Subcommittees Discuss Administrative Burdens on Researchers
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittees on Research and Technology and Oversight held a hearing to examine the recent report of National Science Board’s (NSB) Task Force on Administrative Burden’s. The concerns raised in the report were at the forefront of the discussion. Testifying before the Committee was Dr. Arthur Bienenstock, Chairman of the Task Force on Administrative Burden at the National Science Board; Dr. Susan Wyatt Sedwick, … Continue Reading
June 11, 2014Republicans Shut Down Their Own Markup
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Energy began a markup of the Committee Print of the Department of Energy Research and Development Act of 2014. The markup was adjourned by the Republicans on a party-line recorded vote before any consideration of the bill after Republicans refused to read their own legislation publicly. Ranking Member Eric Swalwell (D-CA) said in his opening statement. “We are here to consider a bill that was not … Continue Reading
June 10, 2014Subcommittee Discusses Particle Physics Research Priorities
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing to examine the Particle Physics Project Prioritization Panel’s (P5) recent report. P5 is a subpanel of the High Energy Physics Advisory Panel (HEPAP) that serves the DOE Office of Science’s High Energy Physics (HEP) Program and the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Particle Physics Division. A new P5 Panel was created to “revisit the guidance to the DOE and NSF [in the … Continue Reading
June 10, 2014House Passes NASA Reauthorization Act of 2014 and the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act
(Washington, DC) - The House of Representatives today passed H.R. 4412, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2014, and S. 1254, the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2013. H.R. 4412 authorizes funding for one year and provides policy direction for NASA. Ranking Member of the Full Committee, Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), said of the bill, “This Act has come a long way from its original state nearly a year ago when the … Continue Reading
June 04, 2014Science Democrats Comment on National Academies’ Human Space Exploration Report
(Washington, DC) - Today, the National Academies’ National Research Council released a report that provides a number of recommendations and observations on what is needed to implement a sustainable program of human space exploration. The Council’s study was undertaken in response to direction in the NASA Authorization Act of 2010 to perform a human spaceflight study to review “the goals, core capabilities, and direction of human space flight.” The House Science, Space, and Technology … Continue Reading
June 02, 2014Ranking Member Johnson comments on proposed EPA Rule
(Washington, DC) - Following today’s release of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule to regulate carbon emissions of existing power plants, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology released the following statement: “The impact of climate change on American citizens is being felt today and the consequences are growing more severe. Acting on climate change is not only an environmental imperative, but a public health … Continue Reading
May 29, 2014Ranking Member Johnson's Floor Statement for General Debate on the CJS Appropriations Bill
Mr. Chairman, funding for research, innovation, and STEM education is an investment in our future, perhaps the single most important investment we make. Many of our competitors understand this and are striving to surpass the United States in innovation capacity and in the creation of a highly skilled 21st century workforce. It used to be that the world’s best and brightest flocked to our shores. Now many of our own best and brightest are finding better opportunities in other countries, or we … Continue Reading
May 29, 2014Committee Discusses Process for Developing U.N. Climate Report
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing to examine the process used by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to develop the recently completed Fifth Assessment Report. Testifying before the Committee today were Dr. Richard S.J. Tol, Professor of Economics at the University of Sussex; Dr. Michael Oppenheimer, Albert G. Milbank Professor of Geosciences and International Affairs in the Department of Geosciences … Continue Reading
May 28, 2014Committee Democrats Oppose FIRST Act
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology completed the markup of H.R. 4186, Frontiers in Innovation, Research, Science, and Technology Act of 2014 (FIRST). Last week, the Committee began consideration of the FIRST Act. Roll call votes on amendments and on final passage were delayed until today. Congress passed bipartisan Competes legislation in 2007 and 2010 which laid out bold policy directions for U.S. scientific research and innovation. The FIRST Act … Continue Reading
May 22, 2014House Science Committee Postpones Completion of FIRST Act Markup
(Washington, DC) - Yesterday, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee marked up the FIRST Act, legislation that has been widely criticized by industry and the research and university communities. Democratic Members offered numerous amendments in an effort to improve the bill. Many of those amendments would help strengthen our competitiveness by authorizing or reauthorizing critical programs to spur innovation and secure the future of American manufacturing. Democratic Members also … Continue Reading
