GAO Asked to Review Escalating Executive Compensation of Federal Contractors
(Washington, DC) - The Ranking Member of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, Mr. Paul Tonko (D-NY) asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review executive compensation costs for federal contractors with the Departments of Energy, Commerce, Transportation, and Homeland Security as well as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation, and the Environmental Protection Agency. The cap on … Continue Reading
November 15, 2012Committee Examines Proposals to Improve Logistical Support of the U.S. Antarctic Program
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing to examine the U.S. Antarctic Program and to discuss the U.S. Antarctic Program Blue Ribbon Panel’s recent report, More and Better Science through Increased Logistical Effectiveness. Testifying before the Committee were Mr. Norman Augustine, Chair of the U.S. Antarctic Blue Ribbon Panel; the Honorable Subra Suresh, the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF); General Duncan J. McNabb … Continue Reading
November 14, 2012Subcommittee Receives Update on Health IT Standards and Interoperability
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing entitled, “Is “Meaningful Use” Delivering Meaningful Results?: An Examination of Health Information Technology Standards and Interoperability.” The purpose of the hearing was to review federal activities in promoting the interoperability of health information technology (IT) and to examine the implementation of the Health Information Technology for … Continue Reading
October 15, 2012GAO Issues Report on the Energy-Water Nexus
(Washington, DC) -Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a capping report that summarizes the findings of five previous reports on the interdependencies between energy and water. GAO was asked to identify key energy-water nexus issues that Congress and federal agencies need to consider when developing and implementing national policies for energy and water resources. The report titled “Energy-Water Nexus: Coordinated Federal Approach Needed to Better Manage Energy and … Continue Reading
October 15, 2012Ranking Member Johnson Congratulates Nobel Prize Winners
(Washington, DC) - Recently, researchers in the fields of chemistry, physics, medicine or physiology, and economics received 2012 Nobel Prizes for their contributions to the sciences. House Science, Space, and Technology Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) offered the following statement. “I offer my sincere congratulations to all the recipients of the 2012 Nobel Prize. Their research has been truly groundbreaking, and I have no doubt that the impacts of their research will be … Continue Reading
October 10, 2012Committee Democrats Issue Statement on Richard Whitcomb's Induction to the National Aviation Hall of Fame
On October 6, 2012, aerodynamics legend Richard T. Whitcomb joined other aerospace pioneers including Charles Lindbergh and astronauts John Glenn and Neil Armstrong in the National Aviation Hall of Fame. Mr. Whitcomb, who died in 2009 at age 88, revolutionized aviation by developing the area rule, supercritical wing, and winglets during his 37-year career at NASA’s Langley Research Center. Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Ranking Member Jerry F. Costello (D-IL) said: “While today’s … Continue Reading
September 27, 2012Reps. Edwards, Eshoo, Markey: Hacking Threats to Implantable Medical Devices Call For Improved FDA Oversight
(Washington, DC) - Reacting to the findings of a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report they requested last year, three senior House Democrats today are calling on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to improve its oversight of implantable wireless medical devices. In recent demonstrations, computer security experts revealed that some implantable medical devices can be remotely controlled by a hacker, posing potentially serious health risks to patients. The GAO report, “MEDICAL … Continue Reading
September 20, 2012Ranking Member Johnson's Statement on H.R. 4158
Mr.Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4158, To Confirm Full Ownership Rights for Certain United States Astronauts to Artifacts from the Astronauts’ Space Missions Act. This is a necessary bill which will protect our iconic early astronauts from needless harassment. This bill will ensure that any U.S. Astronaut who participated in the historic Mercury, Gemini, or Apollo programs will be able to keep the space artifacts which are still in their possession from those missions. At the time of … Continue Reading
September 17, 2012Ranking Member Johnson Congratulates the Golden Goose Awardees for Their Groundbreaking Research Accomplishments
(Washington, DC) - Last Thursday, the ceremony for the first annual Golden Goose Awards was held. The awards, originally conceived by Congressman Jim Cooper (D-TN), were created to highlight seemingly obscure research efforts supported by federal funds that have resulted in economic and societal benefits. Dr. Osamu Shimomura, Dr. Martin Chalfie and Dr. Roget Tsien were honored for their discovery of green fluorescent protein while seeking to identify why jellyfish grow green. Green fluorescent … Continue Reading
September 14, 2012Committee Democrats Raise Concerns about NASA’s Commercial Crew Program
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing to examine the latest developments in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Commercial Crew Program, recent changes in NASA’s acquisition strategy and the ramifications of those changes, and NASA’s ability to execute this strategy. Testifying before the Committee were Mr. William H. Gerstenmaier, the Associate Administrator of the Human Exploration and Operations Mission … Continue Reading
September 12, 2012Subcommittee Democrats Emphasize the Need for Stable Funding for NASA’s SLS and Orion Programs
