Democrats Emphasize the Need for a Clear Plan for Utilization of the International Space Station
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing entitled, “Securing the Promise of the ISS - Challenges and Opportunities.” The purpose of the hearing was to review NASA’s plans for effectively maintaining and utilizing the International Space Station (ISS) through 2020, including how the agency will deal with resource and access constraints that limit the scientific utilization of the ISS. Testifying before the Committee were Mr. William H. … Continue Reading
March 28, 2012Committee Democrats Appoint New Ranking Member and Fill Subcommittee Vacancies
(Washington, DC) - The Democratic Caucus of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology selected Rep. Jerry F. Costello (D-IL) to serve as Ranking Member for the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics and selected Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) to serve on the Subcommittee on Research and Science Education and the Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation. The changes were approved by the Full Committee today. Mr. Costello had been serving as Acting Ranking Member of the Space and … Continue Reading
March 27, 2012Subcommittee Democrats Focus on Policies That Foster Innovation and Competitiveness
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing entitled, “Fostering the U.S. Competitive Edge: Examining the Effect of Federal Policies on Competition, Innovation, and Job Growth.” Testifying before the Committee were Dr. Ron Cohen, President and CEO of Acorda Therapeutics, Mr. Mike Truitt, Vice President of Ludlum Measurements Inc., Mr. Thomas Brandt, Jr., Senior Vice President and CFO of … Continue Reading
March 20, 2012Subcommittee Reviews Budget of FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a hearing to review the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 budget request and to examine the agency’s priorities and challenges. Testifying before the Subcommittee were Dr. George C. Nield, the Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation at FAA, and Captain Wilbur C. Trafton (USN … Continue Reading
March 08, 2012Subcommittee Examines Management of NSF’s Large Facilities
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a hearing to examine the management and operations of Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC) projects at the National Science Foundation (NSF). As the primary federal agency supporting basic science research, NSF plays a key role in the construction and operation of major research facilities that extend the boundaries of science, … Continue Reading
March 06, 2012Subcommittee Reviews FY2013 Budget Request for EPA and NOAA
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing to review the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2013 budget requests for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Science and Technology activities at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Testifying before the Committee were the Administrator of NOAA, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, and the Acting Assistant Administrator of the Office of … Continue Reading
March 06, 2012Subcommittee Reviews NIST’s FY2013 Budget Request
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing to review the Administration’s fiscal year (FY) 2013 budget request for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Testifying before the Subcommittee was the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and Director of NIST, Dr. Patrick Gallagher. “Although NIST is a relatively small agency, it is an extremely important player in … Continue Reading
March 01, 2012Committee Reviews DOE’s FY2013 R&D Budget
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Committee held a hearing to review the Administration’s fiscal year 2013 budget request for the Department of Energy’s (DOE) research and development (R&D) portfolio. This includes activities within the DOE Office of Science, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, Fossil Energy, Nuclear Energy, Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, and the Loan Guarantee Program … Continue Reading
February 29, 2012Subcommittee Examines the Role of Standards in Increasing U.S. Exports
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing entitled, “Promoting Innovation, Competition, and Economic Growth: Principles for Effective Domestic and International Standards Development.” The purpose of the hearing was to examine the principles of effective domestic and international standards development processes; analyze how the Federal government, industry and other organizations promote these … Continue Reading
February 28, 2012Subcommittee Reviews NSF’s FY 2013 Budget Request
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a hearing to review the Administration’s fiscal year (FY) 2013 budget request for the National Science Foundation (NSF). Testifying before the Subcommittee were Dr. Subra Suresh, Director of NSF, and Dr. Ray Bowen, Chairman of the National Science Board. “I feel strongly that we need to prioritize investments that deliver real returns to taxpayers and boost our … Continue Reading
February 20, 2012John Glenn and Earth orbit anniversary: America needs manned flight in space
