Ranking Members Johnson and Edwards Statements on SpaceX CRS-7 Launch Vehicle Failure
(Washington, D.C.) - Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Space Subcommittee Ranking Member Donna F. Edwards (D-MD) released the following statements after the failed launch of the SpaceX CRS-7 resupply mission to the International Space Station: Ranking Member Johnson said, “The loss of today’s SpaceX cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station is a reminder that spaceflight is still not a routine undertaking. While the loss of the mission is disappointing, I am … Continue Reading
June 25, 2015Joint Subcommittee Hearing Examines NSF’s Utilization and Management of Rotating Staff
(Washington, DC) - Today the Subcommittee on Oversight and the Subcommittee on Research & Technology held a joint hearing to review the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) rotating staff program. “Rotators” are temporary staff who rotate through NSF on assignments of up to four years, and they typically come from U.S. universities. The vast majority of rotators come to NSF through the Intergovernmental Personnel Act of 1970 and are commonly referred to as IPAs. Currently, rotators make up … Continue Reading
June 24, 2015Subcommittee Democrats Highlight the Benefits of the Clean Power Plan
(Washington, DC) - Today the Subcommittees on Environment and Energy held a joint hearing to review the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) recent report, Analysis of the Impacts of the Clean Power Plan. The report consists of several long-term projections of the CPP’s potential impacts on the energy sector through 2040. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said in her opening statement. “I suspect that some Members and witnesses will be making the same old argument that EPA … Continue Reading
June 17, 2015Energy Subcommittee Examines Research at DOE Energy Innovation Hubs
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Energy Subcommittee held a hearing to discuss the research at the Department of Energy’s Energy Innovation Hubs. The Hubs program started five years ago and employs a unique model of multidisciplinary partnerships across national laboratories, universities, and businesses to address key barriers to clean energy technologies. The directors for each Hub testified before the Committee: Dr. Harry A. Atwater, Director of … Continue Reading
June 16, 2015Subcommittee Discusses Gene Editing Technologies
(Washington, DC) - Today the Subcommittee on Research and Technology held a hearing to discuss gene editing technologies, the need to develop a framework for their use in humans, and the need for U.S. leadership. Ranking Member Dan Lipinski (D-IL) said, “I am pleased we convened this hearing to learn more about the science behind these technologies as well as how the United States can be a leader in addressing the safety and ethical concerns associated with them. The National Academies has … Continue Reading
June 12, 2015Subcommittee Discusses Transportation R&D
(Washington, DC) - Today the Subcommittee on Research and Technology held a hearing to review surface transportation research, development, and technology programs within the Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the relationship between the Department and non-federal entities that also conduct transportation research. The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology shares jurisdiction over transportation R&D with the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The Committees typically … Continue Reading
June 11, 2015Subcommittee Discusses NASA’s and FAA’s Work to Foster Technologically Advanced, Environmentally Responsible, and Safe Air Travel
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Subcommittee on Space held a hearing titled, “Transforming America’s Air Travel” to examine the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) efforts to maintain a safe national airspace, while integrating new technologies and capabilities into the National Airspace System (NAS) that are central to preserving U.S. leadership and global competitiveness in civil aviation. Ranking Member Donna F. Edwards (D-MD) … Continue Reading
June 04, 2015Commerce Inspector General Todd Zinser Abruptly Retires After Prolonged Committee Investigation
(Washington, DC) - Yesterday, June 3rd, the Department of Commerce Inspector General, Todd Zinser, abruptly announced his retirement effective that same day. This followed a prolonged Committee investigation into Mr. Zinser’s conduct and management of the Commerce OIG. Nine weeks ago, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) delivered extensive remarks on the House floor that detailed evidence of Mr. Zinser’s alleged mismanagement and misconduct. To view her floor statement, click here. … Continue Reading
June 04, 2015Republican Environmental Policy Puts Industry Profits Above Public Health Concerns
(Washington, DC) - Today the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing to discuss the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) regulations and their impact on the American economy. The Majority called the hearing to provide industry another opportunity to exaggerate the costs of regulations despite the record of significant economic growth that has occurred while those regulations have been in effect. The Democratic witness was Dr. Jerome Paulson of the American Academy of … Continue Reading
May 21, 2015ICYMI – SpaceNews: Congress Can Help the Commercial Launch Industry This Week if We’re All Willing to Work Together
On May 12 the Republican majority in the U.S. House introduced the SPACE (Spurring Private Aerospace Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship) Act of 2015, H.R. 2262, to amend the Commercial Space Launch Act (CSLA). The original CSLA is and should be considered one of the seminal achievements of Congress. That legislative achievement opened the doors to the establishment of the now flourishing U.S. commercial space launch industry. I think members on both sides of the aisle strongly support this … Continue Reading
