Ranking Member Lofgren and Senator Padilla Introduce Legislation to Protect Americans from Toxic Chemical Exposure
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (both D-Calif.) introduced the Supercomputing for Safer Chemicals (SUPERSAFE) Act. The legislation would establish a SUPERSAFE Consortium led by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to identify chemicals that are safe to use in commerce through science-backed decision making. “I’m proud to be introducing the House companion to the SUPERSAFE Act with Senator Padilla today,” … Continue Reading
May 12, 2023House Passes Legislation to Fight Spread of Dangerous Synthetic Opioids
(Washington, DC) - This week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1734, the TRANQ Research Act, sponsored by Research and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Mike Collins (R-GA) and Congresswoman Yadira Caraveo (D-CO), with broad bipartisan support. The TRANQ Research Act directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to deepen its partnerships and strategically focus on the science needed to detect, identify, and better understand synthetic … Continue Reading
May 09, 2023House Passes Two Bipartisan Science Committee Bills
(Washington, DC) - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives considered and passed two bipartisan Science, Space, and Technology Committee bills: H.R. 676, the Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2023 and H.R. 1715, the Advanced Weather Model Computing Development Act. “I applaud the passage of these two bipartisan pieces of Committee legislation,” said Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK). “Improved community engagement with Indian Tribes, as well as state and local … Continue Reading
May 08, 2023Ranking Member Celebrates Fusion Ignition at Lawrence Livermore National Lab
(Washington, DC)—Today, Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) attended an event at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to celebrate the December 2022 milestone of achieving fusion ignition at the National Ignition Facility. “I was delighted to celebrate the monumental achievement of fusion ignition at Livermore Lab today,” said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). “As the Ranking Member of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, I’m proud of and … Continue Reading
May 04, 2023Science Committee Leaders Lofgren and Stevens Applaud Biden Announcement of Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Tech
(Washington, DC)—This morning, the White House announced a National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technologies. Standards are the guidelines used to ensure the technology Americans routinely rely on is universally safe and interoperable. The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) will lead in implementing this strategy. “Maintaining U.S. leadership in technical standards is essential to maintaining our competitiveness in advanced industries,” … Continue Reading
May 01, 2023Lucas and Lofgren Demand Clarity on Reports of Sexual Assault in the U.S. Antarctic Program
(Washington, DC)--Today, House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) and Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) sent a letter to the CEO of Leidos, Inc. raising concerns with the accuracy of information provided to Congress about reports of sexual assault in the United States Antarctic Program (USAP). Leidos is the prime contractor in charge of running USAP’s administrative and operational functions. The Antarctic Program has had ongoing and … Continue Reading
April 28, 2023Science Committee Members Introduce Two Bipartisan DOE Partnership Bills
(Washington, DC)--Yesterday, House Science Committee Members introduced two bipartisan bills to further strengthen and secure two of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) important interagency research partnerships. DOE is a global leader in energy technology development and science innovation with a wide range of assets, including 17 world-class national laboratories and 28 scientific user facilities. By partnering together and combining resources, DOE and agencies like NASA and the … Continue Reading
April 22, 2023Ranking Member Lofgren Applauds Biden Executive Order to Advance Environmental Justice
(Washington, DC)—Yesterday, President Biden signed an Executive Order to further his mission of advancing environmental justice while addressing the climate crisis. The executive order will create a new Office of Environmental Justice in the White House, direct agencies to address knowledge gaps on the health impacts of pollution, and will require agencies to notify nearby communities in the event of a release of toxic substances from a federal facility. “Historically … Continue Reading
April 21, 2023Speaker McCarthy’s Extreme Debt Limit Bill Will Surrender U.S. Competitiveness to China
(Washington, DC)—This week, Speaker McCarthy laid out the Republican bill to hold the full faith and credit of America hostage unless unprecedented cuts are made to key federal programs. These draconian funding cuts would have grave impacts for the innovation Agencies under the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s jurisdiction, including NASA, NSF, NOAA, and NWS. “This bill is a non-starter,” said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). “Speaker … Continue Reading
April 21, 2023Ranking Member Lofgren Statement on DHS Establishment of AI Task Force
(Washington, DC)—This morning, Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of the Department on Homeland Security announced the establishment of the Department's first Artificial Intelligence Task Force. “The pace of change for AI development has been incredible, helping to improve our national security while also dramatically changing the nature of the threats we face,” said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). “The Science Committee has been at the forefront of … Continue Reading
April 06, 2023Bipartisan Group of Science Committee Leaders Investigating Allegations of Whistleblower Retaliation and Misconduct by Department of Commerce Inspector General
