Subcommittees Discuss Remediation and Avoidance of Crucial Weather Forecasting Gaps
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Subcommittee on Environment held a joint hearing to conduct on-going oversight of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s weather and climate satellite programs. The Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) and the Geostationary Orbiting Environmental Satellite (GOES) are being developed to provide necessary relief for the nation’s aging weather satellite network. These … Continue Reading
September 18, 2013Subcommittee Examines Role Science Can Play to Reduce Impacts of Methamphetamine Abuse and Addiction
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research and Technology held a hearing to better understand the methamphetamine addiction problem, and how science can inform and provide possible solutions. Members discussed the interdisciplinary approach necessary to address the insidious nature of methamphetamine addiction, which crosses every strata of our society. The extent and duration of injury to the brain caused by methamphetamine … Continue Reading
September 10, 2013Critical Federal Investments in Advanced Manufacturing Necessary to Maintain U.S. Leadership and Economic Growth
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research and Technology held a hearing to examine federal advanced manufacturing programs with a focus on research and development activities at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and to review H.R. 1421, the Advancing Innovative Manufacturing (AIM) Act of 2013. The AIM Act, which was introduced by Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), proposes strategic investments … Continue Reading
September 09, 2013Ranking Member Johnson Introduces Forensic Science Legislation
(Washington, DC) - Today, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) introduced H.R. 3064, the Forensic Science and Standards Act of 2013. The bill is similar to legislation introduced by Ms. Johnson and Senator Jay Rockefeller last Congress. The legislation aims to help prevent wrongful convictions by bringing reliable, science-based standards to forensic evidence. There are concerns that many criminal justice proceedings use evidence developed through flawed forensic work. This bill … Continue Reading
August 06, 2013Ranking Member Johnson Expresses Serious Concerns over EPA Subpoena – Urges Chairman Smith to Reconsider
(Washington, DC) - Today, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) sent a letter to Chairman Smith in response to the Committee’s recent authorization and issuance of a subpoena to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy for documents related to the Clean Air Act. You can find the text of Ms. Johnson’s letter below and the letter with attachments at the link. Ranking Member Johnson’s letter with attachments August 6, 2013 Dear Chairman Smith, On August 1, 2013, … Continue Reading
August 01, 2013Committee Republicans Continue Partisan Vendetta Against EPA—Authorize Issuing Subpoenas to EPA, American Cancer Society, and Other Unspecified Citizens Despite Democrats’ Strong Objections
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a business meeting to authorize the issuance of subpoenas and to mark up H.R. 2850, the “EPA Hydraulic Fracturing Study Improvement Act of 2013.” The Majority’s stated purpose of authorizing these subpoenas is to obtain “all research data, information, documents, and other records” relating to the Harvard Six Cities Study, the Cancer Prevention Study II, and analyses and re-analyses of the data from either … Continue Reading
August 01, 2013Members Call on EPA to Save Bristol Bay
(Washington, DC) -- In a Subcommittee on Oversight hearing today Members of the Committee on Science, Space and Technology discussed the importance of protecting Bristol Bay, Alaska. Home to more than half of the world’s sockeye salmon, Bristol Bay lies next to what could become the world’s largest open pit copper mine. The Nushagak and Kvichak rivers flow into the unique and pristine Bristol Bay watershed and commercial fisherman harvest an estimated 30 million salmon each year from the … Continue Reading
July 31, 2013Subcommittee Examines Critical Neuroscience Research Initiative
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Research and Technology held a hearing titled, “The Frontiers of Human Brain Research” to learn about the challenges and potential of neuroscience research and to review of the Administration’s BRAIN initiative. The BRAIN Initiative was announced in April as a “grand challenge” effort by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Defense Advanced Research … Continue Reading
July 30, 2013Ranking Member Johnson Responds to Chairman Smith’s Threat to Subpoena EPA Documents
(Washington, DC) - Today, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) sent a letter to Chairman Smith in response to his recent letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy threatening to subpoena documents related to the Clean Air Act. Chairman Smith has now scheduled a business meeting for Thursday morning to authorize the issuance of subpoenas. You can find the text of Ms. Johnson’s letter below and the letter with attachments at the link. Ranking Member … Continue Reading
July 25, 2013Democrats Identify True Threats to Coal and Highlight Administration Support of Inclusive Energy Portfolio
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing titled, “The Future of Coal: Utilizing America’s Abundant Energy Resources” to examine coal-related technology challenges and opportunities, with an emphasis on assessing the effectiveness of Department of Energy research and development activities. By clarifying the impact of energy market competition on coal in recent years, and by highlighting the multi-billion dollar level … Continue Reading
