Ranking Member Johnson Statement on Racist, Sexist Interference in NASA Contest
(Washington, DC) - Last month, NASA announced the finalists for its national research challenge, OPSPARC, and opened the competition to its public voting stage. Included among the high school finalists was an all-black, all-female team made up of 17 year olds, Mikayla Sharrieff, India Skinner, and Bria Snell. Earlier this week, it was reported that hackers associated with the online community 4chan, a forum known for its racist and homophobic views, attempted to influence the outcome of the … Continue Reading
May 04, 2018Top Democrats Push Pruitt for 90-day Comment Period on New EPA “Selective Science” Policy
(Washington, DC) - The top Democrat on the House Science, Space & Technology Committee, Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and on the Energy & Commerce Environment Subcommittee, Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) were joined by 63 Democratic colleagues on a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt calling for a 90-day comment period on a recently proposed rule on the treatment of data in science-based policymaking. “Given the large response from scientists and … Continue Reading
May 01, 2018EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt Has Sought New EPA Office Complete with Secure Facility in Hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma
(Washington, DC) - Today, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Oversight, Congressman Donald S. Beyer Jr. (D-VA) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Environment, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) sent two records request letters to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the General Services Administration (GSA). The letters request documents and communications regarding EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt’s efforts to establish a new … Continue Reading
April 27, 2018Ranking Member Johnson Statement on “A Better Deal: Tools to Succeed in the 21st Century”
(Alexandria, VA) - Today, the House Democrats unveiled a new plank of their economic agenda, A Better Deal: Tools to Succeed in the 21st Century. This plank focuses on Democrats’ commitment to investing in America’s workers, pioneering future frontiers and modernizing government. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) made the following statement: “The ‘Tools to Succeed in the 21st Century’ plank of the Better Deal agenda properly stresses the role that science, technology, … Continue Reading
April 24, 2018Ranking Member Johnson’s Statement on Administrator Pruitt’s “Secret Science” Order
(Washington, DC) - Today, Administrator Scott Pruitt held a “special event” to announce a proposed rule that would allow EPA in its rulemaking to only consider studies for which the underlying data are made available publicly. This rule is based on legislation introduced by Chairman Lamar Smith, but never adopted by Congress. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson’s (D-TX) statement on the proposed rule is below. “We on the Science Committee Minority have been fighting against the … Continue Reading
April 14, 2018Ranking Member Johnson Statement on March for Science
(Washington, DC) - Today is the second annual March for Science taking place in over 200 cities across around the world. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) issued the following statement: While it is somewhat disheartening that there is a need for this march, I am proud to see the public celebrating the role science plays in our daily lives, supporting the future of evidence-based science, and promoting it as the foundation of our policies. Over the past year, we have … Continue Reading
April 04, 2018Ranking Members Johnson and Beyer Send Third Request to Chairman to Address Election Cybersecurity Concerns and Foreign Influence Operations After Cambridge Analytica Scandal
(Washington, DC) - Last night, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Oversight, Congressman Donald S. Beyer Jr. (D-VA) sent a third formal request letter to Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) asking that he hold a hearing on election security issues. This third letter follows the recent news that British-based Cambridge Analytica acquired the private data of 50 million Facebook users for political purposes. Cambridge Analytica is a commercial consulting … Continue Reading
March 23, 2018Ranking Member Johnson Statement on the Omnibus Appropriations Bill
(Washington, DC) - Today, the President signed into law an Omnibus Appropriations package that contains new funding for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2018. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) made the following statement regarding the funding included for science agencies. “I am pleased that we were able to come to agreement on a bipartisan Omnibus Appropriations bill. I am thrilled with the spending boosts for many of our federal R&D agencies, even though I would still … Continue Reading
March 14, 2018Ranking Member Johnson’s Statement on the Loss of Dr. Stephen Hawking
(Washington, DC) - Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) released the following statement upon learning of Dr. Stephen Hawking’s passing. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) issued the following statement: “The passing of Dr. Hawking is truly the loss of a visionary scientist. His life was a shining example of the power of the human mind, and he was an inspiration to all for his genius, thoughtfulness, and perseverance. We on the Science Committee were lucky to have … Continue Reading
March 06, 2018Democratic Leaders of Science Committee (Again) Call on Chairman to Address Election Cybersecurity Concerns and Foreign Influence Operations
(Washington, DC) - Today, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Oversight, Congressman Donald S. Beyer Jr. (D-VA) sent a second formal request to Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) to hold a hearing on election security issues. This is the fourth time in five months that Ms. Johnson and Mr. Beyer have requested that the Chairman fulfill his oversight obligation to review the security of the U.S. election infrastructure. A similar formal written request … Continue Reading
