Subcommittee Reviews Activities of the U.S. Fire Administration, Hears from Fire Service Community
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing to examine the United States Fire Administration (USFA) and its effectiveness, priorities for future research, development, and training activities at USFA, and the fire service priorities for the USFA reauthorization. Testifying before the Subcommittee were the Administrator of USFA and representatives from the International Association of Fire Chiefs, … Continue Reading
May 10, 2012Unconventional Oil Resources Not Ready for Primetime
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing entitled, “Supporting American Jobs and the Economy Through Expanded Energy Production: Challenges and Opportunities of Unconventional Resources Technology.” The purpose of the hearing was to examine challenges and opportunities associated with expanding development and use of a range of unconventional oil and gas resources. However, the majority of the … Continue Reading
May 10, 2012Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson's Floor Statement on the Consideration of H.R. 5326, the CJS Appropriations Bill
FLOOR STATEMENT ON THE CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 5326, THE CJS APPROPRIATIONS BILL HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON [D-TX] Mr. Chairman, funding for research, innovation, and STEM education is an investment in our future, perhaps one of the most important investments we make as a nation. China, the European Union, and many other countries understand this and are poised to surpass the United States in innovation capacity and in the creation of a highly skilled 21st century workforce, if they have not … Continue Reading
May 09, 2012Subcommittee Hears From NSF’s Inspector General
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a hearing entitled “Ensuring the Best Stewardship of American Taxpayer Dollars at the National Science Foundation.” Testifying before the Subcommittee was Ms. Allison C. Lerner, the Inspector General (IG) for the National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF, as well as every other Federal agency, has an Office of Inspector General (OIG) that provides independent … Continue Reading
May 08, 2012Surface Transportation Act Conference Statement
Uploaded FilesRanking Member Johnson's Statement at the Surface Transporation Act Conference … Continue Reading
April 25, 2012Subcommittee Misses Opportunity to Understand the Impact of National Toxicology Program’s Report on Carcinogens
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight and the House Committee on Small Business’s Subcommittee on Healthcare and Technology held a joint hearing entitled, “How the Report on Carcinogens Uses Science to Meet its Statutory Obligations, and its Impact on Small Business Jobs.” The stated purpose of the hearing was to examine the Report on Carcinogens (RoC) and to provide Members an opportunity to understand … Continue Reading
April 24, 2012Ranking Member Johnson Introduces “Broadening Participation in STEM Education Act”
(Washington, DC) - Today Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) announced that she has introduced H.R. 4483, the Broadening Participation in STEM Education Act. The goals of the legislation are to increase the number of students from underrepresented minority groups earning degrees in STEM fields at the undergraduate level and expand the number of faculty members from underrepresented minority groups at colleges and universities. Ranking Member Johnson said in her floor statement, “The … Continue Reading
April 24, 2012Ranking Member Johnson's Statement on the "Broadening Participation in STEM Education Act"
Today I am introducing H.R. 4483, the “Broadening Participation in STEM Education Act.” This bill aims to increase the number of students from underrepresented minority groups who receive undergraduate degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM, disciplines. It also seeks to increase the number of STEM faculty members from underrepresented minority groups at institutions of higher education. The U.S. faces a severe shortfall in students graduating with degrees in … Continue Reading
April 19, 2012Solar Programs Found to Support Small Businesses and Jobs
(Washington, DC) - Today, in a joint hearing of the Investigations & Oversight (I&O) and the Energy and Environment Subcommittees, Members of Congress heard reports on the effectiveness of a Recovery Act program to spur installation of solar and wind energy systems. Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY), Ranking Member on I&O, invited a representative of a local company from Rensselaer, NY to testify about the effect of the “Section 1603” program on their business. The Section 1603 grant program … Continue Reading
April 19, 2012Subcommittee Examines the Impending Spectrum Crunch
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing entitled, “Avoiding the Spectrum Crunch: Growing the Wireless Economy through Innovation.” The purpose of the hearing was to examine the issues surrounding the growing demand for spectrum, Federal research and development activities related to spectrum, and what can and should be done by the Federal government to increase the availability of spectrum for … Continue Reading
