Committee Approves Bipartisan Cybersecurity Legislation
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a markup of H.R. 2096, the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2011. H.R. 2096 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 Foundation (NSF); authorize scholarships for students in the cybersecurity field in exchange for federal … Continue Reading
July 19, 2011Ranking Member Johnson's Floor Statement on the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act
FLOOR STATEMENT BY HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON ON THE “CUT, CAP, AND BALANCE ACT” (H.R. 2560) Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 2560, the Republican “Cut, Cap, and Balance Act,” which is before us today. I am sorry that the House of Representatives has to spend any time on this deeply flawed piece of legislation instead of dealing with the host of serious issues facing our nation. I have limited time, so I am not going to try today to cover all of the significant problems … Continue Reading
July 19, 2011Ranking Member Johnson Voices Opposition to the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act
(Washington, DC) - Today, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee voiced her strong opposition to H.R. 2560, the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act of 2011. H.R. 2560 cuts total spending by $111 billion in FY12 alone; requires that Federal spending as a percentage of GDP be cut significantly; enforces FY 2012 spending caps with sequestration; and makes raising the debt ceiling contingent on Congress passing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the … Continue Reading
July 15, 2011Subcommittee Marks Up HABs Bill, But Bill Misses the Mark
(Washington, DC) - Yesterday, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a markup of H.R. 2484, the Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2011. H.R. 2484 would implement research strategies and provide for a comprehensive action plan to reduce and address Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and hypoxia. This legislation is, in some ways, similar to H.R. 3650, Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and … Continue Reading
July 13, 2011Subcommittee Approves Border Security Legislation; Democrats Concerned over Cuts to DHS’s S&T Directorate
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a markup of H.R. 2463, the Border Security Technology Innovation Act of 2011. The legislation would codify ongoing research on border and maritime security technologies at the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate. The Border Security Technology Innovation Act was originally introduced in the 110th Congress by Chairman … Continue Reading
July 12, 2011Science Democrats Urge Administration To Let NASA Get On With Developing the Nation's Future Human Space Exploration Vehicles
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing entitled, “A Review of NASA’s Space Launch System.” The purpose of the hearing was for the NASA Administrator to explain why the agency has failed to reach a decision on the architecture for the Space Launch System, what analyses still need to be completed, and when final acquisition decisions will be made. Three successive NASA Authorization Acts since 2005, enacted by both Republican and … Continue Reading
July 08, 2011Ranking Member Miller Calls E15 Hearing a Missed Opportunity
(Washington, DC) - Yesterday the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing titled, “Hitting the Ethanol Blend Wall: Examining the Science on E15.” The stated purpose of the hearing was to examine the scientific and technical issues related to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent regulatory decision to allow the sale of E15 into commerce. Ethanol is a renewable fuel that can be converted from a variety of biomass … Continue Reading
July 08, 2011Ranking Member Johnson Congratulates NASA on Successful Shuttle Launch
Earlier today, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) successfully launched its final Space Shuttle flight. Space Shuttle Atlantis has now flown 33 times and traveled 124 million miles since its maiden flight in October 1985. Commenting on today’s launch, Committee Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) congratulated NASA and the Shuttle team, and wished Atlantis’s crew a safe and successful mission. She also reflected on the Space Shuttle’s three decades of … Continue Reading
June 22, 2011Recent U.S. Extreme Climatic Events Underscore the Need for NOAA Climate Service
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing titled, “Examining NOAA’s Climate Service Proposal”. The hearing reviewed the Administration’s reorganization proposal to create a climate service line office at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Testifying before the Committee were Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Administrator, NOAA, and Mr. Robert Winokur, Deputy Oceanographer, Department of the Navy. New Federal analysis marks the … Continue Reading
June 22, 2011Johnson and Pascrell Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Provide Vital Support to Firefighters and First Responders
(Washington, DC) - Today, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Congressman Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), the bipartisan co-chairs of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, and 9 other House Members introduced H.R. 2269, the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2011,to reauthorize programs that assist firefighters, first responders, and local communities nationwide with the equipment, training, and personnel needed to protect the public from fires and other emergencies. Fires remain a serious … Continue Reading
