Subcommittee Democrats Review Progress and Challenges of DOE’s Alternative Vehicle Technologies
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing to examine the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Vehicle Technologies Program (VTP), with a focus on DOE’s alternative vehicle research, development, demonstration, and commercialization activities. Testifying before the Subcommittee were: Dr. Kathleen Hogan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency at DOE; Mr. Rickey Hass, Deputy Inspector General for … Continue Reading
July 25, 2012Committee Holds Hearing on Drought, Democrats Emphasize Need to Better Understand Climate Change’s Role
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a legislative hearing to examine the state of drought forecasting, monitoring, and decision making and the role of the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS). The Committee also discussed draft legislation to reauthorize the NIDIS Act of 2006. Testifying before the Committee were: Director of NOAA's National Integrated Drought Information System, Dr.Roger S. Pulwarty; Oklahoma Water … Continue Reading
July 23, 2012Ranking Member Johnson Issues Statement on the Passing of Dr. Sally Ride
(Washington, DC) - Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) issued the following statement after hearing that Dr. Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, had died. “I am profoundly saddened to hear of the passing of Dr. Sally Ride. She was inspiration to all of us, especially young women. Beyond her work at NASA, she provided distinguished service on a number of important national advisory commissions. At the same time, I believe one of her most lasting influences was through the … Continue Reading
July 23, 2012Ranking Member Johnson Commends Blue Ribbon Panel’s Antarctica Report
(Washington, DC) - Today, the U.S. Antarctic Program Blue Ribbon Panel released its final report, More and Better Science in Antarctica through Increased Logistical Effectiveness. The report reviews U.S. science support operations in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean and discusses recommendations for increased logistical effectiveness to support science research. It was requested by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). In … Continue Reading
July 19, 2012Committee Democrats Discuss R&D to Detect Terrorist Threats, Including the Vital Role of Social and Behavioral Sciences
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing entitled, “Keeping America Secure: the Science Supporting the Development of Threat Detection Technologies.” The purpose of the hearing was to examine research and development of threat detection technologies across the federal government. Testifying before the Committee were representatives from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) … Continue Reading
July 18, 2012Ranking Member Johnson Praises Report on Advanced Manufacturing
(Washington, DC) - Yesterday, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) released a report, Capturing Domestic Competitive Advantage in Advanced Manufacturing, which offered a series of recommendations to revitalize and transform American manufacturing by enabling innovation, securing the talent pipeline, and improving the business climate for U.S. industry. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said, “I welcome PCAST’s report on advanced manufacturing and … Continue Reading
July 18, 2012Ranking Member Johnson Applauds President Obama’s Plan to Create a Master Teacher Corps
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Obama Administration announced the President’s plan to create a national science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) Master Teacher Corps. The plan is based on a key recommendation in the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology’s (PCAST) report, Prepare and Inspire, on how to recognize and help retain America’s most talented STEM teachers, build a community of practice among them, raise the profile of the STEM teaching profession, and … Continue Reading
July 16, 2012Subcommittee Discusses NSF’s I-Corps Program
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a field hearing in Chicago, IL on Innovation Corps (I-Corps), a new National Science Foundation (NSF) program to promote technology innovation and leverage the federal government’s investment in scientific research. Launched in 2011, I-Corps is a public-private partnership that helps propel scientific and engineering discoveries into useful technologies, … Continue Reading
July 13, 2012Ranking Member Johnson Introduces Forensic Science Legislation
(Washington, DC) - Yesterday, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) introduced H.R. 6106 to help prevent wrongful convictions by bringing reliable, science-based standards to forensic evidence. The legislation, the Forensic Science and Standards Act of 2012, comes amid growing concerns nationally that many criminal justice proceedings use evidence developed through flawed forensic work. Ms. Johnson’s bill would strengthen forensic science and standards, yielding evidence that judges, … Continue Reading
July 12, 2012Democrats Highlight Importance of the Nation’s Investments in NASA that Strengthen the American Economy, and Improve Our Daily Lives
(Washington, DC) -- Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a hearing entitled, “Spurring Economic Growth and Competitiveness through NASA Derived Technologies.” The purpose of the hearing was to highlight the direct economic and societal benefits that investment in NASA has generated and to examine how best to ensure that continued investments will maintain a pipeline for future economic growth. Testifying before the … Continue Reading
