Subcommittees Review Progress of NOAA Weather Satellite Programs
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee held a joint Subcommittee on Environment and Subcommittee on Oversight hearing to get updates on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) weather satellites programs, the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) and the Geostationary Orbiting Environmental Satellite (GOES) system. These systems include the nation’s satellites that identify and track weather affecting the Western Hemisphere, including … Continue Reading
December 08, 2015Subcommittee Weighs in on Engineering Biology
(Washington, DC) - The Subcommittee on Research and Technology held a hearing today to discuss engineering biology and its applications for the energy, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors. Engineering Biology is the emerging field of research at the intersection of biology, the physical sciences, engineering, and information technology. The Subcommittee heard from a distinguished panel of witnesses including: Dr. Mary Maxon, Biosciences Principal Deputy, Lawrence Berkeley National … Continue Reading
December 07, 2015Ranking Member Johnson Statement on Computer Science Education Week
(Washington, DC) - This week is the seventh annual Computer Science Education Week, a program dedicated to inspiring students to take interest in computer science. The Hour of Code, “a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify code and show that anybody can learn the basics,” is the centerpiece of the week. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said: “The importance of computer science education cannot be overstated. The current disconnect between the high demand … Continue Reading
December 03, 2015Subcommittee Discusses Nuclear R&D Legislation
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing to examine H.R. 4084, the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act. The bill was recently introduced by Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Chairman of the Energy Subcommittee Randy Weber (R-TX). H.R. 4084 would authorize a new user facility, establish a National Reactor Innovation Center, ensure that advanced nuclear researchers have access to DOE’s high end … Continue Reading
December 02, 2015Committee Holds Live Downlink Event to Hear from Astronauts on the International Space Station
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology hosted a showcase of NASA research exhibits and a live communications “downlink” with the two astronauts currently aboard the International Space Station, Capt. Scott Kelly and Dr. Kjell Lindgren. Members had the opportunity to speak with the astronauts for about twenty minutes. They covered a range of topics such as, the challenges of long duration space travel, including the limitations of remote medical … Continue Reading
December 01, 2015Democrats: Paris Conference Can Play Key Role in Combating Climate Change
(Washington, DC) - This morning, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee held a hearing to weigh in on the global protocol being debated in Paris, France, at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21). The main goal of the Paris Conference is to reach an agreement on provisions aimed at reducing man-made Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. The negotiations, which are set to conclude on December 11, have already produced commitments from 183 parties to limit and/or reduce their GHG … Continue Reading
November 30, 2015Ranking Member Johnson Statement on Mission Innovation
(Washington, DC) - Today, at the U.N. Climate Conference in Paris, President Obama, along with the leaders of 20 other countries, announced Mission Innovation. According to the White House, Mission Innovation is "an initiative to dramatically accelerate public and private global clean energy innovation to address global climate change, provide affordable clean energy to consumers, including in the developing world, and create additional commercial opportunities in clean energy." Additionally, … Continue Reading
November 19, 2015Committee Introduces Bipartisan Nuclear R&D Bill
(Washington, D.C.) - Energy Subcommittee Chairman Randy Weber (R-TX) along with Full Committee Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) today introduced the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act (H.R. 4084). This important bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to prioritize research and development (R&D) infrastructure that will enable the private sector to invest in advanced reactor technologies. The bill provides a clear path forward to attract … Continue Reading
November 19, 2015Ranking Member Johnson Questions Chairman Smith Again on NOAA Subpoena
(Washington, DC) - On October 23, 2015, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) sent a letter to Chairman Smith in response to the Committee’s issuance of a subpoena on October 9, 2015, to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator Kathryn Sullivan for documents and communications related to climate research. You can find the text of Ms. Johnson’s first letter here. After no response, Ms. Johnson sent a second letter to Chairman Smith on November 19, … Continue Reading
November 18, 2015Subcommittee on Energy Discusses Recommendations to Improve the Effectiveness of the DOE National Laboratories
(Washington, DC) -Today, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology's Subcommittee on Energy met to examine a recent report by the Commission to Review the Effectiveness of the National Energy Laboratories (CRENEL) entitled, “Securing America’s Future: Realizing the Potential of the Department of Energy’s National Laboratories.” The report reviewed a number of issues including the value of national energy laboratories within the U.S. research and development enterprise and how effectively … Continue Reading
