Space Subcommittee Chair Horn Congratulates SpaceX and NASA on Successful Crew Dragon Demo-1 Mission
(Washington, DC) - On Feb. 28, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the Crew Dragon capsule for its Demo-1 flight test. The capsule carried about 400 pounds of supplies for the International Space Station and a dummy named Ripley, which was fitted with sensors to record what astronauts can expect to experience throughout their mission. Three days after the launch, the spacecraft docked autonomously to the International Space Station. After detaching early Friday morning, the capsule … Continue Reading
March 07, 2019Chairwoman Johnson Statement on the Passing of Chairman Ralph Hall
(Washington, DC) - Earlier today, former Texas Congressman and Science Committee Chairman Ralph Hall passed away. Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson's (D-TX) statement is below. "Of all the people I've met and enjoyed serving with during my time in Washington, Ralph Hall was a true friend. My friendship with Congressman Hall dates back to our time serving together in the Texas State Legislature in the 1970s. From the first time we met to that last time I visited him at his home in Rockwall, … Continue Reading
March 06, 2019Science Committee Chairs Question Decision to Halt NASA Air Pollution Monitoring in Aftermath of Hurricane Harvey
(Washington, DC) - Today, Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) with Environment Subcommittee Chair Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX) and Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee Chairwoman Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ)sent letters to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, and Texas' Commission on Environmental Quality Toxicology Division Director Michael Honeycutt requesting all documents prepared or received in relation to the decision making process that prevented the NASA … Continue Reading
March 04, 2019Members Urge EPA to Complete Formaldehyde Health Assessment, Open Investigations on Compliance with Agency’s Scientific Integrity Policy, and Political Appointee’s Potential Ethics Violation
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) joined with Democrats on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Ranking Member Tom Carper (D-DE) and Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Ed Markey (D-MA), in sending letters to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler and EPA’s Scientific Integrity Officer Francesca T. Grifo, Ph.D., asking that … Continue Reading
February 28, 2019Committee Chairs Question Rationale for Proposed NSC Climate Change Panel
(Washington, DC) - Today, four House Committee Chairs sent a letter to President Trump expressing concerns and raising questions about recent reports that the National Security Council (NSC) plans to assemble a secret panel to counter the scientific consensus on climate change and question its impacts on the national security of the United States. The letter was sent by Armed Services Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA), Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Natural Resources … Continue Reading
February 27, 2019Chairwoman Johnson and Ranking Member Lucas Introduce Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act
(Washington, DC) - In recognition of Black History Month, Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) andRanking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK) today introduced H.R. 1396, the "Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act." This bill awards the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress's highest civilian honor, to Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan, Christine Darden, and all the women computers, mathematicians, and engineers at NASA, and its precursor organization the National Advisory Committee … Continue Reading
February 15, 2019House Committee Leaders Request Extension of Public Comment Periods Affected by the Government Shutdown
(Washington, D.C.) - Eight House Committee leaders sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Mick Mulvaney today requesting an immediate extension of public comment periods, hearings and meetings that were affected by the government shutdown earlier this year. The letter was signed by Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Oversight and Reform Chairman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Homeland Security Chairman Bennie … Continue Reading
February 15, 2019Chairwoman Johnson’s Statement on Ten-Year Anniversary of Release of National Academies Forensics Study
(Washington, DC) - Nearly ten years ago, on February 18, 2009, the National Academies released a groundbreaking study, Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward, which sent shockwaves through the legal, scientific, and policymaking communities. The report found that all over the nation interpretation of forensic evidence was routinely and severely compromised by a lack of supporting science and standards. The report examined the common forensic science disciplines … Continue Reading
February 07, 2019Chairwoman Johnson’s Statement on NASA’s Day of Remembrance
(Washington, DC) - Today is NASA's Day of Remembrance, a day designated to honor those NASA employees who lost their lives "while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery." Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) issued the following statement. "On NASA's annual Day of Remembrance, we honor the brave men and women who have tragically lost their lives while working to advance the nation's space program. It is because of their courage that we can be a leader in discovery and … Continue Reading
January 30, 2019Science Committee Organizes Democratic Caucus for 116th Congress
(Washington, DC) - The Democratic Caucus of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee today held an organizational meeting to elect a Vice-Chairman, Subcommittee Chairs, and to select subcommittee assignments. Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said, "The Science Committee has the responsibility of working to enhance America's competitiveness by promoting the advancement of our nation's research, development, and innovation enterprise, in addition to explore emerging science … Continue Reading