July 24, 2013Slaughter, Johnson, and DeLauro Call On GAO to Study Gender Bias in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Fields
Yale Study Finds Opportunities in the Sciences Limited for Women, Lawmakers Say Bias Undermines American Competitiveness WASHINGTON - Today, Congresswomen Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office calling for a study of the government’s effectiveness in combating gender bias in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. The letter cited a recent study by Yale University researchers … Continue Reading
July 24, 2013Subcommittee Discusses Draft Technology Transfer Legislation
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research and Technology held a legislative hearing to examine a discussion draft of the Innovative Approaches to Technology Transfer Act of 2013. The draft bill would allocate a portion of the set-aside from the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program to create a program that provides funding for “innovative approaches to technology transfer at research institutions and federal … Continue Reading
July 24, 2013Democratic Members Advocate Comprehensive Approach to Hydraulic Fracturing Research
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittees on Environment and Energy held a joint hearing titled, “Lessons Learned: EPA’s Investigations of Hydraulic Fracturing” to examine the conduct of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in its investigation of the relationship between hydraulic fracturing and groundwater contamination. The EPA has a critical role as a scientific organization to seek answers to the tough, complex questions related … Continue Reading
July 18, 2013Committee Republicans Set NASA up to Fail with Flawed Bill - Positive Democratic Alternative Defeated
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a markup of H.R. 2687, the “National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2013.” H.R. 2687 was approved by the Committee on a party-line vote. Last week, the Space Subcommittee held a markup of a Committee print of the bill. Ranking Member of the Space Subcommittee Donna F. Edwards had recently introduced H.R. 2616, the NASA Authorization Act of 2013, as a Democratic alternative to the … Continue Reading
July 11, 2013Subcommittee Considers Recommendations to Improve Effectiveness of DOE National Laboratories Management
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing titled “Oversight and Management of Department of Energy National Laboratories and Science Activities.” The purpose of the hearing was to examine the Department of Energy’s (DOE) oversight and management of science and technology activities, particularly as they relate to the efficiency and effectiveness of the National Laboratory System. Members and witnesses considered … Continue Reading
July 10, 2013Republicans Approve Bill That Harms NASA - Democrats Offer Alternative to Republican NASA Bill That Would Put Agency on Sustainable Path with Resources Matched to Challenging Goals
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Space held a markup of the Majority’s Committee Print of the NASA Authorization Act of 2013. The bill is a two-year authorization with funding and policy direction for NASA. The Majority released a “Discussion Draft” of their NASA Authorization Act of 2013 in June and held a Subcommittee legislative hearing on June 19th. During the hearing, the Majority’s own invited witnesses as well as both … Continue Reading
July 10, 2013Subcommittee Addresses Broad Potential of National Manufacturing Strategy
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research and Technology held a hearing titled “Strategic Planning for National Manufacturing Competitiveness” to examine H.R. 2447, the “American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act of 2013.” The bill, which was introduced by Subcommittee Ranking Member Dan Lipinski (D-IL), requires an interagency committee chaired by the Secretary of Commerce to develop a national manufacturing competitiveness … Continue Reading
July 09, 2013Subcommittee Marks Up Weather Forecasting Legislation, Democrats Continue to Push for Bipartisan Process
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Environment held a markup of H.R. 2413, the Weather Forecasting Improvement Act of 2013, which would reprioritize research initiatives at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) among other things. Subcommittee Democrats were disturbed by the lack of bipartisan work on the legislation. Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) … Continue Reading
July 08, 2013Ranking Member Edwards Introduces Legislation to Authorize NASA, Cites Need to Return Agency to Path of Greatness
(Washington, DC) - Today, Ranking Member of the Space Subcommittee, Donna F. Edwards (D-MD), introduced H.R. 2616, the NASA Authorization Act of 2013. H.R. 2616 reauthorizes the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for three years, beginning FY 2014 with an authorization level of $18.10 billion and increases at about 2 percent a year to a level of $18.87 billion by FY 2016. Full Committee Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) is an original cosponsor of the bill, along … Continue Reading
June 28, 2013Subcommittee Marks Up NWIRP Legislation - Democrats Emphasize the Need for Adequate Funding and a Multi-Hazards Approach
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research and Technology held a markup of H.R. 1786, the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act, which reauthorizes the National Windstorm Reduction Program (NWIRP). NWIRP is an interagency effort created to reduce the losses of life and property from windstorms by studying wind hazards and their impacts, and developing and encouraging the implementation of cost effective mitigation measures to … Continue Reading