Subcommittee Democrats Highlight Need to Apply Lessons from Russian Soyuz Failure to Planned Commercial Crew Transportation Initiative
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics of the Committee on Space, Science, and Technology held a hearing entitled, “The International Space Station: Lessons from the Soyuz Rocket Failure and Return to Flight”. The purpose of the hearing was to review the impacts of the Russian Soyuz launch vehicle failure on the safe operation and utilization of the International Space Station (ISS), as well as the current status of the Russian Federal Space Agency’s accident … Continue Reading
October 12, 2011Ranking Member Johnson Reacts to Rejection of Fire Grants Amendment
Today, Ranking Member Johnson’s legislation, the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2011 (H.R. 2269), was offered as an amendment by Rep. Higgins (D-NY) to the Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 during consideration of the legislation by the House Committee on Homeland Security. Unfortunately, the amendment was rejected along party-lines by a vote of 14 - 19. H.R. 2269 reauthorizes two important programs, the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) and the … Continue Reading
October 12, 2011Subcommittee Democrats Examine Successful STEM Education Practices
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a hearing entitled, “What Makes for Successful K-12 STEM Education: A Closer Look at Effective STEM Education Approaches.” The purpose of the hearing was to examine the findings of a recently released National Research Council (NRC) Report, Successful K-12 STEM Education: Identifying Effective Approaches in Science, Technology, Engineering, and … Continue Reading
October 07, 2011GAO Report Raises Concerns About DHS Oversight of Its Data Mining Programs and Violations of Privacy Protocols
(Washington, DC) -- Congressman Brad Miller, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy & Environment and Ms. Donna F. Edwards, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Investigations & Oversight today released a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report that reviewed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) data mining programs for both their effectiveness and compliance with privacy policies. The GAO report, “DATA MINING: DHS Needs to Improve Executive Oversight of Systems Supporting … Continue Reading
October 04, 2011Democrats say EPA Safeguards Speak for Themselves
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing entitled, “Quality Science for Quality Air.” The purpose of the hearing was to examine the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) process for setting standards under the Clean Air Act. The Clean Air Act (CAA) defines EPA's responsibilities for protecting and improving the nation's air quality. According to the American Lung Association, the CAA prevented an … Continue Reading
September 23, 2011Committee Democrats See Some Progress on JPSS, Urge Stable Funding
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight and Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a joint hearing entitled, “From NPOESS to JPSS: An Update on the Nation’s Restructured Polar Weather Satellite Program.” Testifying before the Subcommittees were Dr. Kathryn Sullivan from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Mr. Christopher Scolese from the National Aeronautics and Space … Continue Reading
September 22, 2011Committee Democrats Urge Sustained Support for Renewed Human Space Exploration Program
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing entitled, “NASA Human Spaceflight Past, Present, and Future: Where Do We Go From Here?” The purpose of the hearing was to assess NASA’s human space exploration goals, plans and capabilities, and examine related issues affecting the Nation’s leadership in space and the state of the aerospace industrial base. The last three NASA Authorization Acts exemplify Congress’s longstanding commitment to human … Continue Reading
September 22, 2011Subcommittee Reviews NITRD Program
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a hearing entitled, “Oversight of the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) Program and Priorities for the Future.” The NITRD program is a multi-agency research initiative designed to ensure continued U.S. leadership in computing systems, advanced networking, software, and other information technologies. The program has … Continue Reading
September 21, 2011Subcommittee Examines the Potential of Cloud Computing
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing entitled, “The Next IT Revolution?: Cloud Computing Opportunities and Challenges.” The purpose of the hearing was to examine the benefits and risks of cloud computing and to assess the appropriate role of the federal government in fostering the development and adoption of cloud computing services. Cloud computing, as defined by the National Institute of … Continue Reading
September 15, 2011Committee Democrats React to EPA’s Cross-State Air Pollution Rule
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR). CSAPR requires eastern and central states to significantly improve air quality by reducing power plant emissions that contribute to ground level ozone and fine particle pollution in "down-wind" states. It replaces the EPA's 2005 Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), which the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. … Continue Reading
September 14, 2011Science Committee Democrats Applaud NASA Heavy Lift Rocket Go-Ahead Decision