March 01, 2018Ranking Member Johnson Response to Majority Staff Report on “Russia’s Social Media Meddling in U.S. Energy Markets”
(Dallas, TX) - Earlier today, the Majority released a staff report titled, “Russian Attempts to Influence U.S. Domestic Energy Markets by Exploiting Social Media.” Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson’s (D-TX) response is below. “The Majority’s staff report on alleged Russian interference in U.S. energy markets was presented to me this morning and I will thoroughly review it. Regardless, it has become apparent that the Russians have been attempting to interfere across our society. … Continue Reading
February 12, 2018Ranking Member Johnson Statement on President’s FY2019 Budget Request
(Dallas, TX) - Earlier today, President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2019 budget was released. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson’s (D-TX) response is below. “When I was first briefed on ‘highlights’ of President Trump’s budget request, I was incredulous at its treatment of our federal science agencies. To propose slashing EPA’s budget and DOE’s EERE, eliminating NASA’s education programs and several Earth science instruments and missions, and cutting NOAA’s oceans and atmospheric programs, … Continue Reading
January 25, 2018Ranking Member Johnson 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.” Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) issued the following statement: “This year marks 60 years of America in space. Over those 60 years, we have lost 17 astronauts in the tragic accidents of Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia. It is with a heavy heart that we honor these American … Continue Reading
January 18, 2018Chairman and Ranking Member Call on GAO to Examine Sexual Harassment by Federally Funded Researchers
(Washington, DC) - U.S. House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) and Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) today sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to request a report on sexual harassment by federally funded researchers, specifically looking at NIH, NSF, USDA, DOE and NASA. This letter is a continuation of the committee's investigation opened in October into allegations of sexual harassment within the scientific community. They … Continue Reading
January 17, 2018Democratic Leaders of Science Committee Call on Chairmen to Address Election Cybersecurity Concerns and Foreign Influence Operations
(Washington, DC) - Today, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Oversight, Rep. Donald S. Beyer Jr. (D-VA) sent a formal request to Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight, Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL) to hold a hearing on election security issues. Similar requests were made by Ms. Johnson and Mr. Beyer last year at two cybersecurity focused hearings in October and November. This request follows last Wednesday’s … Continue Reading
December 22, 2017The Government Accountability Office (GAO) Completes its Natural Gas Pipeline Oversight Safety Review
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report that paints a disturbing picture of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA’s) ability to effectively establish and oversee new safety standards of natural gas storage facilities. Click here to see the report: https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-18-89 The GAO review was requested by Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX); Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Ranking … Continue Reading
December 18, 2017House Considers Several Science Committee Bills
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House is considering the following Science Committee bills under suspension of the rules. H.R. 4661 - United States Fire Administration, AFG, and SAFER Program Reauthorization Act of 2017, to reauthorize the United States Fire Administration, the Assistance to Firefighters Grants program, the Fire Prevention and Safety Grants program, and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant program, and for other purposes. See Ranking Member Eddie … Continue Reading
December 12, 2017GAO Finds Trump Administration Illegally withheld ARPA-E Funds:In Response to a Request from Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) informed Congress that the Trump Administration had committed an illegal impoundment of funding for the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) in fiscal year (FY) 2017. According to GAO, “ARPA-E withheld from obligation $91 million of budget authority, in violation of the Impoundment Control Act.” This finding comes as a result of Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson’s efforts to ensure that the Department of … Continue Reading
December 12, 2017Ranking Member Johnson’s Statement on the Second Anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement
(Washington, DC) - On December 12, 2015, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change was committed to by 195 nations at the COP 21 UN Climate change conference. On June 1st of this year, President Trump announced that he would withdraw the U.S. from the Accord. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson’s (D-TX), statement is below. “On the two-year anniversary of the signing of the Paris Climate Accord, I am hopeful that, while our President has chosen to cede leadership on environmental issues, … Continue Reading
November 14, 2017Old Tactics, New Tools: A Review of Russia’s Soft Cyber Influence Operations
(Washington, DC) - Today, during the Oversight Subcommittee hearing, “Bolstering the Government’s Cybersecurity: A Survey of Compliance with the DHS Directive,” Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Oversight, Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) will submit a Minority staff report into the record on Russian soft cyber influence operations that aim to amplify false and deceptive messages to influence the public and undermine democracy. Today, Russia is not simply targeting computers, but also human beings … Continue Reading