Subcommittee Examines the Role of Standards in Increasing U.S. Exports
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing entitled, “Promoting Innovation, Competition, and Economic Growth: Principles for Effective Domestic and International Standards Development.” The purpose of the hearing was to examine the principles of effective domestic and international standards development processes; analyze how the Federal government, industry and other organizations promote these … Continue Reading
February 28, 2012Subcommittee Reviews NSF’s FY 2013 Budget Request
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a hearing to review the Administration’s fiscal year (FY) 2013 budget request for the National Science Foundation (NSF). Testifying before the Subcommittee were Dr. Subra Suresh, Director of NSF, and Dr. Ray Bowen, Chairman of the National Science Board. “I feel strongly that we need to prioritize investments that deliver real returns to taxpayers and boost our … Continue Reading
February 20, 2012John Glenn and Earth orbit anniversary: America needs manned flight in space
Fifty years ago this week, on February 20, 1962, John Glenn Jr. became the first American to orbit the Earth, inspiring generations of citizens and setting the nation’s human space flight program on a path to a successful moon landing a mere seven years later. As ranking member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, I recently had the opportunity to participate in the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony honoring Mr. Glenn. Joining him as recipients of congressional medals … Continue Reading
February 17, 2012Committee Reviews President’s FY2013 R&D Budget Request
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing to review President Obama’s fiscal year 2013 (FY13) budget request for research and development (R&D), demonstration, and commercial application programs. Testifying before the Committee was Dr. John P. Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said in her opening … Continue Reading
February 14, 2012Ranking Member Johnson’s Statement on the President’s Proposed FY2013 Budget
(Washington, DC) - Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) offered the following statement after the release of the President’s Fiscal Year 2013 budget request: “Investments in education and research and development (R&D) are critical to fostering innovation and maintaining our nation’s competitive edge. That is why I am pleased to see that the President’s budget places a strong emphasis on these areas. Our federal agencies have a long history of investing in research and education … Continue Reading
February 08, 2012Committee Democrats and Blue Ribbon Commission Agree –“Consent-Based Approach” Needed to Identify Permanent Nuclear Waste Repository
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing entitled, “Assessing America’s Nuclear Future - A Review of the Blue Ribbon Commission’s Report to the Secretary of Energy.” The Committee also held a hearing in October 2011 entitled, “A Review of the Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future Draft Recommendations.” The Blue Ribbon Commission (BRC) was formed by the Secretary of Energy at the request of President Obama to conduct a … Continue Reading
February 07, 2012Committee Considers Networking and Information Technology R&D and Ethanol Bills
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Committee on Science, Space and Technology held a markup of H.R. 3834, Advancing America’s Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Act of 2012 and H.R. 3199 to provide a Comprehensive Assessment of the Scientific and Technical Research on the Implications of the Use of Mid-Level Ethanol Blends. The Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) program is a multi-agency research initiative designed to ensure continued … Continue Reading
February 03, 2012Subcommittee Holds Second Day of Hearings on EPA’s R&D Activities with More Balanced Panel
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held the second day of the second hearing in a series of hearings on the reorganization and reauthorization of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) research activities through the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act (ERDDA). The hearing was entitled, “Fostering Quality Science at the EPA: Perspectives on Common Sense Reform - Day … Continue Reading
February 01, 2012Democrats Call for More Research and Transparency into Natural Gas Drilling Impacts on Public Health
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing entitled, “Fractured Science - Examining EPA’s Approach to Ground Water Research: The Pavillion Analysis.” The stated purpose of the hearing was to examine the methodology, protocols, and guidelines used by EPA in conducting the Pavillion Study. Before the hearing began, camera crews who sought to cover the hearing were prevented from filming, including … Continue Reading
January 25, 2012Ranking Member Johnson's Statement on the State of the Union Address
Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) made the following statement after the President delivered his State of the Union address last night: “As Ranking Member of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, I was pleased to hear the President call for investments in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, basic research and education. I too believe that these are essential to the creation of an innovation economy. One need only look at the benefits our nation has gained from past … Continue Reading
January 24, 2012Democrats Find ARPA-E Progressing Well—Take Testimony From the GAO And Energy's IG