(Washington, DC) House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK), Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Jay Obernolte (R-CA), and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Valerie Foushee (D-NC) sent a letter to the Inspector General (IG) of the Department of Commerce notifying her that the Committee is investigating allegations of whistleblower retaliation and other misconduct. The Members notified … Continue Reading
April 03, 2023Science Committee Leaders Applaud Artemis II Crew Selection
(Washington, DC) Today, House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Frank Lucas and Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren joined Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Chairman Brian Babin and Ranking Member Eric Sorensen in congratulating the members of the historic Artemis II mission. NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) jointly announced that Americans Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Hammock Koch, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen are set to join the first crewed Artemis mission to fly … Continue Reading
March 30, 2023Ranking Member Lofgren Congratulates Congressman Casten on Election to Serve as Vice Ranking Member
(Washington, DC)—Yesterday, the Minority of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology moved to confirm Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL) as Vice Ranking Member of the Committee. “The Science, Space, and Technology Committee is leading the way on American innovation, research, and scientific achievement,” said Vice Ranking Member Sean Casten (D-IL). "I’m honored to be named Vice-Ranking Member of this committee and look forward to working with Ranking Member Lofgren … Continue Reading
March 28, 2023Science Committee Members Lofgren, Ross, Foushee, and Jackson Statement on Start of President Biden’s Invest in America Tour
(Washington, DC)—Today, President Biden began his Invest In America Tour in Durham, North Carolina. The Tour highlights the historic investments made possible by the CHIPS and Science Act, which was led in the House by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. The President will also be showcasing the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Wolfspeed, a semiconductor manufacturer, recently announced it will invest $5 billion to build a semiconductor … Continue Reading
March 27, 2023Science Committee Leaders Introduce Bipartisan DOE Partnership Bills
(Washington, DC)--Last week, House Science, Space, and Technology Committee leaders introduced two bipartisan bills to advance opportunities for the Department of Energy (DOE) to strengthen longstanding interagency research partnerships. H.R. 1713, the DOE and USDA Interagency Research Act, was introduced by House Science Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) and Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). The bill authorizes cross-cutting and collaborative research and development activities between the DOE … Continue Reading
March 25, 2023Science Committee Members Encourage Greater Transparency at EPA on Science and Testing for Train Derailment Cleanup
(Washington, DC)-House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK), Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member Deborah Ross (D-NC), Chairman Max Miller (R-OH), Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee Ranking Member Valerie Foushee (D-NC), Chairman Jay Obernolte (R-CA), and Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN) sent a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan requesting information about the … Continue Reading
March 23, 2023Bipartisan Group of Science Committee Members Introduce Legislation to Combat Spread of Tranq
(Washington, DC)-Today, Rep. Yadira Caraveo (D-CO) and Research & Technology Subcommittee Chairman Mike Collins (R-GA) led a bipartisan group of House Science, Space, and Technology Committee members to introduce H.R. 1734, the Testing, Rapid Analysis, and Narcotic Quality (TRANQ) Research Act, to combat the spread of novel synthetic opioids. Collins was joined by Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK), Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), and 15 other members. The TRANQ Research Act directs the … Continue Reading
March 23, 2023Ranking Member Lofgren Opening Statement for Hearing on the Future Unmanned Aircraft Systems
(Washington, DC)--Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a full Committee hearing titled Advanced Air Mobility: The Future of Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Beyond. Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren's (D-CA) opening statement as prepared for the record is below. Good morning. I want to thank Chairman Lucas for holding this hearing and also thank Chairman Babin for filling in for Mr. Lucas today. And I would like to thank our expert witnesses for appearing before the … Continue Reading
March 20, 2023Ranking Member Lofgren Statement on Latest IPCC Climate Report
(San Jose, CA)—Today, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its AR6 Synthesis Report. The Synthesis Report is the culmination of the Sixth Assessment Report cycle, which is comprised of three Working Group reports and Special Reports, all released over the last several years. “Scientists have again come together to rally the globe to take urgent action on the climate crisis with the release of IPCC’s latest report,” said Ranking Member Zoe … Continue Reading
March 17, 2023Lucas and Lofgren Statement on Inspector General Report on Law Enforcement in the U.S. Antarctic Program
(Washington, DC)-House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) and Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) released a statement in response to a white paper by the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) entitled “Law Enforcement Perspectives on Sexual Assault and Stalking Issues Pertaining to the United States Antarctic Program.” The white paper follows a report issued by NSF in 2022 detailing ongoing problems … Continue Reading