April 17, 2012Oil Company Executives Agree: Obama Not to Blame for High Gas Prices
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing entitled, “Tapping America’s Unconventional Oil Resources for Job Creation and Affordable Domestic Energy: Technology and Policy Pathways.” The stated purpose of the hearing was to examine policy and technology pathways to developing unconventional oil resources such as oil shale and oil sands. However, witnesses were asked to comment on areas ranging from the economic impacts of high energy prices, … Continue Reading
March 28, 2012Subcommittee Democrats Stress the Need for Reliable Weather and Climate Forecasting
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing to examine how the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) develops, evaluates, and executes plans to deliver the best and most cost effective data necessary for severe weather prediction and other observational needs. Two panels of witnesses testified at the hearing. The first panel included witnesses from the three most relevant offices … Continue Reading
March 28, 2012Democrats Emphasize the Need for a Clear Plan for Utilization of the International Space Station
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing entitled, “Securing the Promise of the ISS - Challenges and Opportunities.” The purpose of the hearing was to review NASA’s plans for effectively maintaining and utilizing the International Space Station (ISS) through 2020, including how the agency will deal with resource and access constraints that limit the scientific utilization of the ISS. Testifying before the Committee were Mr. William H. … Continue Reading
March 28, 2012Committee Democrats Appoint New Ranking Member and Fill Subcommittee Vacancies
(Washington, DC) - The Democratic Caucus of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology selected Rep. Jerry F. Costello (D-IL) to serve as Ranking Member for the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics and selected Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) to serve on the Subcommittee on Research and Science Education and the Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation. The changes were approved by the Full Committee today. Mr. Costello had been serving as Acting Ranking Member of the Space and … Continue Reading
March 27, 2012Subcommittee Democrats Focus on Policies That Foster Innovation and Competitiveness
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing entitled, “Fostering the U.S. Competitive Edge: Examining the Effect of Federal Policies on Competition, Innovation, and Job Growth.” Testifying before the Committee were Dr. Ron Cohen, President and CEO of Acorda Therapeutics, Mr. Mike Truitt, Vice President of Ludlum Measurements Inc., Mr. Thomas Brandt, Jr., Senior Vice President and CFO of … Continue Reading
March 20, 2012Subcommittee Reviews Budget of FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a hearing to review the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 budget request and to examine the agency’s priorities and challenges. Testifying before the Subcommittee were Dr. George C. Nield, the Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation at FAA, and Captain Wilbur C. Trafton (USN … Continue Reading
March 08, 2012Subcommittee Examines Management of NSF’s Large Facilities
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a hearing to examine the management and operations of Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC) projects at the National Science Foundation (NSF). As the primary federal agency supporting basic science research, NSF plays a key role in the construction and operation of major research facilities that extend the boundaries of science, … Continue Reading
March 06, 2012Subcommittee Reviews FY2013 Budget Request for EPA and NOAA
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing to review the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2013 budget requests for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Science and Technology activities at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Testifying before the Committee were the Administrator of NOAA, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, and the Acting Assistant Administrator of the Office of … Continue Reading
March 06, 2012Subcommittee Reviews NIST’s FY2013 Budget Request
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing to review the Administration’s fiscal year (FY) 2013 budget request for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Testifying before the Subcommittee was the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and Director of NIST, Dr. Patrick Gallagher. “Although NIST is a relatively small agency, it is an extremely important player in … Continue Reading
March 01, 2012Committee Reviews DOE’s FY2013 R&D Budget
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Committee held a hearing to review the Administration’s fiscal year 2013 budget request for the Department of Energy’s (DOE) research and development (R&D) portfolio. This includes activities within the DOE Office of Science, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, Fossil Energy, Nuclear Energy, Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, and the Loan Guarantee Program … Continue Reading