Ranking Member Johnson Welcomes Swearing-in of Commerce Secretary Bryson
(Washington, DC) - Last Friday, John Bryson was sworn in as U.S. Secretary of Commerce. In response, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) released the following statement: “As the Ranking Member of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, I look forward to working with Secretary Bryson on policies and programs that will strengthen our economy and create new jobs. The Department of Commerce plays a key role in spurring innovation and competitiveness, protecting life and property, … Continue Reading
October 21, 2011Democratic Members Ask FAA to Identify Steps it is Taking to Ensure Reliable Maintenance and Repair of Composite Aircraft
(Washington, DC) - Yesterday, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, Ranking Member, House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, Ms. Donna F. Edwards, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, and Mr. Jerry Costello, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Aviation, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, sent a letter to the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Mr. J. Randolph Babbitt, regarding concerns raised in a newly released Government … Continue Reading
October 21, 2011Ranking Member Johnson Reacts to Recent YouCut Announcement
(Washington, DC) -Majority Leader Eric Cantor recently launched the second phase of his YouCut project which asks people to visit his website weekly and vote on a selection of line items in the budget to cut. Rep. Joe Walsh announced last week’s “winner”, the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Polar Arctic Research Grant Program. The YouCut website also states that Mr. Walsh will be introducing legislation to cut this program. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) made the following … Continue Reading
October 13, 2011Democrats Question Government R&D Role In Mature, Commercially-Ready Coal Technologies
(Washington, DC) - Today the Energy and Environment Subcommittee of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing entitled, “Advancing Coal Research and Development for a Secure Energy Future.” The stated purpose of this hearing was to examine current Department of Energy (DOE) coal research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) activities and identify future coal RD&D opportunities and priorities. Members heard from three witnesses representing the coal industry, a … Continue Reading
October 13, 2011Ranking Member Johnson Sends Letter to the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction
Washington, DC [October 13, 2011]—Today, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) sent a letter to Congressman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the Co-Chairs of the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction, urging the Committee to take into account the critically important role that federal investments in science, technology, and STEM education play in keeping the United States a global economic and technological leader, reducing our debt over the long term, creating new … Continue Reading
October 13, 2011Democratic Members Defend Science, Federal Scientists at Subcommittee Hearing
(Washington, DC) -Today, at a hearing titled, “The Endangered Species Act: Reviewing the Nexus of Science and Policy,” the Democratic Members of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee examined the problem of political interference with science at the Fish and Wildlife Service. Witnesses before the Subcommittee included Judge Craig Manson, former Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, and Mr. Douglas … Continue Reading
October 12, 2011Subcommittee Democrats Highlight Need to Apply Lessons from Russian Soyuz Failure to Planned Commercial Crew Transportation Initiative
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics of the Committee on Space, Science, and Technology held a hearing entitled, “The International Space Station: Lessons from the Soyuz Rocket Failure and Return to Flight”. The purpose of the hearing was to review the impacts of the Russian Soyuz launch vehicle failure on the safe operation and utilization of the International Space Station (ISS), as well as the current status of the Russian Federal Space Agency’s accident … Continue Reading
October 12, 2011Ranking Member Johnson Reacts to Rejection of Fire Grants Amendment
Today, Ranking Member Johnson’s legislation, the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2011 (H.R. 2269), was offered as an amendment by Rep. Higgins (D-NY) to the Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 during consideration of the legislation by the House Committee on Homeland Security. Unfortunately, the amendment was rejected along party-lines by a vote of 14 - 19. H.R. 2269 reauthorizes two important programs, the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) and the … Continue Reading
October 12, 2011Subcommittee Democrats Examine Successful STEM Education Practices
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a hearing entitled, “What Makes for Successful K-12 STEM Education: A Closer Look at Effective STEM Education Approaches.” The purpose of the hearing was to examine the findings of a recently released National Research Council (NRC) Report, Successful K-12 STEM Education: Identifying Effective Approaches in Science, Technology, Engineering, and … Continue Reading
October 07, 2011GAO Report Raises Concerns About DHS Oversight of Its Data Mining Programs and Violations of Privacy Protocols
