Subcommittee Receives an Update on the Recovery Act
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight held a hearing entitled, “Stimulus Oversight: An Update on Accountability, Transparency, and Performance.” The purpose of the hearing was to receive testimony on the accountability, transparency, and performance issues associated with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), commonly referred to as the Recovery Act. On Feb. 13, 2009, Congress passed ARRA to … Continue Reading
November 17, 2011Subcommittee Democrats Call Hearing a Missed Opportunity to Learn from Witnesses About EPA’s Research Enterprise
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing entitled, “Fostering Quality Science at the EPA: The Need for Common Sense Reform.” The purpose of the hearing was to examine the ability of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) research enterprise to meet the agency’s mission to protect public health and the environment. This is expected to be the first hearing in a series on the reorganization and … Continue Reading
November 16, 2011Ranking Member Johnson's Remarks for the Gold Medal Ceremony Honoring John Glenn and the Apollo 11 Crew
Thank you very much for this opportunity to make a few remarks as we honor these four distinguished Americans. You know, “hero” is an overused word, but I think that all who are assembled here today would not hesitate to describe our honorees as genuine national heroes. In fact, the only ones who might object to that description are our honorees themselves. In an age of inflated egos and self-promotion, each of these gentlemen has distinguished himself by his modesty, his competence, his … Continue Reading
November 15, 2011Subcommittee Democrats Oppose Republican Hazards Bill, Decry Inadequate Authorization Levels and Lack of Bipartisanship
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation considered a Committee Print of the Natural Hazards Risk Reduction Act of 2011. This bill would reauthorize the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) and the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program (NWIRP). Although Subcommittee Democrats applauded both NEHRP and NWIRP and expressed their strong support for reauthorizing the programs, they were … Continue Reading
November 15, 2011Subcommittee Democrats Press for Clear Administration Commitment to Joint NASA-European Space Agency Mars Initiative
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a hearing entitled, “Exploring Mars and Beyond: What’s Next for U.S. Planetary Science?” The purpose of the hearing was to receive testimony from witnesses representing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on the prospects for the future exploration of Mars and … Continue Reading
November 03, 2011Subcommittee Discusses STEM Professionals as Volunteers, Mentors, and Teachers in K-12 STEM Education
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a hearing entitled, “STEM in Action: Transferring knowledge from the Workplace to the Classroom.” The purpose of the hearing was to discuss the role that science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) professionals can play in improving K-12 STEM education. The hearing focused on approaches and programs that encourage and assist STEM professionals who want … Continue Reading
November 03, 2011Subcommittee Discusses Multiple Motor Fuel Standards, Democrats Emphasize Importance of Clean Air
(Washington, DC) - Yesterday, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing on motor fuel standards. The Subcommittee examined past, current, and future motor fuel standards developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and state governments. Members and witnesses discussed the Federal Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS), the Tier 3 and Motor and Fuel Standards, and upstream greenhouse gas emissions standards for oil … Continue Reading
November 02, 2011Subcommittee Democrats Emphasize the Importance of the Federal Role in the Creation of Innovative Small Businesses
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing entitled, “Creating and Growing New Businesses: Fostering U.S. Innovation.” The purpose of the hearing was to examine the current state of small, innovative start-up companies and their role in transformative innovations and job creation. Ranking Member Donna Edwards (D-MD) said, “I am certain that there isn’t a person in this hearing room today that does … Continue Reading
November 02, 2011GAO Points to Progress on Helium-3 Alternatives For Science & Homeland Security Applications
(Washington, DC) - Yesterday the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a “Technology Assessment” on alternative Helium-3 (He-3) neutron detectors. Helium-3 is a key component in radiation monitors used to detect neutron emitting radiation, such as plutonium, a critical material in some nuclear weapons. For the past two years, the Science, Space, and Technology Committee has been extensively involved in revealing that there was a critical shortage of Helium-3, and monitoring the … Continue Reading
October 28, 2011Ranking Member Johnson Welcomes Successful Launch of Next Generation Weather and Climate Satellite
Today, House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Ranking Member, Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) offered her congratulations on the successful launch of the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project (NPP) satellite. NPP is a NASA Earth science research and polar-orbiting satellite that will extend long-term NASA Earth science data observations on the Earth system—clouds, oceans, vegetation, ice, solid Earth, and atmosphere—while also collecting … Continue Reading
October 27, 2011Committee Democrats Push Fairness and Equity in Siting Next Nuclear Waste Repository
