Ranking Member Lofgren Criticizes Republican Majority for Thwarting US Competitiveness with Energy and Water Appropriations Bill
(WASHINGTON, D.C.)—Yesterday, H.R. 4394, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act passed the House of Representatives. This bill will decide how much funding the Department of Energy (DOE) will receive in the FY 2024 budget. The bill lacks support for areas that are critical to the competitiveness of our nation, including fusion energy research and development.“The Republicans’ Energy and Water Appropriations bill that moved through the House yesterday is a huge … Continue Reading
October 26, 2023Lofgren, Lucas and Science Committee Members Introduce Weather Act Reauthorization to Advance National Weather Forecasting
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) introduced comprehensive legislation to continue to strengthen and advance the U.S. weather system. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) delivers critical services to millions of Americans across the country each and every day. The Weather Act Reauthorization ensures NOAA’s work is modern, reliable, and at the forefront of accurate … Continue Reading
October 26, 2023Ranking Member Lofgren Applauds NOAA Effort to Use AI to Translate Forecasts and Warnings into Spanish and Chinese
(WASHINGTON, D.C.)—Today, the National Weather Service (NWS) announced an experimental language translation website that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to translate NWS forecasts and warnings into Spanish and Simplified Chinese. In preliminary testing, forecasters using the AI model reduced the time needed to translate National Hurricane Center information from one hour to less than ten minutes. "Translating NOAA's life-saving alerts is a key step in ensuring we can keep everyone … Continue Reading
October 25, 2023Ranking Member Lofgren Congratulates National Medal of Science and National Medal of Innovation and Technology Laureates
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday, President Biden awarded the National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Americans who have made an outstanding impact in their respective fields. Both medals are the nation’s highest honor in science and technological achievement. The Laureates are listed below.“Congratulations to the Laureates on this tremendous and well-deserved honor,” said Ranking Member Lofgren. “As a California Representative, I’m proud to see several of … Continue Reading
October 24, 2023Science Committee Members Celebrate CHIPS and Science Act Tech Hub and Strategy Development Grant Awards
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Yesterday, the Biden Administration designated 31 communities across the country that will serve as Regional Innovation and Technology Hubs. Also known as the Tech Hubs Program, this program was enacted as part of the CHIPS and Science Act to establish and support regional innovation centers across the country. The Tech Hubs will leverage the strengths of their community, regional industry, and geographical location to build and scale their Innovation and Technology Hub. In … Continue Reading
October 19, 2023Lofgren, Luján, Lead Letter Urging Multilingual Translation of the NIST AI Risk Management Framework
WASHINGTON, D.C. - This week, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Chair of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, urged the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to translate the AI risk management framework (AI RMF) into non-English languages. The United States is a leader in the development of artificial intelligence systems, and must lead the world in responsible artificial intelligence governance as well. NIST has … Continue Reading
October 18, 2023Ranking Member Lofgren Reacts to EPA Leaded Aviation Fuel Endangerment Finding, Calls on FAA to Act Swiftly
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a finding that emissions from aircraft powered by leaded fuel increase lead pollution in surrounding communities and endanger public health and welfare. This determination is a critical step in removing leaded fuel from aviation. The endangerment finding comes after a peer-reviewed study found elevated blood lead levels of children living downwind from Reid-Hillview Airport, which is in Ranking Member Zoe … Continue Reading
October 16, 2023Ranking Member Lofgren Applauds Unveiling of Plans for Berkeley Space Center
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, NASA Ames announced plans to build a new innovation hub as part of a partnership with the University of California Berkeley. The new campus will be called Berkeley Space Center. This partnership is made possible by NASA’s enhanced use leasing authority (EUL), which allows NASA to lease underutilized land or property to other organizations to use or redevelop. “As an advocate for advancing the science and technology ecosystem of the Bay Area, I’m very proud to see … Continue Reading
October 16, 2023Science Committee Members Salinas and Baird Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Accelerate Quantum Research and Development
WASHINGTON, DC - Last week, U.S. House Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Jim Baird (IN-04) introduced the Quantum Instrumentation for Science and Engineering Act, bipartisan legislation that will accelerate quantum research and development in the United States. “Quantum science has the potential to vastly improve computing speeds and performance, sensing capabilities, and secure communications. Yet much more research is needed before we can fully realize the benefits of these … Continue Reading
October 13, 2023Science Committee Members Applaud DOE Selection of California, Oregon, Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio for Hydrogen Hubs
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced seven Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs that will make up the hydrogen hub program. The purpose of this program is to form a clean hydrogen network that will decarbonize various industries including trucking, shipping, and manufacturing. The Democratic Science Committee Members representing states selected to house a Hydrogen Hub include Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), Rep. Haley Stevens (MI-11), … Continue Reading
