Ranking Member Johnson Congratulates Recipients of the 2011 National Medal of Science and National Medal of Technology and Innovation
(Washington, DC) - Today, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) joined President Obama at the White House to honor the recipients of the 2011 National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. Ranking Member Johnson said, “I sincerely congratulate all of these recipients. Their accomplishments are significant achievements. Not only has their work made important contributions to their fields, but they also serve to inspire future generations to pursue … Continue Reading
January 24, 2013Democrats Announce Subcommittee Assignments and Ranking Members
(Washington, DC) - The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held an Organizational Meeting, Wednesday, January 23, to approve the Committee rules, oversight plan, and subcommittee rosters. The Democratic Caucus elected Subcommittee Ranking Members and selected subcommittee assignments yesterday. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said, “I look forward to working with Chairman Smith and all the Members of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, and I am hopeful that we … Continue Reading
January 09, 2013Ranking Member Johnson’s Statement on 2012 Being the Warmest Year on Record for the U.S.
(Washington, DC) - Today, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) issued the following statement on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) recent announcement that 2012 was the warmest year on record for the contiguous United States. “This data from NOAA confirms what many of us already know too well - our world is getting warmer. According to NOAA, 2012 was part of a long-term trend of hotter, drier, and potentially more extreme weather for the country. While this … Continue Reading
December 20, 2012Ranking Member Johnson and Rep. McNerney Applaud Inclusion of Support to Firefighters and First Responders in Defense Bill
(Washington, DC) - Today, upon House passage of the conference report of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, H.R. 4310, by a vote of 315-107, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) offered the following comment: “I am pleased that the conference report adopted legislative provisions similar to H.R. 2269, the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2011, which I introduced along with Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) and the bipartisan co-chairs of the Congressional Fire … Continue Reading
December 12, 2012Committee Examines NASA’s Strategic Direction
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing to examine issues surrounding NASA’s strategic direction, including reviewing critical capabilities that underpin the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) role as the world’s preeminent civil space exploration and aeronautics research and development agency, discussing potential steps to preserve and promote them, and reviewing the findings of a National Research Council (NRC) … Continue Reading
December 05, 2012Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson Reelected as Ranking Member of Committee
(Washington, DC) -Today, Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) was elected by her colleagues in the Democratic Caucus to remain Ranking Member of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology for the 113th Congress. Ranking Member Johnson said the following: “I am honored to continue our work at the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. I stand eager to continue to work with my colleagues on the Committee to help rebuild our nation’s economy through the enhancement of STEM education, … Continue Reading
November 30, 2012Subcommittee Hears Familiar Arguments for Taxpayer-Funded Oil and Gas Research
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held the latest in a series of hearings on unconventional oil and gas research and development titled, “Tapping America’s Energy Potential Through Research and Development.” The purpose of the hearing was to discuss research needs related to unconventional oil and natural gas resources, as well as to receive testimony on H.R. 6603, the “Tapping America’s Energy Potential … Continue Reading
November 28, 2012Subcommittee Examines Report on Solar Research Priorities
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a hearing to examine the recommendations in the National Research Council’s (NRC) decadal survey, Solar and Space Physics: A Science for a Technological Society. The recommendations addressed both the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) and National Science Foundation’s (NSF) solar and space physics programs and the application of this research to an … Continue Reading
November 20, 2012GAO Asked to Review Escalating Executive Compensation of Federal Contractors
(Washington, DC) - The Ranking Member of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, Mr. Paul Tonko (D-NY) asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review executive compensation costs for federal contractors with the Departments of Energy, Commerce, Transportation, and Homeland Security as well as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation, and the Environmental Protection Agency. The cap on … Continue Reading
November 15, 2012Committee Examines Proposals to Improve Logistical Support of the U.S. Antarctic Program
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing to examine the U.S. Antarctic Program and to discuss the U.S. Antarctic Program Blue Ribbon Panel’s recent report, More and Better Science through Increased Logistical Effectiveness. Testifying before the Committee were Mr. Norman Augustine, Chair of the U.S. Antarctic Blue Ribbon Panel; the Honorable Subra Suresh, the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF); General Duncan J. McNabb … Continue Reading
November 14, 2012Subcommittee Receives Update on Health IT Standards and Interoperability
