2020Chairwoman Johnson Requests Further Extended Comment Period for Supplemental to EPA Science Rule
(Dallas, TX) - Yesterday, Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler regarding the need for a further extension of public comment period for EPA's supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) to its "Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science" proposed rule. The Chairwoman previously sent a letter requesting an extension to the original 30-day comment period, which was set to end on April 17. On April … Continue Reading
May 06, 2020Environment Subcommittee Chairwoman Sherrill Holds Bipartisan Teleconference on COVID-19 Impacts on NWS Operations and Workforce
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology's Subcommittee on Environment held a bipartisan teleconference with Dr. Louis Uccellini, Assistant Administrator for Weather Services and Director of the National Weather Service (NWS); Ms. Mary Erickson, Deputy Director at NWS; and Mr. John Murphy, Chief Operating Officer at NWS. The purpose of the teleconference was to allow Members to conduct oversight of how NWS's workforce, critical weather prediction, and … Continue Reading
May 05, 2020Chairwoman Johnson Holds Bipartisan Roundtable on Federal Science Agencies Research and Analysis Capabilities in Addressing COVID-19
(Dallas, TX) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a bipartisan, Full Committee roundtable on the contributions that agencies within the Committee's jurisdiction are making and can continue to make to science and technology-based solutions for identifying, understanding, tracking, treating, and containing COVID-19 and other emergent infectious diseases. The expert panelist who participated in the roundtable included Dr. Michelle Buchanan, Deputy Director for … Continue Reading
May 05, 2020Chairwoman Johnson Expresses Concern over Proposed EPA Rules on Management of Coal Ash
(Dallas, TX) - Today, Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler expressing concern over two rules recently proposed by the EPA on the management of coal combustion residuals (CCRs); these proposed rules will roll back elements of an EPA rule finalized in 2015 to regulate CCRs, also known as coal ash. "EPA's own 2014 risk assessment of coal combustion residuals found that leaching from CCR units poses risk to … Continue Reading
May 01, 2020Committee Leaders Request GAO Evaluation of Management of the International Space Station National Laboratory
(Washington, DC) - Today, Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK) along with Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics Chairwoman Kendra Horn (D-OK) and Ranking Member Brian Babin (R-TX) sent a letter to Government Accountability Office (GAO) Comptroller Gene Dodaro requesting a broad examination of the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space's (CASIS) performance, management, and governance structure. CASIS is a non-profit organization that currently … Continue Reading
May 01, 2020Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Foster Holds Teleconference on Serology Testing for COVID-19
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology's Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight held a teleconference with Dr. Florian Krammer, Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Dr. Elizabeth McNally, Professor and Director at the Center for Genetic Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and Dr. Denise Toney, Director at the Department of General Services Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services, State … Continue Reading
May 01, 2020Energy Subcommittee Chairwoman Fletcher Holds Bipartisan Teleconference on COVID-19 Impacts on Energy Jobs and Paths to Recovery
(Houston, TX) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology's Subcommittee on Energy held a bipartisan teleconference with Mr. David Foster, Distinguished Associate at Energy Futures Initiative (EFI); Mr. Joe Hezir, Managing Principal at EFI; and Ms. Melanie Kenderdine, also a Managing Principal at EFI. The purpose of the teleconference was to expand the Subcommittee's understanding regarding the impacts the COVID-19 health crisis on the American energy sector and its … Continue Reading
May 01, 2020Chairwomen Johnson and Horn Statements on Artemis Human Lander Systems Contract Awards
(Washington, DC) - Yesterday, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced that Blue Origin, Dynetics, and Space X have been awarded contracts to design and develop Artemis program human landing systems, one of which NASA plans to use for a 2024 lunar landing. "I am troubled that NASA has decided to ignore congressional intent and instead press forward with Human Landing System awards to try to meet an arbitrary 2024 lunar landing deadline," said Chairwoman Eddie … Continue Reading
May 01, 2020Research and Technology Subcommittee Chairwoman Stevens Holds Bipartisan Teleconference on NIST Manufacturing Programs and COVID-19 Response and Recovery
(Washington, DC) - Yesterday afternoon, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology's Subcommittee on Research & Technology held a bipartisan teleconference with Mr. Mike Molnar, Director of the Office of Advanced Manufacturing at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Ms. Carroll Thomas, Director of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership at NIST, to understand how these programs are helping to support and mobilize manufacturers during the during the … Continue Reading
April 29, 2020Bipartisan, Bicameral Group of Members Request GAO Study on Harmful Algal Blooms
(Washington, DC) - Today, 11 Members of Congress sent a bipartisan, bicameral letter to Government Accountability Office (GAO) Comptroller Gene Dodaro requesting the examination of multiple issues concerning the federal government's response to harmful algal blooms (HABs) and hypoxia (state of low oxygen in the water), including how it is helping state and local governments address the problem, what adaptation methods are being employed, and the plans they have for studying and addressing the … Continue Reading
April 27, 2020Chairwoman Johnson Statement on the Death of Former NASA Administrator James Beggs
(Dallas, TX) - Last Thursday, former National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator James Beggs passed away in his home. As a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Mr. Beggs served in the Navy as a submariner and later briefly served as NASA's Associate Administrator of Advanced Research and Technology during the Apollo program. Following a career in both government and industry, Mr. Beggs went on to become NASA Administrator in 1981 during the beginnings of the … Continue Reading
April 24, 2020House Science Committee Leaders Criticize FCC Action on Space Orbital Debris
(Washington, DC) - House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK) released a statement today on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) vote on new regulations for orbital space debris. "As we said in our letter to the FCC last week, regulatory action at this time, without consensus across federal agencies and clear authority from Congress, will at the very least create confusion and undermine the Commission's … Continue Reading