January 23, 2019Chairwoman Johnson Welcomes New and Returning Members to the Science Committee
(Washington, DC) - Last night, Speaker Pelosi announced the Democratic Members of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. "It is a pleasure to welcome the new and returning Members to the Science, Space, and Technology Committee," said Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX). "I look forward to collaborating with all of them on an agenda that harnesses research and innovation to address the many challenges that this nation faces. There is much work to be done. I am excited to … Continue Reading
January 18, 2019Chairwoman Johnson Requests Information on DOE Travel Prohibition
(Washington, DC) - Today, Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) sent a letter to Secretary of Energy Rick Perry requesting information on recent restrictions placed on Department of Energy (DOE) employees' federally sponsored travel. Though the DOE has been funded for the full Fiscal Year 2019, Science Committee staff have received reports that their employees were ordered to immediately cancel upcoming agency sponsored travel without sufficient explanation. "Employee travel is routinely … Continue Reading
January 11, 2019Chairwoman Johnson Introduces National Gun Violence Research Act
(Washington, DC) - Last night, Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) introduced H.R. 435, the "National Gun Violence Research Act." If enacted, H.R. 435 would authorize a national gun violence research program overseen by the Office of Science and Technology Policy and carried out by the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Justice. The national research program would examine the … Continue Reading
January 04, 2019Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson Elected Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairwoman
(Washington, DC) - Today, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) was elected to serve as the thirteenth Chair of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee by the Democratic Caucus and confirmed on the House floor. Congresswoman Johnson is the first African-American and the first female Chair of the Science Committee. Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) released the following statement. “It is a great honor to be chosen to serve as the Chairwoman of the Science, … Continue Reading
January 04, 2019Chairwoman Johnson and Ranking Member Lucas Introduce Sexual Harassment and Energy-Water Nexus Legislation
(Washington, DC) - Last night, Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK) together introduced H.R. 36, the "Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act of 2019" and H.R. 34, the "Energy and Water Research Integration Act of 2019." H.R. 36 would expand research efforts to better understand the causes and consequences of sexual harassment affecting individuals in the scientific, technical, engineering, and mathematics workforce, and to examine policies to … Continue Reading
December 14, 2018Ranking Member Johnson’s Statement on Minority-Serving Institutions Academies Report
(Washington, DC) - Yesterday, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released a new report entitled, “Minority Serving Institutions: America’s Underutilized Resource for Strengthening the Stem Workforce.” This report examines strategies to best equip minority-serving institutions (MSIs) capitalize on their unique strengths of providing higher education to underrepresented students of color and low-income backgrounds with the resources, faculty talent, and infrastructure … Continue Reading
December 10, 2018Top Dems Release New Staff Report on Equifax Breach Finding Stronger Laws Needed to Thwart Future Cyber Attacks
Washington, D.C. (Dec. 10, 2018)—Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, issued a new Democratic staff report in response to a Republican staff report on the Committees’ joint investigation into the 2017 Equifax data breach. “Unfortunately, Committee Republicans issued a report without including Democratic … Continue Reading
December 04, 2018Ranking Member Johnson Statement on White House STEM Education Plan
(Washington, DC) - This morning, the National Science and Technology Council’s Committee on STEM Education and the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy released their 5-year strategic plan for promoting the federal government’s role in STEM education, “Charting a Course for Success: America’s Strategy for STEM Education.” This report was mandated by the America Competes Reauthorization Act of 2010. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) released the following … Continue Reading
November 26, 2018Ranking Member Johnson Congratulates NASA on Mars InSight Landing
(Dallas, TX) - Today, a little over six months since its launch, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s (JPL) Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) lander successfully touched down on Mars beginning a two-year mission where it will study Mars’ deep interior. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) released the following statement. “I’d like to congratulate all of the scientists, engineers, and technicians who are a part of NASA’s InSight … Continue Reading
November 23, 2018Ranking Member Johnson Statement on Vol. II of the Fourth National Climate Assessment Report
(Dallas, TX) - Today, Volume II of the fourth National Climate Assessment report was released by the Administration. Volume I, released last year, was an authoritative assessment of the science of climate change. Volume II, Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States, provides a regional focus that details the specific impacts climate change is having and will have on different regions of the United States; adaptation and mitigation strategies; and large scale specific impacts on areas … Continue Reading