Committee Reviews Federal Activities Regarding Near-Earth Objects
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing titled, “Threats from Space: A Review of U.S. Government Efforts to Track and Mitigate Asteroids and Meteors, Part 1,” to hear testimony on the roles and responsibilities of agencies in detecting, tracking, and monitoring near-Earth objects (NEOs), including those that are potentially hazardous; the resources, technologies and methods used; and coordination between government agencies or … Continue Reading
March 14, 2013Committee Considers Cybersecurity R&D and Networking and Information Technology R&D Bills
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a markup of H.R. 756, the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2013, and H.R. 967, the Advancing America’s Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Act of 2013. H.R. 756 would, among other things, require federal agencies to create a strategic plan guiding the overall direction of federal cybersecurity research and development (R&D); reauthorize cybersecurity research at the National Science … Continue Reading
March 14, 2013Energy Subcommittee Emphasizes Role of Continued Federal Support for Energy Technologies
(Washington, DC) - On Wednesday, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing titled “Federal Financial Support for Energy Technologies: Assessing Costs and Benefits.” The purpose of the hearing was to receive testimony regarding various forms of Federal financial support for the development and production of fuels and energy technologies, including tax incentives, loan guarantees, and direct spending on research, development, demonstration and … Continue Reading
March 13, 2013Subcommittee Highlights Importance of Federal Investment in STEM Education to Secure American Competitiveness
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research held a hearing on industry and non-profit philanthropic (STEM) initiatives. Testifying before the Subcommittee were Ms. Shelly Esque, President of the Intel Foundation and Vice President of Legal and Corporate Affairs and Director of the Corporate Affairs Group at Intel Corporation; Dr. Bob Smith, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Engineering and Technology at Honeywell … Continue Reading
March 13, 2013Ranking Member Johnson’s Statement on the Republican Budget
(Washington, DC) - Ranking Member Johnson released the following statement after Rep. Paul Ryan released this year’s Republican Budget. “As has been widely reported, the Republican budget would cost us millions of jobs and hurt some of the most vulnerable of our society. This budget would also hurt out nation’s ability to innovate, create jobs, and compete in the global economy. “This budget guts non-defense discretionary spending. These are the investments that keep our weather satellites … Continue Reading
March 05, 2013Subcommittee Discusses Benefits of Open Access to Research Data and Challenges in Implementation
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research held a hearing on the issue of access to data from federally funded published research and the vital role access plays in maintaining the scientific integrity and transparency of peer reviewed research. Testifying before the Subcommittee were Dr. Bruce Alberts, Editor-in-Chief, Science Magazine and Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of California-San … Continue Reading
March 04, 2013Ranking Member Johnson Applauds Nominations of Moniz and McCarthy
(Washington, DC) - This morning the President announced his intent to nominate Dr. Ernest Moniz to lead the Department of Energy, and Ms. Gina McCarthy to lead the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson reacted favorably to the announcement and said the following: “It is undeniable that DOE Secretary Chu and EPA Director Lisa Jackson have left large shoes to fill by their successors. Dr. Chu has been a tireless champion for sustainable energy and a … Continue Reading
February 27, 2013Subcommittee Democrats Discuss Ways to Restore Stability and Direction to NASA
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Space held a hearing to discuss ways to restore stability and direction to NASA. As part of that discussion, Members heard testimony about H.R. 823, the Space Leadership Preservation Act of 2013. This is the first hearing to inform the Committee as it begins to prepare for NASA reauthorization. According to the bill’s sponsors, the purpose of the Space Leadership Preservation Act of 2013 is to … Continue Reading
February 27, 2013Science Committee Democrats Ask for Top-to-Bottom Review of Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General
(Washington, DC) - Four senior Members of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) yesterday requesting a comprehensive review of the Department of Commerce’s (DOC) Office of Inspector General (OIG). Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Oversight Subcommittee Ranking Member Dan Maffei (D-NY), Technology Subcommittee Ranking Member Frederica Wilson (D-FL), and Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici … Continue Reading
February 26, 2013Subcommittee Discusses E15
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Environment held a hearing to examine the scientific, technical, and economic impacts of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to allow the sale of E15, a gasoline blended with up to 15 volume percent ethanol. The Subcommittee also discussed draft legislation requiring further assessment of E15. The EPA granted a waiver that would allow, but not mandate, the introduction of … Continue Reading
February 26, 2013Subcommittees Discuss Cybersecurity R&D to Prepare for Legislation
