House 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
November 14, 2018Committee Leaders Announce Series of Climate Hearings over Two Day Period Early Next Year
(Washington, D.C.) - As Democrats prepare to take the House Majority in January, three Democratic Committee leaders, whose committees have jurisdiction over climate change, announced today that their committees will hold a series of hearings over a two-day period early next year to assess the effects of climate change and the need for action. The announcement was made by Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Natural Resources Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) … Continue Reading
November 07, 2018Ranking Member Johnson Statement on Election Results and Seeking Chairmanship
(Dallas, TX) - Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson's (D-TX) statement is below. "I am heartened that Democrats will be in the Majority in the 116th Congress, and I cannot wait to get to work. If I am fortunate enough to be elected Chair of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, a Committee that I like to call the 'Committee of the Future,' I know that there is much that we can accomplish as Democrats and Republicans working together for the good of the nation. There is much to be … Continue Reading
October 30, 2018Ranking Member Johnson Statement on WHO Report on Children’s Exposure to Air Pollution
(Dallas, TX) - Last night, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a report on air pollution’s global effects on children’s health. A few key findings include: Air pollution is one of the leading threats to child health, accounting for almost 1 in 10 deaths in children under five years of age. Air pollution affects neurodevelopment, leading to lower cognitive test outcomes, negatively affecting mental and motor development. About 600,000 deaths in children under 15 years of age … Continue Reading
October 16, 2018Ranking Member Johnson Refutes Pres. Trump’s Denial of Climate Change
(Dallas, TX) - Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson’s (D-TX) today released the following statement after President Donald Trump disputed the veracity of climate change during an interview on 60 Minutes. “Feelings are not facts, and it’s past time the president comes to understand that. We have been dealing with the effects of human-induced climate change for many years, and we need to heighten our efforts to combat it. Instead, President Trump is pedaling in misinformation. His inherent … Continue Reading
October 09, 2018Ranking Member Johnson’s Statement on IPCC Global Warming Special Report
(Washington, DC) - Yesterday, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a Special Report on global warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius. This report was prepared pursuant to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change adopted in 2015. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson’s (D-TX) statement is below. “The IPCC Special Report restates much of what we have known for years - climate change has already occurred and we are seeing the consequences through extreme weather such as … Continue Reading
October 05, 2018Ranking Member Johnson Introduces Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act
(Washington, DC) - Today Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) introduced H.R. 7031, the “Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act of 2018.” H.R. 7031 would expand research efforts to better understand the causes and consequences of sexual harassment affecting individuals in the scientific, technical, engineering, and mathematics workforce, including students and trainees, and to examine policies to reduce the prevalence and negative impact of such harassment. Ranking Member Eddie … Continue Reading