Lofgren, Ross, Foushee Statement after IG Confirms Trump-era Interference with EPA PFBS Assessment
Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a report on alleged political interference in the Agency’s January 2021 perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) toxicity assessment. The OIG found that Trump Administration political appointees directed a last-minute re-analysis of the assessment that contradicted the best available, peer-reviewed science. This political interference delayed publication by months and led to an insufficiently … Continue Reading
March 10, 2023Ranking Member Lofgren Applauds Innovation, Fusion Funding Gains in President Biden’s Budget Request
(Washington, DC)--Yesterday, President Biden released his Budget Request for FY 24. The Budget includes substantial increases for scientific efforts under the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s jurisdiction. “I’m encouraged by the promise represented in the President’s Budget Request released yesterday,” said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). “I’m especially encouraged about the strong funding the President has called for to support … Continue Reading
March 03, 2023Science Committee Minority Leaders Lofgren and Stevens Applaud Biden-Harris Administration National Cybersecurity Strategy
(Washington, DC)—Yesterday, the Biden-Harris Administration released its National Cybersecurity Strategy. The Strategy comes after Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Members advanced support for American cybersecurity efforts through provisions included in the CHIPS and Science Act. “We are at a critical time in our cybersecurity landscape, and we must do all we can to bolster Americans’ security and resilience and address pressing technology challenges,” said … Continue Reading
February 28, 2023Ranking Member Lofgren Celebrates CHIPS and Science Act Milestone Funding Opportunity
(Washington, DC)—Today, the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) launched its first CHIPS for America funding opportunity. Congress made available $39 billion in incentives to support domestic semiconductor manufacturing as part of the CHIPS and Science Act, which was led in the House by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and signed into law by President Biden last summer. This is the first of three funding opportunities … Continue Reading
February 20, 2023Science Committee Leaders Statement on East Palestine Chemical Crisis
Last Thursday, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan visited the site of the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The February 3 derailment resulted in the release of toxic vinyl chloride. Residents were advised to evacuate for multiple days during a controlled burn, and the town was under a water advisory. Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee Ranking Member Valerie Foushee (D-NC), Environment … Continue Reading
February 14, 2023Ranking Member Lofgren Applauds NASEM Report Calling for Increased Efforts to Support Diversity and Inclusion in STEM
(Washington, DC) – Today, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) published a consensus study on “Advancing Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in STEM Organizations.” The study, which was requested by former Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson in 2020, reviewed the literature on bias and racism in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) workplaces and approaches to increase racial and ethnic diversity, equity … Continue Reading
February 09, 2023Ranking Member Lofgren Applauds DOE Moving Forward with CHIPS and Science Authorized Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation
(Washington, DC)—Today, the Department of Energy (DOE) released a Request for Information (RFI) seeking public and stakeholder input on the Department’s first-ever agency-related Foundation. The Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation (FESI) was authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act, led by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. The Foundation will help to fill the gap between the government-funded research performed at the lab bench and deploying clean energy … Continue Reading
February 08, 2023Ranking Member Lofgren Announces Organization of Science Committee Democrats
(Washington, DC)—Today the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology organized. The Ranking Members and Members of each Subcommittee are listed below. “I’m excited to officially announce our Subcommittee organization,” said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). “I’m confident that our Subcommittee Ranking Members will be great leaders and will help to continue to foster the bipartisanship this Committee is so well known for. I’m very excited to work … Continue Reading
February 07, 2023Ranking Member Lofgren Echoes President Biden’s Call to Support Science in SOTU
(Washington, DC)—This evening, President Joe Biden delivered his State of the Union Address to a Joint Session of Congress. Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren attended the speech, and was joined by her guest, Dr. Tammy Ma, a plasma physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s (LLNL) National Ignition Facility (NIF) and lead for LLNL’s fusion energy initiative. “This evening, President Biden reaffirmed our commitment to press forward with our greatest endeavors to … Continue Reading
January 27, 2023Ranking Member Lofgren Welcomes Democratic Members to the Science Committee
(Washington, DC)—This morning, fifteen Democratic Members’ appointments to serve on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee were approved. As of this morning, the roster for the Minority of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology is as follows: Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA) Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) Rep. Deborah Ross (D-NC) Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-IL) Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-OR) … Continue Reading