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight held a hearing entitled “A Review of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E.)” The stated purpose of the hearing was to review ARPA-E’s performance and evaluate recent reports on the agency from the Department of Energy General (DOE IG) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Additionally, the Republican Committee staff released their own staff … Continue Reading
January 09, 2012GAO Report Released on the EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System
Today, Congressman Brad Miller (D-NC), Ranking Member of the Energy and Environment, released a new GAO report on the EPA’s science-based chemical assessment program. That program, the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS), provides basic assessments to states and other agencies regarding the toxic risks associated with exposure to particular chemicals. During the Bush Administration this EPA science program was crippled by White House official’s intent on forcing EPA to endlessly revise … Continue Reading
December 15, 2011Ranking Member Johnson Reacts to NASA’s Announcement on Commercial Crew Acquistion Approach
(Washington, DC) - Today, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced that it will be changing its commercial crew acquisition approach to make use of Space Act Agreements (SAAs) instead of its planned Federal Acquisition (FAR)-based approach. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) offered the following statement: “While I am sympathetic to the difficulties NASA is experiencing following receipt of its appropriations for FY 2012, in light of NASA’s acknowledgement … Continue Reading
December 14, 2011Ranking Member Johnson Applauds Inclusion of SBIR Provisions in National Defense Authorization Act
(Washington, DC) - Recently, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) was appointed as a member of the conference committee of Senate and House lawmakers selected to reconcile the House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and come up with a final compromise version of the legislation. Monday night, the conference committee approved its conference report. The conference report is expected to be voted on by the House and Senate later this week. Following … Continue Reading
December 14, 2011Committee Democrats Introduce Public Safety Broadband Legislation
(Washington, DC) - Today, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Committee Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Technology and Innovation Subcommittee Ranking Member Donna F. Edwards (D-MD) introduced the Public Safety Broadband Network Enabling Act (H.R. 3642). The legislation will provide $300 million in proceeds from the auction of spectrum to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for research, development, and standards activities that will enable to … Continue Reading
December 07, 2011Subcommittee Democrats Seek Bipartisan Legislation for Rare Earths and Critical Materials
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing entitled, “Energy Critical Elements: Identifying Research Needs and Strategic Priorities.” The stated purpose of the hearing was to discuss research needs and priorities relating to Energy Critical Elements (ECE) and Rare Earth Elements (REE), and to explore potential legislative approaches. Rare earth minerals are a group of seventeen elements with unique … Continue Reading
December 06, 2011Committee Democrats Look Forward to James Webb Space Telescope’s Scientific Potential
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing entitled “The Next Great Observatory: Assessing the James Webb Space Telescope.” The purpose of the hearing was to receive testimony from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and scientific and industry stakeholders on the progress and remaining challenges associated with completing the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) by the target launch date of October 2018. As a next … Continue Reading
December 02, 2011Ranking Member Johnson Honors 2011 Nobel Laureates
(Washington, DC) -Recently, researchers in the fields of chemistry, physics, medicine or physiology, and economics received the 2011 Nobel Prize for their contributions to the sciences. Of the nine winners in these fields, eight are either from the U.S. or were working in the U.S. at the time of their award winning research. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) met with the 2011 Nobel Laureates who were attending a reception in their honor yesterday at the Blair House at the … Continue Reading
December 01, 2011Committee Democrats Oppose Republicans’ Bill that Reduces Funding for Hazards Programs
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology considered H.R. 3479, the Natural Hazards Risk Reduction Act of 2011 to reauthorize the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) and the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program (NWIRP). “This Committee has an important role to play in helping Americans prepare for and recover from tornadoes and other natural disasters by facilitating the disaster resiliency of communities,” Ranking Member Eddie … Continue Reading
November 30, 2011Ranking Member Johnson Honors the Service of Gabriel “Gabe” Zimmerman
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House of Representatives considered House Resolution 364, designating room HVC 215 of the Capitol Visitor Center as the "Gabriel Zimmerman Meeting Room.” On January 8, 2011, a gunman opened fire outside of a grocery store where Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) was holding a “Congress on your Corner” event in Tucson, Arizona. Six people were killed and 13 people were wounded. One of the victims, Mr. Gabriel “Gabe” Zimmerman, Ms. Giffords’ Director of Community … Continue Reading