Fifty years ago this week, on February 20, 1962, John Glenn Jr. became the first American to orbit the Earth, inspiring generations of citizens and setting the nation’s human space flight program on a path to a successful moon landing a mere seven years later. As ranking member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, I recently had the opportunity to participate in the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony honoring Mr. Glenn. Joining him as recipients of congressional medals … Continue Reading
February 17, 2012Committee Reviews President’s FY2013 R&D Budget Request
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing to review President Obama’s fiscal year 2013 (FY13) budget request for research and development (R&D), demonstration, and commercial application programs. Testifying before the Committee was Dr. John P. Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said in her opening … Continue Reading
February 14, 2012Ranking Member Johnson’s Statement on the President’s Proposed FY2013 Budget
(Washington, DC) - Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) offered the following statement after the release of the President’s Fiscal Year 2013 budget request: “Investments in education and research and development (R&D) are critical to fostering innovation and maintaining our nation’s competitive edge. That is why I am pleased to see that the President’s budget places a strong emphasis on these areas. Our federal agencies have a long history of investing in research and education … Continue Reading
February 08, 2012Committee Democrats and Blue Ribbon Commission Agree –“Consent-Based Approach” Needed to Identify Permanent Nuclear Waste Repository
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing entitled, “Assessing America’s Nuclear Future - A Review of the Blue Ribbon Commission’s Report to the Secretary of Energy.” The Committee also held a hearing in October 2011 entitled, “A Review of the Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future Draft Recommendations.” The Blue Ribbon Commission (BRC) was formed by the Secretary of Energy at the request of President Obama to conduct a … Continue Reading
February 07, 2012Committee Considers Networking and Information Technology R&D and Ethanol Bills
(Washington, DC) - Today, the Committee on Science, Space and Technology held a markup of H.R. 3834, Advancing America’s Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Act of 2012 and H.R. 3199 to provide a Comprehensive Assessment of the Scientific and Technical Research on the Implications of the Use of Mid-Level Ethanol Blends. The Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) program is a multi-agency research initiative designed to ensure continued … Continue Reading
February 03, 2012Subcommittee Holds Second Day of Hearings on EPA’s R&D Activities with More Balanced Panel
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held the second day of the second hearing in a series of hearings on the reorganization and reauthorization of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) research activities through the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act (ERDDA). The hearing was entitled, “Fostering Quality Science at the EPA: Perspectives on Common Sense Reform - Day … Continue Reading
February 01, 2012Democrats Call for More Research and Transparency into Natural Gas Drilling Impacts on Public Health
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing entitled, “Fractured Science - Examining EPA’s Approach to Ground Water Research: The Pavillion Analysis.” The stated purpose of the hearing was to examine the methodology, protocols, and guidelines used by EPA in conducting the Pavillion Study. Before the hearing began, camera crews who sought to cover the hearing were prevented from filming, including … Continue Reading
January 25, 2012Ranking Member Johnson's Statement on the State of the Union Address
Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) made the following statement after the President delivered his State of the Union address last night: “As Ranking Member of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, I was pleased to hear the President call for investments in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, basic research and education. I too believe that these are essential to the creation of an innovation economy. One need only look at the benefits our nation has gained from past … Continue Reading
January 24, 2012Democrats Find ARPA-E Progressing Well—Take Testimony From the GAO And Energy's IG
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight held a hearing entitled “A Review of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E.)” The stated purpose of the hearing was to review ARPA-E’s performance and evaluate recent reports on the agency from the Department of Energy General (DOE IG) and the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Additionally, the Republican Committee staff released their own staff … Continue Reading
January 09, 2012GAO Report Released on the EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System
Today, Congressman Brad Miller (D-NC), Ranking Member of the Energy and Environment, released a new GAO report on the EPA’s science-based chemical assessment program. That program, the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS), provides basic assessments to states and other agencies regarding the toxic risks associated with exposure to particular chemicals. During the Bush Administration this EPA science program was crippled by White House official’s intent on forcing EPA to endlessly revise … Continue Reading