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing entitled, “Is “Meaningful Use” Delivering Meaningful Results?: An Examination of Health Information Technology Standards and Interoperability.” The purpose of the hearing was to review federal activities in promoting the interoperability of health information technology (IT) and to examine the implementation of the Health Information Technology for … Continue Reading
October 15, 2012GAO Issues Report on the Energy-Water Nexus
(Washington, DC) -Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a capping report that summarizes the findings of five previous reports on the interdependencies between energy and water. GAO was asked to identify key energy-water nexus issues that Congress and federal agencies need to consider when developing and implementing national policies for energy and water resources. The report titled “Energy-Water Nexus: Coordinated Federal Approach Needed to Better Manage Energy and … Continue Reading
October 15, 2012Ranking Member Johnson Congratulates Nobel Prize Winners
(Washington, DC) - Recently, researchers in the fields of chemistry, physics, medicine or physiology, and economics received 2012 Nobel Prizes for their contributions to the sciences. House Science, Space, and Technology Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) offered the following statement. “I offer my sincere congratulations to all the recipients of the 2012 Nobel Prize. Their research has been truly groundbreaking, and I have no doubt that the impacts of their research will be … Continue Reading
October 10, 2012Committee Democrats Issue Statement on Richard Whitcomb's Induction to the National Aviation Hall of Fame
On October 6, 2012, aerodynamics legend Richard T. Whitcomb joined other aerospace pioneers including Charles Lindbergh and astronauts John Glenn and Neil Armstrong in the National Aviation Hall of Fame. Mr. Whitcomb, who died in 2009 at age 88, revolutionized aviation by developing the area rule, supercritical wing, and winglets during his 37-year career at NASA’s Langley Research Center. Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Ranking Member Jerry F. Costello (D-IL) said: “While today’s … Continue Reading
September 27, 2012Reps. Edwards, Eshoo, Markey: Hacking Threats to Implantable Medical Devices Call For Improved FDA Oversight
(Washington, DC) - Reacting to the findings of a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report they requested last year, three senior House Democrats today are calling on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to improve its oversight of implantable wireless medical devices. In recent demonstrations, computer security experts revealed that some implantable medical devices can be remotely controlled by a hacker, posing potentially serious health risks to patients. The GAO report, “MEDICAL … Continue Reading
September 20, 2012Ranking Member Johnson's Statement on H.R. 4158
Mr.Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4158, To Confirm Full Ownership Rights for Certain United States Astronauts to Artifacts from the Astronauts’ Space Missions Act. This is a necessary bill which will protect our iconic early astronauts from needless harassment. This bill will ensure that any U.S. Astronaut who participated in the historic Mercury, Gemini, or Apollo programs will be able to keep the space artifacts which are still in their possession from those missions. At the time of … Continue Reading
September 17, 2012Ranking Member Johnson Congratulates the Golden Goose Awardees for Their Groundbreaking Research Accomplishments
(Washington, DC) - Last Thursday, the ceremony for the first annual Golden Goose Awards was held. The awards, originally conceived by Congressman Jim Cooper (D-TN), were created to highlight seemingly obscure research efforts supported by federal funds that have resulted in economic and societal benefits. Dr. Osamu Shimomura, Dr. Martin Chalfie and Dr. Roget Tsien were honored for their discovery of green fluorescent protein while seeking to identify why jellyfish grow green. Green fluorescent … Continue Reading
September 14, 2012Committee Democrats Raise Concerns about NASA’s Commercial Crew Program
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing to examine the latest developments in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Commercial Crew Program, recent changes in NASA’s acquisition strategy and the ramifications of those changes, and NASA’s ability to execute this strategy. Testifying before the Committee were Mr. William H. Gerstenmaier, the Associate Administrator of the Human Exploration and Operations Mission … Continue Reading
September 12, 2012Subcommittee Democrats Emphasize the Need for Stable Funding for NASA’s SLS and Orion Programs
(Washington, DC) - Today, on the fiftieth anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s historic speech at Rice University about America’s challenge to land a man on the moon, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee’s Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a hearing to examine the ongoing development of the Space Launch System (SLS) and the Orion Crew Capsule and to discuss how these human exploration technologies can also be used for future scientific missions. Testifying before … Continue Reading
September 11, 2012Ranking Member Johnson's Statement on Government Spending Accountability Act of 2012 (H.R. 4631)
Mr. Speaker, I think we can all agree that federal agencies need to be wise and judicious in their use of travel funds, and that past abuses, while very much the exception, were a wake-up call for us to exercise stricter oversight of taxpayer dollars. The Administration itself, through the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has also sought to curb these abuses by instituting new travel caps and new reporting requirements on all agency travel and I applaud them for taking this seriously. On … Continue Reading