(Washington, DC) - - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittees on Technology and Research held a joint hearing to review cybersecurity research and development (R&D) efforts. Specifically, the hearing examined how current federal efforts align with current and emerging threats. Witnesses included Mr. Michael Barrett, the Chief Information Security Officer at Paypal; Dr. Fred Chang, President and Chief Operating Officer of 21CT, a small technology company; and … Continue Reading
February 14, 2013Subcommittee Discusses the NITRD Program
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research held a hearing to discuss the practical applications and benefits of the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) program. Testifying before the Subcommittee were Dr. Kelly Gaither, Director of the Visualization Lab at the Texas Advanced Computing Center; Dr. Kathryn McKinley, Principal Researcher at Microsoft; and Dr. Ed Lazowska, Bill and Melinda Gates … Continue Reading
February 14, 2013Subcommittee Democrats Stress Environmental Protection and Economic Vitality
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Environment held its first hearing of the 113th Congress. The purpose of the hearing was to assess broad environmental trends and indicators, including an examination of factors such as air and water quality, chemical exposure, environmental and human health, and climate change. Much of the discussion centered around the impact of environmental regulations. Democratic Members presented a broad … Continue Reading
February 13, 2013Energy Subcommittee Discusses Dynamics of the Energy Marketplace
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy held its first hearing of the 113th Congress. The purpose of the hearing was to provide an overview of the current energy landscape in the U.S. and a forum for discussing what the future might hold for various energy technologies and resources. Testifying before the Subcommittee were the Honorable Adam Sieminski, Administrator of the Energy Information Administration (EIA) at the … Continue Reading
February 13, 2013Ranking Member Johnson Responds to the President's State of the Union Address
(Washington, DC) - In response to President Obama’s State of the Union address, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) issued the following statement: “As Ranking Member on the Committee with jurisdiction over almost all non-defense federal scientific research and development, I could not agree more with the President’s assertion, ‘Now is not the time to gut job-creating investments in science and innovation. Now is the time to reach a level of research and development not seen since the … Continue Reading
February 11, 2013Ranking Member Edwards’ Comments on the Successful Launch of Landsat Satellite
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) launched successfully from Vandenberg Air Force Base. The Landsat program is an ongoing joint effort between NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey, which began in 1972 to study the surface of the Earth. This will be the eighth satellite in the history of the program. Ranking Member of the Space Subcommittee Donna F. Edwards (D-MD) made the following statement. “I want to congratulate all of the people involved in making this … Continue Reading
February 06, 2013Ranking Member Johnson Responds to Majority Leader’s Call to Cut Social Science Funding
(Washington, DC) - Yesterday, Majority Leader Eric Cantor gave a speech in which he called for the social sciences to be defunded, specifically pointing to political science funding. He said, “Funds currently spent by the government on social science - including on politics of all things - would be better spent helping find cures to diseases.” Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson’s (D-TX) response is below. “I’m starting to feel like a broken record but I’m just going to keep saying it - the … Continue Reading
February 06, 2013Committee Democrats and Witnesses Emphasize Importance of Continued Federal Investments in R&D
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held its first hearing of the 113th Congress. It was entitled, “American Competitiveness: the Role of Research and Development.” Testifying before the Committee were Mr. Richard Templeton, the President and CEO of Texas Instruments; Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; and Dr. Charles Vest, the President of the National Academy of Engineering. Witnesses and Democratic Members … Continue Reading
February 05, 2013Smith Hosts Bipartisan Retreat for Science Committee Members
Washington, D.C. — Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today hosted a bipartisan retreat for members of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. This is the first time that the Committee has held a bipartisan retreat at the beginning of a Congress. Chairman Smith: “Newspaper headlines insist that Capitol Hill is hopelessly gridlocked. I want the Science, Space, and Technology Committee to be the exception; a place where members on both sides can work together to promote policies that … Continue Reading
February 01, 2013Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson: We must remain steadfast on space flight safety
Today, on the tenth anniversary of the space shuttle Columbia tragedy, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) has a post on The Hill discussing the need to remain steadfast on space flight safety. To read the post, click here or see below: We must remain steadfast on space flight safety Ten years ago, the U.S. space program and the Nation suffered a tragedy that was a stark reminder of the challenges and risks involved in human spaceflight. On February 1, 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia … Continue Reading