June 16, 2011Committee Democrats Congratulate ExploraVision Contest Winners; Stress the Importance of STEM Education
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing titled, “STEM Education in Action: Learning Today…Leading Tomorrow”. The hearing is the first in a series to highlight Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education activities. This hearing focused on the winning teams from the ExploraVision contest, a science competition for grades K-12 in which students are asked to research a technology of their choice and explore what that … Continue Reading
June 15, 2011Department Of Energy Programs Critical For U.S. In Global Race For Clean Energy Technology
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearingto review the Department of Energy’s (DOE) clean technology programs. Testifying before the Committee were representatives from DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E), the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), and the Loan Program Office (LPO). In his 2011 State of the Union Address, President Obama made clean energy … Continue Reading
June 15, 2011Subcommittee on Investigations & Oversight Examines Rare Earths and Critical Materials Issues
(Washington, DC) -- The House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittees on Investigations & Oversight held a hearing yesterday on The Federal Perspective on a National Critical Materials Strategy. They have strange names: neodymium, europium, cerium and terbium. They compose a group of seventeen chemical elements known as rare earths that have unusual physical properties and are essential in lasers, magnets and batteries. Without them your cell phone, iPod or MP3 player … Continue Reading
June 14, 2011Subcommittee Democrats Stress the Value of Surface Transportation RD&T
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearingto review the research, development, and technology (RD&T) activities of the Department of Transportation (DOT). The hearing also focused on what research priorities and provisions should be incorporated into the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) reauthorization. Subcommittee Ranking Member … Continue Reading
June 02, 2011Important Social Science Research the Focus of Subcommittee Hearing
(Washington, DC) Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a hearing titled, “Social, Behavioral, and Economic Science Research: Oversight of the Need for Federal Investments and Priorities for Funding.” The hearing examined the need for Federal investments in the social, behavioral, and economic (SBE) sciences and the benefits of this type of research to our nation. It also reviewed the research funding and fiscal year … Continue Reading
June 01, 2011Subcommittee Democrats Urge Continued Investment in Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research
Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a legislative hearing to examine harmful algal blooms (HABs) and hypoxia research and response needs. Subcommittee Members heard testimony on the draft legislation, the Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 2011, which would establish a National Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia program and provide for comprehensive regional action plans to address and reduce HABs and … Continue Reading
June 01, 2011GAO Issues Report on Mismanaging Critical Isotopes and the Energy Department’s Role in the Helium-3 Crisis
(Washington, DC) -- The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report yesterday on the government’s flawed management of critical isotopes, particularly Helium-3, a non-radioactive gas that plays a crucial role in the fields of nuclear security, scientific and medical research, and the oil and gas industries. The report was requested by Congressman Brad Miller, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy & Environment and Ms. Donna F. Edwards, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on … Continue Reading
May 26, 2011Subcommittee Democrats Seek Assurance of Reliable and Timely Commercial Cargo Capability for the International Space Station
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a hearing to review the status of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) commercial cargo initiative and the overall readiness of commercial cargo providers to support the International Space Station (ISS). Members heard testimony and questioned witnesses from NASA, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and representatives from the two companies that have … Continue Reading
May 25, 2011Subcommittees Examine Federal Cybersecurity R&D, Lay Groundwork for Legislation
Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittees on Technology and Innovation and Research and Science Education held a joint hearing to review federal cybersecurity research and development (R&D) efforts with witnesses from the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program (NITRD), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Specifically, … Continue Reading
May 13, 2011Democrats Weigh the True Costs and Risks of Nuclear Energy Post-Fukushima
Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittees on Investigations & Oversight and Energy & Environment held a joint hearing on Nuclear Energy Risk Management. There are 104 operating nuclear power plants in the United States that provide roughly 20- percent of the nation’s electricity. No new nuclear power plants have been built in the U.S. for the past thirty years, since the Three Mile Island nuclear accident. Over the last few years, there has been a renewed … Continue Reading