Committee 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
April 24, 2020Chairwoman Johnson Statement on the Need for Racial and Ethnic Data Concerning COVID-19 Tests, Diagnoses, and Treatments
(Dallas, TX) - Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the first Federal report showing that people of color are disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Particularly, this early data shows that minority populations are being hospitalized and dying at higher rates than others living in the very same town, city, or state. Pre-existing health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease can lead to more severe complications if a person is … Continue Reading
April 24, 2020Chairwomen Johnson and Horn Statements on the 30th Anniversary of the Hubble Telescope
(Washington, DC) - Today marks the 30th anniversary of the launch of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope from Kennedy Space Center aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. "The Hubble Space Telescope is an incredible testament to American ingenuity and innovation," said Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX). "Thanks to Hubble, over the last thirty years we have been able to see into the depths of our universe and explore its many mysteries from here on Earth. From capturing the evolution of galaxies … Continue Reading
April 23, 2020Chairwoman Johnson Expresses Concern Over Reassignment of Health and Human Services Dr. Rick Bright
(Dallas, TX) - Earlier this week, Dr. Rick Bright, the Director of the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response was removed from his posts and transferred to a lesser role at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Bright said his dismissal was ordered in retaliation after he sought to prioritize investments into proven treatments and resisted political … Continue Reading
April 22, 2020Chairwoman Johnson Statement on the 50th Earth Day Celebration
(Dallas, TX) - Every year on April 22, communities around the world celebrate Earth Day, a day dedicated to bringing attention to the health and protection of the environment. Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) made the following statement. "For 50 years, we have marked Earth Day by celebrating our remarkable planet and by joining together in support of environmental protection. This year we are facing an unprecedented public health crisis that has caused Earth Day celebrations to go … Continue Reading
April 15, 2020Chairwoman Johnson Urges President Trump to Restore U.S. Funding of World Health Organization
(Dallas, TX) - Yesterday, the President announced at a coronavirus press briefing that he plans to instruct his "administration to halt funding of the World Health Organization while a review is conducted to assess the World Health Organization's role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus." Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) made the following statement. "I am shocked and deeply disturbed by President Trump's decision to investigate and halt U.S. … Continue Reading
April 09, 2020Chairwomen Johnson and Horn Comment on Independent Review of Space Station National Laboratory R&D Management
Earlier this week, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) released the results of an evaluation of the not-for-profit entity that manages non-NASA research and development (R&D) on the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory, the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS). Along with it, NASA released their planned actions in response to the review. The report of was conducted by an independent review team (IRT). "I appreciate the independent … Continue Reading
April 02, 2020Chairwoman Johnson Statement on Extended Comment Period for Supplemental to EPA Science Rule
(Dallas, TX) - Earlier today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) informed the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee that the Agency intends to extend the comment period on the Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science supplemental notice to the proposed rulemaking from April 17, 2020, to May 18, 2020. Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) made the following statement. "While this extension is a step in the right direction, it is unreasonably optimistic to expect … Continue Reading
April 02, 2020Chairwoman Johnson Questions CDC Decision-making on COVID-19 Testing Protocols
(Dallas, TX) -Today, Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) sent a letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director, Dr. Robert Redfield, requesting the Agency preserve the records that address CDC decision-making on diagnostic test protocols as coronavirus emerged in the United States in early 2020. In January, CDC decided not to deploy test kits that had been made available by the World Health Organization (WHO). In February, the test kits developed independently by … Continue Reading
April 01, 2020Chairwoman Johnson Statement on Trump Rollback of Emissions Standards
(Dallas, TX) - Yesterday, despite pushback from major automakers, the Trump Administration announced the final rule to roll back Obama-era fuel efficiency standards for tailpipe emissions from vehicles. This new rule will loosen fuel efficiency standards for automakers that would lead to an increase of nearly a billion more tons of carbon dioxide emissions over the lifetime of vehicles built during this rule. Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) made the following statement. "I am … Continue Reading
March 25, 2020Chairwoman Johnson, Ranking Member Lucas Request GAO Evaluation of DOE’s Management of Waste Cleanup Technology Development
(Washington, DC) - Today, Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK) sent a letter to Government Accountability Office (GAO) Comptroller Gene Dodaro requesting an evaluation of the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) science and technology (S&T) development priorities that would aid in efficiently and expeditiously implementing its cleanup mission. DOE's EM is responsible for most of the Department's cleanup activities of … Continue Reading
March 25, 2020Chairwoman Johnson Statement on Unproven Claims of Chemicals that Prevent and Treat COVID-19
(Dallas, TX) - Earlier this week, inaccurate rumors began to spread about chloroquine and other chemicals' supposed ability to protect against and treat COVID-19. Following the spread of those claims, reports emerged of individuals in multiple countries ingesting chemicals to prevent contracting the virus. On Monday, one American was reported dead and his wife was put under critical care after both ingested chloroquine phosphate. The Food and Drug Administration has not approved any … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020Chairwoman Johnson Requests Extension of Public Comment Opportunities for Proposed “Strengthening Transparency” Rule
(Dallas, TX) - Today, Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler requesting he extend the public comment period, hold public hearings when it is safe to do so, and brief staff on the most recent version of the proposed Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science rule. Chairwoman Johnson's letter follows the publication of the new version of the rule in the Federal Register, initiating a 30-day public comment … Continue Reading