(Washington, DC) -- Today, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator Charles Bolden announced that the President had given NASA formal approval to move forward on development of the congressionally authorized Space Launch System (SLS), the next-generation launch vehicle system that will launch astronauts on future missions of exploration as well as providing a backup capability to support the operations of the International Space Station (ISS). In response, Ranking … Continue Reading
September 13, 2011Committee Democrats Stress Importance of the Federal Government’s Role in STEM Education Programs
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing entitled, “Stem in Action: Inspiring the Science and Engineering Workforce of Tomorrow.” The hearing was the second in a series to highlight science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education activities. The stated purpose of this hearing was to highlight public/private partnerships and initiatives that are successfully inspiring the future STEM workforce; however, the hearing primarily … Continue Reading
September 08, 2011Subcommittee Democrats Urge Finding a Way for LightSquared and GPS Users to Co-Exist
Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing to review the impacts of the proposed LightSquared network on federal science activities. LightSquared is a company that wants to add a nationwide broadband telecommunications network to its existing satellite phone services. Because the frequency bands assigned to LightSquared sit next to those designated for the Global Positioning System, commonly known as GPS, there has been concern that GPS services would be … Continue Reading
September 08, 2011Subcommittee Democrats Review Progress on Smart Grid
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing to review efforts to develop open standards for and drive innovation in smart grid technologies. As directed by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is coordinating the development of a common framework and interoperability standards for the smart grid. A witness from NIST … Continue Reading
September 08, 2011GAO Issues Report on Pharmaceuticals in U.S. Drinking Water
(Washington, DC) -- The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report today on pharmaceuticals in our Nation’s drinking water supply. The report, requested by Congressman Brad Miller, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment and Congressman Edward Markey, top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee and a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, shows that a substantial number of pharmaceuticals are present throughout large segments of … Continue Reading
July 28, 2011Committee Democrats Oppose H.R. 2484, Cite Unfunded Mandates
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a markup of H.R. 2484, the Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2011. The bill passed out of Committee, but with unanimous opposition from the Committee Democrats. At the markup, Committee Democrats argued that action is urgently needed to implement research strategies and action plans to better characterize and respond to these harmful blooms and hypoxic events, but that … Continue Reading
July 27, 2011Ranking Member Johnson Releases Staff Report on NSF Spending
Today, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, the Ranking Minority Member of the Committee, released a staff report on the National Science Foundation (NSF). That report critically evaluates a recent Senate staff report on the NSF which claimed that the agency had wasted or mismanaged $3 billion in federal funds. Ms. Johnson said, “A report was recently released by Senator Coburn’s office that claimed that NSF had mismanaged or wasted $3 billion. If true, that would represent a shocking … Continue Reading
July 26, 2011Subcommittee Reviews NSF’s Merit Review Process
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a hearing titled, “The Merit Review Process: Ensuring Limited Federal Resources Are Invested in the Best Science.” The hearing examined the merit review grant award process, primarily at the National Science Foundation (NSF), and its effect on federally funded scientific research. Testifying before the Subcommittee were Dr. Cora Marrett, Deputy Director, NSF; … Continue Reading
July 26, 2011Congressman Brad Miller Welcomes Decision to Abandon Troubled DHS Radiation Monitoring Program
(Washington, DC) -- Today, Congressman Brad Miller applauded the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) for finally terminating its long troubled and very costly Advanced Spectroscopic Portal (ASP) radiation detection program. “The ASP program has been one of the most technically troubled, poorly managed programs I have ever seen,” said Mr. Miller, “and I applaud DNDO Director Warren Stern’s decision to abandon this flawed and expensive program.” The ASP program was originally created to … Continue Reading
July 21, 2011Ranking Member Johnson Salutes NASA’s Space Shuttle Program
Early this morning, Space Shuttle Atlantis landed at the Kennedy Space Center, closing out a storied 30-year program. Commenting on today’s successful landing, Committee Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) congratulated the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), its civil servant and contractor Shuttle team, and the Atlantis crew—Chris Ferguson, commander; Doug Hurley, pilot; and mission specialists Rex Walheim and Sandy Magnus—for a job well done. Congresswoman … Continue Reading