May 21, 2015House Passes Commercial Space Industry Wish List
(Washington, DC) - Today the House passed H.R. 2262, the SPACE Act of 2015. The bill takes a fundamentally unbalanced approach to the issues facing the commercial space launch industry. Moving far beyond addressing the legitimate needs of the industry, the bill is heavily skewed towards industry’s desires. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said, “I want to be clear that I am a strong supporter of the commercial space industry. I think Members on both sides of the aisle want this … Continue Reading
May 20, 2015Republicans Pass Anti-Science Bill Undermining the American Research Enterprise and Abandoning the Legacy of COMPETES
(Washington, DC) - Today the House passed H.R. 1806, the Republicans’ America COMPETES Reauthorization Act, a COMPETES Act in name only. The COMPETES Act of 2007 and its 2010 reauthorization, provided important tools, policy direction, and sufficient resources to keep our nation competitive well into the future. H.R. 1806 abandoned the goals of the first two COMPETES bills and instead embraced a partisan, anti-science agenda. The bill passed out of Committee along party lines and also passed … Continue Reading
May 20, 2015Subcommittee Discusses Expanding Role of Commercial Weather Data
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Environment held a hearing to discuss the benefits and challenges of purchasing and incorporating commercial weather data at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA currently procures and maintains the Nation’s geostationary and polar satellites which provide critical observational data for U.S. weather forecasting. These observations are supplemented with a variety of … Continue Reading
May 20, 2015House Passes Several Science Committee Bills
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 874, H.R. 1162, H.R. 1119, H.R. 1156, H.R. 1561, and H.R. 1158 by voice vote under suspension of the rules. The bills had strong bipartisan support from members of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Most of these bills passed the House last Congress and were not taken up by the Senate. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said, “The passage of these bills shows what can be accomplished when we work … Continue Reading
May 14, 2015Republicans Pass More Partisan Space Legislation and Forego Opportunity to Work towards a Bipartisan Consensus on a Commercial Space Launch Bill
(Washington, DC) - Yesterday, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a markup of four bills related to the commercial space industry. H.R. 2262, the “Spurring Private Aerospace Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship Act of 2015” - amends the Commercial Space Launch Act. Democratic Members of the Committee opposed this bill because it took a fundamentally unbalanced approach to the issues facing the commercial space launch industry. Moving far beyond addressing the legitimate … Continue Reading
May 13, 2015Energy Subcommittee Explores Innovative Nuclear Fission and Fusion Technologies
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Energy Subcommittee held a hearing to discuss public-private partnerships to advance research in innovative nuclear fission and fusion energy concepts and technologies. Testifying before the subcommittee were Dr. Mark Peters, Associate Laboratory Director for Energy and Global Security at Argonne National Laboratory; Mr. Frank Batten, Jr., President of The Landmark Foundation; Mr. Nathan Gilliland, CEO of General … Continue Reading
May 01, 2015Energy Subcommittee Discusses Grid-Scale Energy Storage and Battery Innovations
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Energy Subcommittee held a hearing to discuss the Department of Energy’s role in advancing grid-scale energy storage technologies, which are critical to making our electric grid more efficient, reliable, and resilient. Testifying before the subcommittee was Dr. Imre Gyuk, Energy Storage Program Manager in the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability at the Department of Energy; Dr. Jud Virden, Jr., … Continue Reading
April 30, 2015Committee Passes NASA Reauthorization by Party-line Vote
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a markup of H.R. 2039, the “National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act for 2016 and 2017.” H.R. 2039 was approved by the Committee on a party-line vote. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said in her opening statement, “These cuts have absolutely nothing to do with making America safer or stronger. Nothing. They are simply the expression of the Majority’s … Continue Reading
April 30, 2015Subcommittee Democrats Emphasize Health-Based Rationale for Ozone Standards
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee held its second hearing on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone with an emphasis on how the standard may impact rural communities. Members highlighted that under the Clean Air Act, EPA is required to establish an ozone standard to protect public health based on science, not on costs of implementation. Ranking Member of the Environment … Continue Reading
April 30, 2015ICYMI – The Hill: Congress, we have a problem
Just a few months ago we marked up and passed out of the House a bipartisan NASA authorization. That bill was negotiated on a bipartisan basis, voice voted out of the Committee on Science, Space and Technology, and then passed by the full House in a similar fashion. Today, my committee, the Science, Space and Technology Committee, is marking up H.R. 2039 — a NASA reauthorization act that the Democrats on the committee did not even know existed until late last Friday. Needless to say, there was … Continue Reading