(Washington, DC) -- Congressman Brad Miller, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy & Environment and Ms. Donna F. Edwards, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Investigations & Oversight today released a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report that reviewed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) data mining programs for both their effectiveness and compliance with privacy policies. The GAO report, “DATA MINING: DHS Needs to Improve Executive Oversight of Systems Supporting … Continue Reading
October 04, 2011Democrats say EPA Safeguards Speak for Themselves
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing entitled, “Quality Science for Quality Air.” The purpose of the hearing was to examine the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) process for setting standards under the Clean Air Act. The Clean Air Act (CAA) defines EPA's responsibilities for protecting and improving the nation's air quality. According to the American Lung Association, the CAA prevented an … Continue Reading
September 23, 2011Committee Democrats See Some Progress on JPSS, Urge Stable Funding
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight and Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a joint hearing entitled, “From NPOESS to JPSS: An Update on the Nation’s Restructured Polar Weather Satellite Program.” Testifying before the Subcommittees were Dr. Kathryn Sullivan from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Mr. Christopher Scolese from the National Aeronautics and Space … Continue Reading
September 22, 2011Committee Democrats Urge Sustained Support for Renewed Human Space Exploration Program
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing entitled, “NASA Human Spaceflight Past, Present, and Future: Where Do We Go From Here?” The purpose of the hearing was to assess NASA’s human space exploration goals, plans and capabilities, and examine related issues affecting the Nation’s leadership in space and the state of the aerospace industrial base. The last three NASA Authorization Acts exemplify Congress’s longstanding commitment to human … Continue Reading
September 22, 2011Subcommittee Reviews NITRD Program
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a hearing entitled, “Oversight of the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) Program and Priorities for the Future.” The NITRD program is a multi-agency research initiative designed to ensure continued U.S. leadership in computing systems, advanced networking, software, and other information technologies. The program has … Continue Reading
September 21, 2011Subcommittee Examines the Potential of Cloud Computing
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing entitled, “The Next IT Revolution?: Cloud Computing Opportunities and Challenges.” The purpose of the hearing was to examine the benefits and risks of cloud computing and to assess the appropriate role of the federal government in fostering the development and adoption of cloud computing services. Cloud computing, as defined by the National Institute of … Continue Reading
September 15, 2011Committee Democrats React to EPA’s Cross-State Air Pollution Rule
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR). CSAPR requires eastern and central states to significantly improve air quality by reducing power plant emissions that contribute to ground level ozone and fine particle pollution in "down-wind" states. It replaces the EPA's 2005 Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), which the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. … Continue Reading
September 14, 2011Science Committee Democrats Applaud NASA Heavy Lift Rocket Go-Ahead Decision
(Washington, DC) -- Today, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator Charles Bolden announced that the President had given NASA formal approval to move forward on development of the congressionally authorized Space Launch System (SLS), the next-generation launch vehicle system that will launch astronauts on future missions of exploration as well as providing a backup capability to support the operations of the International Space Station (ISS). In response, Ranking … Continue Reading
September 13, 2011Committee Democrats Stress Importance of the Federal Government’s Role in STEM Education Programs
(Washington, DC) - Today the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing entitled, “Stem in Action: Inspiring the Science and Engineering Workforce of Tomorrow.” The hearing was the second in a series to highlight science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education activities. The stated purpose of this hearing was to highlight public/private partnerships and initiatives that are successfully inspiring the future STEM workforce; however, the hearing primarily … Continue Reading
September 08, 2011Subcommittee Democrats Urge Finding a Way for LightSquared and GPS Users to Co-Exist
Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing to review the impacts of the proposed LightSquared network on federal science activities. LightSquared is a company that wants to add a nationwide broadband telecommunications network to its existing satellite phone services. Because the frequency bands assigned to LightSquared sit next to those designated for the Global Positioning System, commonly known as GPS, there has been concern that GPS services would be … Continue Reading
September 08, 2011Subcommittee Democrats Review Progress on Smart Grid
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing to review efforts to develop open standards for and drive innovation in smart grid technologies. As directed by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is coordinating the development of a common framework and interoperability standards for the smart grid. A witness from NIST … Continue Reading