July 12, 2012Ranking Member Johnson Reacts to NOAA’s “2011 State of the Climate” Report
(Washington, DC) -On Tuesday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in coordination with the American Meteorological Society (AMS), released the “2011 State of the Climate” report that details global climate indicators, notable weather events, and other data collected by environmental monitoring stations and instruments on land, sea, ice, and sky. It includes details on a number of extreme weather events such as the deadly tornado outbreaks in the U.S. and the extreme … Continue Reading
July 09, 2012Ranking Member Johnson Introduces Legislation to Help American Manufacturers Remain Competitive
(Washington, DC) - Today, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) introduced H.R. 6081, the Advancing Innovative Manufacturing (AIM) Act of 2012, to accelerate research, development, and innovation in advanced manufacturing and improve the competitiveness of American manufacturers. The legislation is part of the House Democrats’ “Make It In America” agenda, a plan to support job creation today and in the future by encouraging businesses to make products and innovate in the U.S. and sell … Continue Reading
June 28, 2012Subcommittees Review Progress on Weather Satellite Programs
(Washington, DC) - Yesterday, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittees on Investigations and Oversight and Energy and Environment held a hearing to examine two of NOAA’s weather satellite programs, the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) and the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite - R Series (GOES-R). Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports on both satellites were released at the hearing today, Geostationary Weather Satellites, Design Progress … Continue Reading
June 27, 2012Subcommittee Discusses the Future of America’s Research Universities
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a hearing to examine the challenges faced by the Nation’s research universities. A recent National Research Council (NRC) report that examines the health and competitiveness of our nation’s research universities, Research Universities and the Future of America, was discussed. The hearing also reflected on the 150th anniversary of the Morrill Act (P.L. 37-108) … Continue Reading
June 22, 2012Problems in Managing Critical Isotopes May Leave the US Subject to Surprise Shortages
(Washington, DC) -The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report today that examines the Department of Energy’s management of its Isotope Program which provides more than 300 critical isotopes for sale to commercial entities and research facilities for use in nuclear medicine, homeland security, industrial applications and a wide-range of research activities. The report titled “Managing Critical Isotopes: DOE’s Isotope Program Needs Better Planning for Setting Prices and Managing … Continue Reading
June 21, 2012Democrats Highlight DOE User Facilities as Critical Tools for Supporting U.S. Technological Innovation
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing to examine the role the Department of Energy’s (DOE) national scientific user facilities play in enabling research that drives innovation and economic growth. Additionally, the hearing also examined some challenges and opportunities associated with user facilities planning and management. As a central part of its National Laboratory system, DOE constructs and … Continue Reading
June 20, 2012Committee Democrats Review OSTP’s Initiatives and Challenges
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held an oversight hearing on the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to examine its roles, responsibilities, operations and management, and its function in helping shape our national science policy. Testifying before the Committee was Dr. John P. Holdren, Director of OSTP and Assistant to the President for Science and Technology Policy. OSTP was established by Congress in 1976 with a broad mandate to … Continue Reading
June 19, 2012Subcommittee Discusses Technology Transfer from Universities
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing entitled, “Best Practices in Transforming Research into Innovation: Creative Approaches to the Bayh-Dole Act.” The purpose of the hearing was to learn about different approaches universities are taking to transfer the results of federally-funded research to the private sector. Testifying before the Subcommittee were representatives from the Association … Continue Reading
June 06, 2012Subcommittee Democrats Examine Issues Surrounding Potential Extension of Commercial Space Launch Indemnification Provisions
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a hearing entitled, “An Examination of Future Commercial Launch Markets and FAA’s Launch Indemnification Program.” The purpose of the hearing was to explore the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) implementation of the existing commercial space launch indemnification program and whether it is necessary to require a government-backed risk-sharing program in order for … Continue Reading
June 06, 2012Democrats Call for Thoughtful Discussion of EPA Regulatory Costs and Benefits
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing intended to examine the process used by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in evaluating the costs and benefits of federal environmental regulations. Testifying before the Subcommittee were several witnesses representing industry interests. EPA was not invited to testify before the Subcommittee. … Continue Reading