October 11, 2023Ranking Member Lofgren Celebrates Bennu Sample Unveiling, Looks to Psyche Launch and Lucy Flyby
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) unveiled the sample from the asteroid Bennu collected by the OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security-Regolith Explorer) mission. OSIRIS-REx is the first U.S. mission to collect an asteroid sample and return it to Earth. The first assessment of the 4.5 billion-year-old asteroid Bennu sample show evidence of water and high-carbon content, which could indicate the building … Continue Reading
October 04, 2023Ranking Member Lofgren Congratulates 2023 Nobel Prize Winners
WASHINGTON, D.C. - This week, the Nobel Prizes in Medicine, Physics and Chemistry were announced. These Awards honor the extraordinary accomplishments and innovations of their recipients. Each year, thousands of nominators submit candidates for the Nobel Prize, and Laureates are announced in October. Still remaining to be announced are the prizes in Literature, Peace, and Economic Sciences. Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) made the following statement: “The Nobel Prizes are a powerful … Continue Reading
October 03, 2023Ranking Member Lofgren Applauds EPA Progress to Address PFAS Pollution with Newly Finalized Rule
WASHINGTON, DC — Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule that will help reduce risks to public health from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The rule requires all manufacturers of PFAS and PFAS-containing material to report information regarding the chemical from 2011 and onward. This rule will increase the amount of data we have on PFAS and allow the EPA to better research and regulate these known cancer causing chemicals. “I am pleased to see the … Continue Reading
September 29, 2023Ranking Member Lofgren Urges Appropriations Committee Leaders to Protect Railroad Valley
The Railroad Valley site is an area of public land in Nevada with specific surface characteristics that make it the only location in the US that can calibrate Earth-observing satellites critical to science, national security, and public safety WASHINGTON, DC — This week, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) sent a letter to Chairman Simpson and Ranking Member Pingree of the Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. In the letter, Ranking Member … Continue Reading
September 27, 2023Committee Leaders Lofgren and Sorensen Congratulate NASA Astronaut Frank Rubio on Record-Breaking Mission
WASHINGTON, D.C. — This morning, NASA astronaut Frank Rubio (M.D.) (Lt. Col., U.S. Army) returned to Earth after a record-setting 371 days in space. Rubio was selected to join the 2017 NASA Astronaut Candidate Class. He launched aboard Soyuz MS-22 in September 2022 and was originally scheduled to return to Earth in March 2023. Due to a coolant leak on the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft, Rubio’s stay on the International Space Station was extended. Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Subcommittee on … Continue Reading
September 25, 2023Ranking Member Sorensen Statement on Mars Sample Return Independent Review
WASHINGTON D.C.—Mars Sample Return (MSR) is a NASA planetary science mission being carried out in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA) to return the first samples from the surface of Mars back to Earth for scientific study and analysis. MSR has been recommended as the top priority by the 2011 and 2022 National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine decadal survey reports for planetary science. In May, the Associate Administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate called … Continue Reading
August 14, 2023Science Committee Leaders Applaud National Academies Decision on IRIS Assessment of Formaldehyde
(WASHINTGON, DC) -- Last week, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) issued its review of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) draft assessment on formaldehyde. The draft assessment, first issued in April 2022, concludes that there is a causal relationship between formaldehyde exposure and myeloid leukemia. The expert NASEM panel finds that the assessment’s conclusions follow from the evidence … Continue Reading
August 11, 2023Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren Applauds Latest Fusion Ignition Result
SAN JOSE, CA – In late July, Lawrence Livermore National Lab’s (LLNL) National Ignition Facility (NIF) conducted an experiment that repeated the achievement of fusion ignition and yielded the highest energy gain ever produced at NIF. "NIF’s latest breakthrough is a shining example of what can happen when we prioritize advancing research and development in fusion science,” said Ranking Member Lofgren (D-CA). “I am thrilled about NIF’s substantial improvement … Continue Reading
August 09, 2023Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren Celebrates One Year of CHIPS and Science, Calls for Action to Support American Science
SAN JOSE, CA – Today marks the first anniversary of the enactment of the CHIPS and Science Act. CHIPS and Science was spearheaded by Members of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and was signed into law by President Biden on August 9, 2022. “When President Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act into law one year ago, Democrats in Congress and the Administration made it clear to the world: the United States can and will lead in science and innovation,” said … Continue Reading
August 04, 2023Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren Applauds Fusion Energy Awards
SAN JOSE, CA—This week the Department of Energy (DOE) announced three sets of fusion energy research and development awards, including several to Bay-Area institutions. “It’s an exciting time for fusion energy development,” said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). “After the breakthrough achievement of fusion ignition at the National Ignition Facility at LLNL last year, I’m happy to see the Biden Administration doubling down with investments in this critical … Continue Reading