Committee 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
December 15, 2011Ranking Member Johnson Reacts to NASA’s Announcement on Commercial Crew Acquistion Approach
(Washington, DC) - Today, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced that it will be changing its commercial crew acquisition approach to make use of Space Act Agreements (SAAs) instead of its planned Federal Acquisition (FAR)-based approach. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) offered the following statement: “While I am sympathetic to the difficulties NASA is experiencing following receipt of its appropriations for FY 2012, in light of NASA’s acknowledgement … Continue Reading
December 14, 2011Ranking Member Johnson Applauds Inclusion of SBIR Provisions in National Defense Authorization Act
(Washington, DC) - Recently, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) was appointed as a member of the conference committee of Senate and House lawmakers selected to reconcile the House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and come up with a final compromise version of the legislation. Monday night, the conference committee approved its conference report. The conference report is expected to be voted on by the House and Senate later this week. Following … Continue Reading
December 14, 2011Committee Democrats Introduce Public Safety Broadband Legislation
(Washington, DC) - Today, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Committee Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Technology and Innovation Subcommittee Ranking Member Donna F. Edwards (D-MD) introduced the Public Safety Broadband Network Enabling Act (H.R. 3642). The legislation will provide $300 million in proceeds from the auction of spectrum to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for research, development, and standards activities that will enable to … Continue Reading
December 07, 2011Subcommittee Democrats Seek Bipartisan Legislation for Rare Earths and Critical Materials
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing entitled, “Energy Critical Elements: Identifying Research Needs and Strategic Priorities.” The stated purpose of the hearing was to discuss research needs and priorities relating to Energy Critical Elements (ECE) and Rare Earth Elements (REE), and to explore potential legislative approaches. Rare earth minerals are a group of seventeen elements with unique … Continue Reading
December 06, 2011Committee Democrats Look Forward to James Webb Space Telescope’s Scientific Potential
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing entitled “The Next Great Observatory: Assessing the James Webb Space Telescope.” The purpose of the hearing was to receive testimony from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and scientific and industry stakeholders on the progress and remaining challenges associated with completing the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) by the target launch date of October 2018. As a next … Continue Reading
December 02, 2011Ranking Member Johnson Honors 2011 Nobel Laureates
(Washington, DC) -Recently, researchers in the fields of chemistry, physics, medicine or physiology, and economics received the 2011 Nobel Prize for their contributions to the sciences. Of the nine winners in these fields, eight are either from the U.S. or were working in the U.S. at the time of their award winning research. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) met with the 2011 Nobel Laureates who were attending a reception in their honor yesterday at the Blair House at the … Continue Reading
December 01, 2011Committee Democrats Oppose Republicans’ Bill that Reduces Funding for Hazards Programs
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology considered H.R. 3479, the Natural Hazards Risk Reduction Act of 2011 to reauthorize the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) and the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program (NWIRP). “This Committee has an important role to play in helping Americans prepare for and recover from tornadoes and other natural disasters by facilitating the disaster resiliency of communities,” Ranking Member Eddie … Continue Reading
November 30, 2011Ranking Member Johnson Honors the Service of Gabriel “Gabe” Zimmerman
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House of Representatives considered House Resolution 364, designating room HVC 215 of the Capitol Visitor Center as the "Gabriel Zimmerman Meeting Room.” On January 8, 2011, a gunman opened fire outside of a grocery store where Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) was holding a “Congress on your Corner” event in Tucson, Arizona. Six people were killed and 13 people were wounded. One of the victims, Mr. Gabriel “Gabe” Zimmerman, Ms. Giffords’ Director of Community … Continue Reading
November 30, 2011Subcommittee Receives an Update on the Recovery Act
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight held a hearing entitled, “Stimulus Oversight: An Update on Accountability, Transparency, and Performance.” The purpose of the hearing was to receive testimony on the accountability, transparency, and performance issues associated with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), commonly referred to as the Recovery Act. On Feb. 13, 2009, Congress passed ARRA to … Continue Reading
November 17, 2011Subcommittee Democrats Call Hearing a Missed Opportunity to Learn from Witnesses About EPA’s Research Enterprise
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing entitled, “Fostering Quality Science at the EPA: The Need for Common Sense Reform.” The purpose of the hearing was to examine the ability of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) research enterprise to meet the agency’s mission to protect public health and the environment. This is expected to be the first hearing in a series on the reorganization and … Continue Reading
November 16, 2011Ranking Member Johnson's Remarks for the Gold Medal Ceremony Honoring John Glenn and the Apollo 11 Crew
Thank you very much for this opportunity to make a few remarks as we honor these four distinguished Americans. You know, “hero” is an overused word, but I think that all who are assembled here today would not hesitate to describe our honorees as genuine national heroes. In fact, the only ones who might object to that description are our honorees themselves. In an age of inflated egos and self-promotion, each of these gentlemen has distinguished himself by his modesty, his competence, his … Continue Reading
November 15, 2011Subcommittee Democrats Oppose Republican Hazards Bill, Decry Inadequate Authorization Levels and Lack of Bipartisanship
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation considered a Committee Print of the Natural Hazards Risk Reduction Act of 2011. This bill would reauthorize the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) and the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program (NWIRP). Although Subcommittee Democrats applauded both NEHRP and NWIRP and expressed their strong support for reauthorizing the programs, they were … Continue Reading
November 15, 2011Subcommittee Democrats Press for Clear Administration Commitment to Joint NASA-European Space Agency Mars Initiative
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a hearing entitled, “Exploring Mars and Beyond: What’s Next for U.S. Planetary Science?” The purpose of the hearing was to receive testimony from witnesses representing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on the prospects for the future exploration of Mars and … Continue Reading
November 03, 2011Subcommittee Discusses STEM Professionals as Volunteers, Mentors, and Teachers in K-12 STEM Education
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a hearing entitled, “STEM in Action: Transferring knowledge from the Workplace to the Classroom.” The purpose of the hearing was to discuss the role that science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) professionals can play in improving K-12 STEM education. The hearing focused on approaches and programs that encourage and assist STEM professionals who want … Continue Reading