May 20, 2014Subcommittee Discusses Nanotechnology Investments and Opportunities
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research and Technology held a hearing to examine the current state of U.S. nanotechnology and the potential for further growth in this important field. Ranking Member Dan Lipinski (D-IL) of the Subcommittee on Research and Technology said in his opening statement, “Federal investments in nanotechnology research have already led to job creation in my state and across the nation, and I believe the … Continue Reading
May 09, 2014Subcommittee Discusses Space Traffic Management
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Space held a hearing titled, “Space Traffic Management: How to Prevent a Real Life ‘Gravity.’” The purpose of the hearing was to explore the roles agencies have in dealing with orbital debris, authorities granted by Congress to oversee these agencies, and Administration plans to coordinate orbital debris activities. Testifying before the Subcommittee were Lieutenant General John W. “Jay” … Continue Reading
May 06, 2014Ranking Members Johnson and Bonamici Comment on the Third National Climate Assessment
(Washington, DC) - Today the National Climate Assessment and Development Advisory Committee (NCADAC) released the final version of the Third National Climate Assessment. The report addresses the serious impacts of climate change on the U.S. and the potential consequences of continued inaction. The National Climate Assessment brings together the expertise of hundreds of the nation’s top scientists along with input from of the American public and concerned organizations. The Administration is … Continue Reading
April 30, 2014Subcommittee Reviews FY2015 Budget Request for NOAA
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Environment held a hearing to review the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2015 budget request for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Testifying before the Committee was the Administrator of NOAA, Dr. Kathryn Sullivan. Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) said of NOAA in her opening statement, “NOAA is a critically important agency tasked with helping our communities, economy, … Continue Reading
April 29, 2014Committee Marks Up NASA Reauthorization
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a markup of H.R. 4412, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2014. The bill authorizes funding for one year and provides policy direction for NASA. In July 2013, the Committee passed H.R. 2687, the “National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2013, by a party-line recorded vote. Over the past several months, Majority and Minority Members and staffers … Continue Reading
April 10, 2014Committee Discusses DOE Science and Technology Priorities
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing to examine the Department of Energy’s (DOE) science and technology priorities and discuss the Administration’s fiscal year (FY) 2015 budget request for the Department of Energy’s research and development portfolio. Testifying before the Committee was the Honorable Ernest Moniz, Secretary of Energy, U.S. Department of Energy. In her opening statement, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) praised … Continue Reading
April 09, 2014Subcommittee Examines Scientific Prize Competitions
(Washington, DC) – Today, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research and Technology held a hearing to examine the role of scientific competitions in furthering innovation and scientific discovery. Testifying before the subcommittee was Mr. Christopher Frangione, Vice President of Prize Development for XPRIZE; Mr. Donnie Wilson, Founder and CEO of Elastec American Marine; Mr. Narinder Singh, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Appirio and … Continue Reading
April 09, 2014Space Subcommittee Approves Bipartisan NASA Authorization Act
(Washington, D.C.) - The Space Subcommittee today approved the NASA Authorization Act of 2014 (H.R. 4412) with unanimous bipartisan support. The bill updates the previously committee-approved bill to reflect the funding agreement reached in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014. The Subcommittee also approved a bipartisan Palazzo-Edwards amendment that ensures sustainability of purpose and budget for high-priority NASA programs. The amendment reaffirms Congress’s commitment to space … Continue Reading
April 01, 2014House Passes the Weather Forecasting Improvement Act of 2014
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2413, the Weather Forecasting Improvement Act of 2014. The bill passed under a suspension of the rules and had strong bipartisan support from members of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H.R. 2413 helps restore American leadership in weather forecasting and prediction. The bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to prioritize weather-related activities for the protection of lives … Continue Reading
April 01, 2014Bipartisan Call to Terminate Commerce Officials Who Retaliated Against Whistleblowers
(Washington, D.C.) - All of the Members on the Oversight Subcommittee sent a bi-partisan letter today to the Commerce Department Inspector General (IG) Todd Zinser demanding he immediately terminate two senior officials based on the results of a nearly year-long investigation by the Office of Special Counsel (OSC). The OSC is the federal agency charged with investigating allegations of whistleblower retaliation and found that two whistleblowers from the Department of Commerce’s IG Office were … Continue Reading