Political Theater in the Science Committee: Majority Authorizes Subpoenas for Documents and Testimony Already Promised by White House
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Oversight held a business meeting to issue subpoenas to the White House for documents and testimony related to the former Chief Technology Officer at the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the development of Healthcare.gov. In a party-line vote of 4-3, the Majority authorized the subpoenas. Ironically, just the day before, the Counsel to the President pledged to provide … Continue Reading
September 17, 2014Science Committee Democrats Call for Immediate Action to Combat Climate Change - Republicans Continue Denial of Climate Science
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing to discuss the Administration’s Climate Action Plan with a focus on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposals to cut carbon emissions. The hearing was titled, “The Administration’s Climate Plan: Failure by Design.” The Full Committee heard testimony from Dr. John Holdren, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of the President and Ms. Janet McCabe, … Continue Reading
September 16, 2014Ranking Member Johnson comments on American Academy of Arts & Sciences Report on the Nation’s Research Investments
(Washington, DC) - The American Academy of Arts & Sciences released a report today titled, “Restoring the Foundation - The Vital Role of Research in Preserving the American Dream.” The report details how the U.S. is currently falling behind in global R&D investments and it argues for renewed national commitment to reversing this trend. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology released the following statement: “Today we heard again about the … Continue Reading
September 16, 2014Science Committee Democrats Congratulate Boeing and SpaceX on NASA’s Commercial Crew Development Awards
(Washington, DC) - Today, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) selected Boeing and SpaceX to continue the development, test, and certification activities needed before the agency can eventually select a provider or providers for commercial crew transportation services to the International Space Station (ISS). Committee Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said of the awards: “I want to congratulate Boeing and SpaceX on receiving these awards. With the Shuttle fleet … Continue Reading
September 16, 2014House Passes Manufacturing and Innovation Legislation
(Washington, DC) - Today the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2996, the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act (RAMI). “In every corner of our country, the transformation of the manufacturing industry is creating jobs and expanding access to opportunity for millions of Americans,” said Congressman Kennedy (D-MA). “Today’s bipartisan passage of RAMI by the House of Representatives is another step towards the kind of domestic manufacturing policy our country needs to stay on … Continue Reading
September 10, 2014Subcommittee Discusses NASA’s Planetary Science
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Space held a hearing to review numerous issues facing planetary exploration of the solar system and to discuss H.R. 5063, the American Space Technology for Exploring Resource Opportunities in Deep Space (ASTEROIDS) Act. The bill concerns space property rights related to asteroid mining. Ranking Member Donna F. Edwards (D-MD) said in her opening statement, “The accomplishments in planetary science … Continue Reading
September 09, 2014Subcommittees Hold Hearing to Discuss Safety of Transporting Bakken Crude Oil
(Washington, DC) - Yesterday, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Energy Subcommittee and Oversight Subcommittee held a hearing to examine the characteristics of Bakken crude oil. The hearing follows a Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) report released in July 2014 that detailed the characteristics of various types of crude oil, including volatility, which is a material’s propensity to vaporize. The subcommittees heard from two panels. The first panel … Continue Reading
September 09, 2014Joint Committee Hearing Examines Changes Needed at DHS’s Science and Technology Directorate
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research and Technology and the House Committee on Homeland Security’s Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies held a hearing to review the strategy, mission, programs, projects, and other activities of the Science and Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS S&T) and to examine other research and development (R&D) activities at … Continue Reading
September 08, 2014House Passes Tsunami Warning and Super Computing Bills
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5309 and H.R. 2495. H.R. 5309 - The Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2014 - reauthorizes and strengthens the tsunami detection, forecast, warning, research, and mitigation program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Ranking Member of the Environment Subcommittee, Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), author of H.R. 5309, said of her legislation, “So much of our ability to prepare, respond, and … Continue Reading
August 26, 2014Bipartisan Letter to Commerce IG Todd Zinser Warns Him Not to Target Whistleblowers
(Washington, DC) - Today, Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) and Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, along with Chairman Paul Broun (R-GA) and Ranking Member Dan Maffei (D-NY) of the Oversight Subcommittee, sent a letter to the Department of Commerce’s Inspector General (IG) Todd Zinser, after receiving multiple allegations about ongoing efforts within the Office of Inspector General (OIG) to identify and potentially retaliate against … Continue Reading