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Subcommittees on Investigations and Oversight and Energy and Environment held a hearing entitled, “Review of the Blue Ribbon Commissions Draft Report on America’s Nuclear Future.” However, in reality, the hearing focused primarily on the President’s decision to stop the process of opening Yucca Mountain in Nevada as a nuclear waste repository. In 1984, the Department of Energy (DOE) selected ten locations in six states for consideration as potential nuclear waste … Continue Reading
October 26, 2011Committee Democrats Press for More Information on NASA’s Commercial Crew Program
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing entitled “NASA’s Commercial Crew Development Program: Accomplishments and Challenges”. The purpose of the hearing was to receive testimony from participants in the second stage of NASA’s Commercial Crew Development Program (known as CCDev2), as well as from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the NASA Inspector General (IG) on progress made and challenges remaining to … Continue Reading
October 26, 2011Democrats Appoint New Ranking Members
(Washington, DC) -The Democratic Caucus of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology selected new Ranking Members for the Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation and the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight. The changes were approved by the Full Committee today. Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD) was elected Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation and Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) was elected Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight. Rep. … Continue Reading
October 24, 2011Ranking Member Johnson Reacts to EIA Analysis of Hall Clean Energy Standard
(Washington, DC) - The findings of this study were predictable when it was first requested, and not because the policy scenarios modeled here represent reality. That said, the EIA is not to blame. Not surprisingly, some of my Republican colleagues do not support the President’s proposal for a Clean Energy Standard (CES), and the requested analysis was designed to show a worst-case cost scenario by omitting a number of important factors and sensitivities that would have made for a much more … Continue Reading
October 24, 2011Ranking Member Johnson Welcomes Swearing-in of Commerce Secretary Bryson
(Washington, DC) - Last Friday, John Bryson was sworn in as U.S. Secretary of Commerce. In response, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) released the following statement: “As the Ranking Member of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, I look forward to working with Secretary Bryson on policies and programs that will strengthen our economy and create new jobs. The Department of Commerce plays a key role in spurring innovation and competitiveness, protecting life and property, … Continue Reading
October 21, 2011Democratic Members Ask FAA to Identify Steps it is Taking to Ensure Reliable Maintenance and Repair of Composite Aircraft
(Washington, DC) - Yesterday, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, Ranking Member, House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, Ms. Donna F. Edwards, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, and Mr. Jerry Costello, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Aviation, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, sent a letter to the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Mr. J. Randolph Babbitt, regarding concerns raised in a newly released Government … Continue Reading
October 21, 2011Ranking Member Johnson Reacts to Recent YouCut Announcement
(Washington, DC) -Majority Leader Eric Cantor recently launched the second phase of his YouCut project which asks people to visit his website weekly and vote on a selection of line items in the budget to cut. Rep. Joe Walsh announced last week’s “winner”, the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Polar Arctic Research Grant Program. The YouCut website also states that Mr. Walsh will be introducing legislation to cut this program. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) made the following … Continue Reading
October 13, 2011Democrats Question Government R&D Role In Mature, Commercially-Ready Coal Technologies
(Washington, DC) - Today the Energy and Environment Subcommittee of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing entitled, “Advancing Coal Research and Development for a Secure Energy Future.” The stated purpose of this hearing was to examine current Department of Energy (DOE) coal research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) activities and identify future coal RD&D opportunities and priorities. Members heard from three witnesses representing the coal industry, a … Continue Reading
October 13, 2011Ranking Member Johnson Sends Letter to the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction
Washington, DC [October 13, 2011]—Today, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) sent a letter to Congressman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the Co-Chairs of the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction, urging the Committee to take into account the critically important role that federal investments in science, technology, and STEM education play in keeping the United States a global economic and technological leader, reducing our debt over the long term, creating new … Continue Reading
October 13, 2011Democratic Members Defend Science, Federal Scientists at Subcommittee Hearing
(Washington, DC) -Today, at a hearing titled, “The Endangered Species Act: Reviewing the Nexus of Science and Policy,” the Democratic Members of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee examined the problem of political interference with science at the Fish and Wildlife Service. Witnesses before the Subcommittee included Judge Craig Manson, former Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, and Mr. Douglas … Continue Reading