January 26, 2023Ranking Member Lofgren Statement on NASA Day of Remembrance
(Washington, DC)—Today is NASA’s annual Day of Remembrance, a day to honor members of the NASA community who lost their lives in the pursuit of advancing our nation’s exploration of space. Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) made the following statement. “Today we pause to remember the brave men and women of NASA who made the ultimate sacrifice while working to further our nation’s endeavors in space. Space exploration is a noble effort that can advance our … Continue Reading
January 13, 2023Ranking Member Lofgren Statement on NASA and NOAA 2022 Climate Data Assessments
(Washington, DC)—Yesterday, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released their assessments of 2022 global climate data. According to both reports, Earth continues its warming trend. Earlier this week, NOAA released their 2022 U.S. Climate Analysis and Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters Report, which found that the U.S. was struck with 18 separate billion-dollar disasters. “The 2022 … Continue Reading
January 13, 2023Lucas and Lofgren Introduce Bipartisan Bill on Commercial Remote Sensing
(Washington, DC) - This week, House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) and Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) introduced a bipartisan bill to support commercial remote sensing activities in the U.S. Remote sensing uses data collected from satellites to produce images of Earth, which can be used to improve operations in a wide variety of industries and advance our understanding of the environment. The bill renews an expired requirement for the … Continue Reading
January 11, 2023H.R.290 - Commercial Remote Sensing Amendment Act of 2023
Bill Status: Passed House Last Action: January 31, 2023 Legislation Commercial Remote Sensing Amendment Act of … Continue Reading
December 23, 2022Rep. Lofgren Selected to Lead Democrats on House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
(Washington, DC) – Today, Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30) and Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-19) reacted to Lofgren’s selection by the House Democratic Caucus to be the Ranking Member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee in the 118th Congress. “I’d like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren on being selected to serve as the Ranking Member of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,” … Continue Reading
December 22, 2022Chairwoman Johnson Introduces Bill to Advance Buildings Technology R&D and Lower Emissions
(Dallas, TX)—Yesterday, Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) introduced the Building Technologies Research and Development Act. This bill would establish a research, development, demonstration, and commercial application program at the Department of Energy (DOE) related to building technologies that would improve building efficiency, develop smart grid interactive buildings, and improve advanced building construction and retrofits, among other things. “Addressing the climate … Continue Reading
December 21, 2022Chairwoman Johnson Applauds Enactment of Law to Prevent and Advance Knowledge of Major Fires
(Dallas, TX)—This week, President Biden signed into law H.R. 7077, the Empowering the U.S. Fire Administration Act. This bipartisan law authorizes the U.S. Fire Administration to conduct on-site investigations of major fires. The law will help bring to bear the expertise of the U.S. Fire Administration following major fires to contribute to what we can learn from these fires and how we can prevent them from occurring in the future. The Act was marked up in the Science Committee earlier … Continue Reading
December 15, 2022Chairwoman Johnson Applauds House Passage of PRECIP Act
(Washington, DC)—Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1437, which includes the Providing Research and Estimates of Changes in Precipitation (PRECIP) Act. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation addresses the destructive and deadly impacts of extreme precipitation across the country by directing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to provide comprehensive and regularly updated Federal precipitation information. The PRECIP Act was introduced … Continue Reading
December 14, 2022Committee Members Beyer and Norcross Introduce Legislation To Establish And Clarify Space Situational Awareness Roles For Civilian Agencies
(Washington, DC)—Today, Chairman Don Beyer (D-VA) of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, along with Congressman Donald Norcross (D-NJ), introduced the Space Safety and Situational Awareness Transition Act of 2022. Space situational awareness (SSA) provides a foundation for understanding where space objects are now, predicting their future trajectories, and evaluating the risk of potential collisions to operating satellites and human spaceflight safety. SSA is … Continue Reading
December 13, 2022Committee Members Congratulate NIF on Breakthrough Achievement of Fusion Ignition
(Washington, DC)—Today, the Department of Energy announced a major breakthrough in fusion energy. On December 5, 2022, researchers at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) of Lawrence Livermore National Lab (LLNL) conducted an experiment that yielded the first-ever net-gain of fusion energy. In August of 2021, NIF reached an energy yield of 1.3 megajoules (MJ). In last Monday’s experiment, they reached more than 3 MJ. Fusion “ignition” refers to the moment when the … Continue Reading