July 31, 2014Subcommittees Highlight the Need for Better Planning and Coordination of the Department of Homeland Security’s Research
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research & Technology and Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing to examine expert recommendations on how the Department of Homeland Security can optimize its research and development efforts on border security technologies. The subcommittee Members focused on what the Department needs to do improve the transition of these technologies to the field. Testifying before the Committee were David … Continue Reading
July 31, 2014Science Committee Members Introduce Bipartisan Tsunami Legislation
(Washington, DC) - Today, Ranking Member of the Environment Subcommittee, Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) introduced H.R. 5309, the Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2014. Full Committee Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) and are original cosponsors of the legislation. A tsunami is a series of ocean waves generated by sudden shifts in the sea floor, landslides, or volcanic activity. These waves can grow to be … Continue Reading
July 30, 2014Committee Holds Hearing on EPA’s Proposed Clean Power Plan
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held the first in what the Committee Majority says will be a series of hearings on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule to cut carbon emissions from existing power plants known as the “Clean Power Plan”. In September 2013, EPA proposed a rule to establish carbon pollution standards for new power plants, a prerequisite for the current proposal, the Clean Power Plan, which establishes … Continue Reading
July 29, 2014Subcommittee Reviews Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research and Technology held a hearing to review the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NERHP). Testifying before the Committee were two panels of witnesses. The first panel consisted of representative from the four relevant agencies. The second panel consisted of outside stakeholders. More information on the witnesses can be found here. Congress originally created NERHP in 1977, … Continue Reading
July 25, 2014Bipartisan Effort Passes Manufacturing Bill out of Science Committee
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a markup of H.R. 2996, the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation (RAMI) Act. H.R. 2996 would direct the Secretary of Commerce to support the establishment of institutes across the country dedicated to improving U.S. competitiveness in manufacturing, increasing domestic production and accelerating the development of an advanced manufacturing workforce. Each institute will be a public-private … Continue Reading
July 24, 2014Ranking Member Johnson Statement on Deputy Director Dr. Cora Marrett’s Announcement of her Retirement from the National Science Foundation
(Washington, DC) - Deputy Director Dr. Cora Marrett recently announced that she will be retiring from the National Science Foundation. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) released the following statement: “Dr. Marrett’s contributions to NSF are innumerable. Throughout her many years of service to the Agency, she helped advance the scientific interests of our country. As Acting Director, she helped lead NSF through an especially trying time, from the government shutdown to the … Continue Reading
July 24, 2014Ranking Member Johnson and Rep. Ralph Hall Introduce Bipartisan Energy-Water Nexus Legislation
(Washington, DC) - Today, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Rep. Ralph Hall (R-TX), Chairman Emeritus of the Committee, introduced H.R. 5189, the Energy and Water Research Integration Act. Ms. Johnson said in her floor statement, “I want to thank my friend and fellow Texan, Mr. Hall, for joining me in introducing this legislation, which calls attention to the critical link between energy and water and instructs the Department of Energy to ensure due consideration of water issues … Continue Reading
July 24, 2014Committee 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 live communications “downlink” with the two U.S. astronauts currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), current ISS Commander Dr. Steve Swanson and Commander (USN) Reid Wiseman. Watch the archived webcast of the event here. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said in her opening statement, “This past weekend marked the 45th anniversary of the first humans landing on the Moon. It was a … Continue Reading
July 23, 2014Bipartisan Critical Materials Bill Fails Due to Unfounded Ideological Attacks
(Washington, DC) - Yesterday, H.R. 1022, the Securing Energy Critical Elements and American Jobs Act of 2014 failed by a recorded vote under suspension of the rules. The purpose of the bill was to reinvigorate research and development on critical elements in order to use these elements more effectively and seek methods to substitute and recycle critical materials by promoting collaboration and research opportunities in the field of energy critical elements for researchers and students from DOE … Continue Reading
July 22, 2014House Passes NIST Reauthorization and DOE Labs Tech Transfer Bill
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5035 and H.R. 5120. H.R. 5035 - The National Institute of Standards and Technology Authorization Act of 2014 -reauthorizes the National Institute of Standards and Technology. (Passed by voice vote under suspension of the rules) Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said of H.R. 5035, “NIST, one of our nation’s oldest science agencies, plays a very important role in U.S. innovation and competitiveness through advancing … Continue Reading