Committee 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
September 08, 2011GAO Issues Report on Pharmaceuticals in U.S. Drinking Water
(Washington, DC) -- The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report today on pharmaceuticals in our Nation’s drinking water supply. The report, requested by Congressman Brad Miller, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment and Congressman Edward Markey, top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee and a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, shows that a substantial number of pharmaceuticals are present throughout large segments of … Continue Reading
July 28, 2011Committee Democrats Oppose H.R. 2484, Cite Unfunded Mandates
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a markup of H.R. 2484, the Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2011. The bill passed out of Committee, but with unanimous opposition from the Committee Democrats. At the markup, Committee Democrats argued that action is urgently needed to implement research strategies and action plans to better characterize and respond to these harmful blooms and hypoxic events, but that … Continue Reading
July 27, 2011Ranking Member Johnson Releases Staff Report on NSF Spending
Today, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, the Ranking Minority Member of the Committee, released a staff report on the National Science Foundation (NSF). That report critically evaluates a recent Senate staff report on the NSF which claimed that the agency had wasted or mismanaged $3 billion in federal funds. Ms. Johnson said, “A report was recently released by Senator Coburn’s office that claimed that NSF had mismanaged or wasted $3 billion. If true, that would represent a shocking … Continue Reading
July 26, 2011Subcommittee Reviews NSF’s Merit Review Process
(Washington, DC) - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a hearing titled, “The Merit Review Process: Ensuring Limited Federal Resources Are Invested in the Best Science.” The hearing examined the merit review grant award process, primarily at the National Science Foundation (NSF), and its effect on federally funded scientific research. Testifying before the Subcommittee were Dr. Cora Marrett, Deputy Director, NSF; … Continue Reading
July 26, 2011Congressman Brad Miller Welcomes Decision to Abandon Troubled DHS Radiation Monitoring Program
(Washington, DC) -- Today, Congressman Brad Miller applauded the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) for finally terminating its long troubled and very costly Advanced Spectroscopic Portal (ASP) radiation detection program. “The ASP program has been one of the most technically troubled, poorly managed programs I have ever seen,” said Mr. Miller, “and I applaud DNDO Director Warren Stern’s decision to abandon this flawed and expensive program.” The ASP program was originally created to … Continue Reading
July 21, 2011Ranking Member Johnson Salutes NASA’s Space Shuttle Program
Early this morning, Space Shuttle Atlantis landed at the Kennedy Space Center, closing out a storied 30-year program. Commenting on today’s successful landing, Committee Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) congratulated the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), its civil servant and contractor Shuttle team, and the Atlantis crew—Chris Ferguson, commander; Doug Hurley, pilot; and mission specialists Rex Walheim and Sandy Magnus—for a job well done. Congresswoman … Continue Reading
July 21, 2011Committee 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