November 18, 2015Committee Democrats Defend Clean Power Plan and NOAA
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing to review EPA’s final Clean Power Plan (CPP) rule and to discuss how the rule relates to the upcoming climate negotiations in Paris. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said in her statement for the record, “We will likely hear again today that the Clean Power Plan will cause nothing but harm to our economy; that the federal government is overstepping its authority; and that the rule won’t … Continue Reading
November 17, 2015Moving Towards a Cleaner Future with the EPA’s Clean Power Plan
(Washington, DC) - A compilation of public comments on the EPA's Clean Power Plan (CPP), assembled by Democratic staff, shows wide support for the new rule by businesses, medical associations and state environmental regulatory agencies. Commitment to a Cleaner Future: A Selection of Public Comments on the EPA’s Clean Power Plan, provides a snapshot of public comments supporting the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) new rule. The Clean Power Plan’s final rule was released on August 3, … Continue Reading
November 17, 2015Subcommittees Discuss Potential Use of Public-Private Partnerships in Support of NASA’s Earth Science Research
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee’s Subcommittees on Space and Environment held a joint hearing titled, “Exploring Commercial Opportunities to Maximize Earth Science Investments.” The purpose of the hearing was to explore ways NASA might complement its Earth observations by leveraging commercial remote sensing capabilities. Ranking Member of the Space Subcommittee, Donna F. Edwards (D-MD), said, “Earth observations support a myriad of applications to … Continue Reading
November 05, 2015Majority Provides Pebble Mining Company with Public Platform to Criticize EPA
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing the Majority titled, “Examining EPA’s Predetermined Efforts to Block the Pebble Mine.” The hearing was used to provide a platform for the Canadian company Pebble Limited Partnership (PLP) to levy accusations against the Environmental Protection Agency and its use of Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act last year to restrict development of the company’s proposed Pebble Mine. Pebble Mine would be one … Continue Reading
November 03, 2015Joint Subcommittee Hearing Examines the Renewable Fuel Standard and the Future of Advanced Biofuels
(Washington, DC) - Earlier today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittees on Environment and Oversight held a joint hearing discussing the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The RFS was signed into law in 2005 and expanded in 2007. The program aims to set annual standards that require a certain volume of renewable biofuel be included in the U.S. fuel supply. The RFS was created in an effort to reduce U.S. dependence on oil, improve economic security, spur rural … Continue Reading
November 02, 2015Ranking Members Johnson and Edwards Congratulate NASA and its ISS Partners of 15 Years of Continuous Operation
(Washington, DC) - Today marks a major milestone in NASA’s proud history of human space exploration. NASA and its international partners have now continuously occupied the International Space Station (ISS) for 15 years. On November 2, 2000, the crew of Expedition 1 arrived at the space-based laboratory; Commander William Shepherd of NASA and cosmonauts Sergei Krikalev and Yuri Gidzenko of Roscosmos formed that first team. Their mission marked the start of an uninterrupted human presence on the … Continue Reading
October 28, 2015Subcommittee Discusses Reauthorization of NITRD Program
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology's Subcommittee on Research and Technology held a legislative hearing to inform a reauthorization of the Networking and Information Technology R&D (NITRD) program. Testifying before the Subcommittee were Dr. Keith Marzullo, Director of the National Coordination Office for NITRD; Dr. Gregory D. Hager, Mandell Bellmore Professor, Department of Computer Science at Johns Hopkins University and Co-Chair of the NITRD … Continue Reading
October 28, 2015Ranking Member Johnson Statement on the "Nation's Report Card"
(Washington, DC) - Today, the National Assessment of Educational Progress the reading and math results for 4th and 8th graders from the 2015 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), known as the Nation’s Report Card, were released. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said the following:“These scores are disheartening. We have known for years that we have an education crisis in this country, and we must do something about it if we hope to compete in the 21st century global … Continue Reading
October 27, 2015Committee Discusses DHS S&T Directorate
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing to inform the reauthorization of the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T). The Committee shares jurisdiction with the Committee on Homeland Security on research, development, demonstration, and standards-related activities of DHS, and oversees the activities of both S&T Directorate and the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO). Testifying before the … Continue Reading
October 23, 2015Ranking Member Johnson Letter to Chairman Smith on NOAA Subpoena
(Washington, DC) –Today, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) sent a letter to Chairman Smith in response to the Committee’s recent issuance of a subpoena to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator Kathryn Sullivan for documents and communications related to climate research. You can find the text of Ms. Johnson’s letter here. Related Content Ranking Member Johnson Letter to Chairman Smith on NOAA … Continue Reading