(Washington, DC) - Today, on the fiftieth anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s historic speech at Rice University about America’s challenge to land a man on the moon, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee’s Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a hearing to examine the ongoing development of the Space Launch System (SLS) and the Orion Crew Capsule and to discuss how these human exploration technologies can also be used for future scientific missions. Testifying before … Continue Reading
September 11, 2012Ranking Member Johnson's Statement on Government Spending Accountability Act of 2012 (H.R. 4631)
Mr. Speaker, I think we can all agree that federal agencies need to be wise and judicious in their use of travel funds, and that past abuses, while very much the exception, were a wake-up call for us to exercise stricter oversight of taxpayer dollars. The Administration itself, through the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has also sought to curb these abuses by instituting new travel caps and new reporting requirements on all agency travel and I applaud them for taking this seriously. On … Continue Reading
August 25, 2012Ranking Member Johnson and Ranking Member Costello Issue Statements on the Passing of Neil Armstrong
Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Ranking Member of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Jerry F. Costello (D-IL) issued the following statements upon hearing of the passing of Neil Armstrong. Ms. Johnson said, “I was terribly saddened to hear the news of the passing of Neil Armstrong, a genuine American hero and an inspiration to countless people around the world. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. He will be greatly missed and I think the best tribute we can give … Continue Reading
August 06, 2012Ranking Member Johnson and Ranking Member Costello Congratulate NASA on Mars Rover Curiosity’s Successful Landing
(Washington, DC) - Early this morning, Mars Science Laboratory’s (MSL) rover Curiosity successfully landed on the surface of Mars. MSL is part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program, a long-term initiative for the scientific exploration of the Red Planet. Curiosity is the largest, most sophisticated rover ever sent to Mars. Its objectives are to determine whether Mars could have ever supported life; to study the climate and geology of Mars; and to provide data that can support planning for an … Continue Reading
August 02, 2012Science Democrats Examine Suborbital Space Industry’s Request for “Learning Period” before Federal Safety Rules Are Imposed
(Washington, DC) - Yesterday, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a hearing entitled, “The Commercial Suborbital Reusable Launch Vehicle Market.” The hearing examined the potential launch markets and applications for commercial suborbital reusable launch vehicles, the progress of some of the companies planning to offer suborbital services, the potential of these suborbital vehicles for scientific research, and the regulatory … Continue Reading
August 01, 2012Subcommittee Discusses Partnerships between Businesses and Research Universities
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a hearing entitled, “The Relationship Between Business and Research Universities: Collaborations Fueling American Innovation and Job Creation, to examine partnerships and collaborations between industry and research universities. Testifying before the Subcommittee were representatives from Accenture, Lockheed Martin, Deere and Company, The Dow Chemical Company, … Continue Reading
July 27, 2012Subcommittee Democrats Review Progress and Challenges of DOE’s Alternative Vehicle Technologies
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing to examine the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Vehicle Technologies Program (VTP), with a focus on DOE’s alternative vehicle research, development, demonstration, and commercialization activities. Testifying before the Subcommittee were: Dr. Kathleen Hogan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency at DOE; Mr. Rickey Hass, Deputy Inspector General for … Continue Reading
July 25, 2012Committee Holds Hearing on Drought, Democrats Emphasize Need to Better Understand Climate Change’s Role
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a legislative hearing to examine the state of drought forecasting, monitoring, and decision making and the role of the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS). The Committee also discussed draft legislation to reauthorize the NIDIS Act of 2006. Testifying before the Committee were: Director of NOAA's National Integrated Drought Information System, Dr.Roger S. Pulwarty; Oklahoma Water … Continue Reading
July 23, 2012Ranking Member Johnson Issues Statement on the Passing of Dr. Sally Ride
(Washington, DC) - Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) issued the following statement after hearing that Dr. Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, had died. “I am profoundly saddened to hear of the passing of Dr. Sally Ride. She was inspiration to all of us, especially young women. Beyond her work at NASA, she provided distinguished service on a number of important national advisory commissions. At the same time, I believe one of her most lasting influences was through the … Continue Reading
July 23, 2012Ranking Member Johnson Commends Blue Ribbon Panel’s Antarctica Report
(Washington, DC) - Today, the U.S. Antarctic Program Blue Ribbon Panel released its final report, More and Better Science in Antarctica through Increased Logistical Effectiveness. The report reviews U.S. science support operations in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean and discusses recommendations for increased logistical effectiveness to support science research. It was requested by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). In … Continue Reading