Ranking 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: “As NASA employees, contractors, and partners in the academic community gather on January 28th to pay tribute to the crews of Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, a tribute particularly significant this year in light of the … Continue Reading
January 20, 2016Ranking Member Johnson Statement on Announcement that 2015 was the Warmest Year on Record
(Dallas, TX) - Today, NASA and NOAA announced that, “The globally averaged temperature, over land and ocean surfaces for 2015, was the highest since record keeping began in 1880.” Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said the following. “Today’s announcements by NOAA and NASA that 2015 was the warmest year on record and that 16 of the hottest years have occurred over the past two decades should come as no surprise to anyone, but they should be a wake-up call that we need to take action. … Continue Reading
January 17, 2016Ranking Member Johnson Comments on Launch of Jason-3 Satellite
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Jason-3 Mission successfully launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base. Jason-3 is the extension of an international partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) and the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT). Jason-3 will continue observations of global sea surface height that … Continue Reading
January 14, 2016Ranking Member Johnson Statement on Chairman’s Letters Regarding Clinton Server
(Dallas, TX) - Today, Chairman Smith (R-TX) sent letters to a number of companies that provided software and services to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton related to her private email server, requesting, as he says in his press release, “all documents and communications related to Secretary Clinton’s private server as well as information about any security breaches that may have occurred during her tenure.” Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) released the following statement in … Continue Reading
January 12, 2016Committee Approves Bipartisan Nuclear Energy Bill
(Washington, DC) - The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology today approved the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act (H.R. 4084), a bipartisan bill to support federal research and development (R&D) and stimulate private investment in advanced nuclear reactor technologies in the United States. The bill was introduced by Energy Subcommittee Chairman Randy Weber (R-Texas) along with Full Committee Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) and Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas). The … Continue Reading
January 08, 2016Subcommittees Discuss Best Cybersecurity Practices
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Subcommittee on Research and Technology and the Subcommittee on Oversight held a joint hearing titled, “Cybersecurity: What the Federal Government Can Learn from the Private Sector,” to discuss cybersecurity practices and potential opportunities for public-private partnerships. This hearing was called in part as a response to breaches at federal agencies including those at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). There have also been significant recent private … Continue Reading
December 19, 2015Ranking Member Johnson Statement on President’s Veto of Anti-Climate Change Resolutions
(Dallas,TX) - Today, President Obama vetoed S.J. Res. 23 and S.J. Res. 24, resolutions that would have nullified regulations on new and existing power plants. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said: “The President made clear that he would veto S.J. Res. 23 and S.J. Res. 24, the joint resolutions that Congressional Republicans passed to undermine the President during the Paris climate change negotiations and to undercut the EPA’s efforts to protect the health of the public and the … Continue Reading
December 12, 2015Ranking Member Johnson Statement on Paris Climate Accord
(Washington, DC) - Today, a landmark climate accord was reached by nearly 200 countries to lower greenhouse gas emissions to help avoid the worst effects of climate change. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said: “I am excited to hear the news coming out of Paris that an agreement has been reached by nearly 200 countries on a climate accord. Despite some disagreement over whether the accord does too much or not enough, the importance of this step cannot be underestimated. Today, the … Continue Reading
December 10, 2015Subcommittees 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