Lucas and Lofgren Demand Clarity on Reports of Sexual Assault in the U.S. Antarctic Program
(Washington, DC)--Today, House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) and Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) sent a letter to the CEO of Leidos, Inc. raising concerns with the accuracy of information provided to Congress about reports of sexual assault in the United States Antarctic Program (USAP). Leidos is the prime contractor in charge of running USAP’s administrative and operational functions. The Antarctic Program has had ongoing and … Continue Reading
April 28, 2023Science Committee Members Introduce Two Bipartisan DOE Partnership Bills
(Washington, DC)--Yesterday, House Science Committee Members introduced two bipartisan bills to further strengthen and secure two of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) important interagency research partnerships. DOE is a global leader in energy technology development and science innovation with a wide range of assets, including 17 world-class national laboratories and 28 scientific user facilities. By partnering together and combining resources, DOE and agencies like NASA and the … Continue Reading
April 22, 2023Ranking Member Lofgren Applauds Biden Executive Order to Advance Environmental Justice
(Washington, DC)—Yesterday, President Biden signed an Executive Order to further his mission of advancing environmental justice while addressing the climate crisis. The executive order will create a new Office of Environmental Justice in the White House, direct agencies to address knowledge gaps on the health impacts of pollution, and will require agencies to notify nearby communities in the event of a release of toxic substances from a federal facility. “Historically … Continue Reading
April 21, 2023Speaker McCarthy’s Extreme Debt Limit Bill Will Surrender U.S. Competitiveness to China
(Washington, DC)—This week, Speaker McCarthy laid out the Republican bill to hold the full faith and credit of America hostage unless unprecedented cuts are made to key federal programs. These draconian funding cuts would have grave impacts for the innovation Agencies under the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s jurisdiction, including NASA, NSF, NOAA, and NWS. “This bill is a non-starter,” said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). “Speaker … Continue Reading
April 21, 2023Ranking Member Lofgren Statement on DHS Establishment of AI Task Force
(Washington, DC)—This morning, Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of the Department on Homeland Security announced the establishment of the Department's first Artificial Intelligence Task Force. “The pace of change for AI development has been incredible, helping to improve our national security while also dramatically changing the nature of the threats we face,” said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). “The Science Committee has been at the forefront of … Continue Reading
April 06, 2023Bipartisan Group of Science Committee Leaders Investigating Allegations of Whistleblower Retaliation and Misconduct by Department of Commerce Inspector General
(Washington, DC) House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK), Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Jay Obernolte (R-CA), and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Valerie Foushee (D-NC) sent a letter to the Inspector General (IG) of the Department of Commerce notifying her that the Committee is investigating allegations of whistleblower retaliation and other misconduct. The Members notified … Continue Reading
April 03, 2023Science Committee Leaders Applaud Artemis II Crew Selection
(Washington, DC) Today, House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Frank Lucas and Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren joined Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Chairman Brian Babin and Ranking Member Eric Sorensen in congratulating the members of the historic Artemis II mission. NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) jointly announced that Americans Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Hammock Koch, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen are set to join the first crewed Artemis mission to fly … Continue Reading
March 30, 2023Ranking Member Lofgren Congratulates Congressman Casten on Election to Serve as Vice Ranking Member
(Washington, DC)—Yesterday, the Minority of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology moved to confirm Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL) as Vice Ranking Member of the Committee. “The Science, Space, and Technology Committee is leading the way on American innovation, research, and scientific achievement,” said Vice Ranking Member Sean Casten (D-IL). "I’m honored to be named Vice-Ranking Member of this committee and look forward to working with Ranking Member Lofgren … Continue Reading
March 28, 2023Science Committee Members Lofgren, Ross, Foushee, and Jackson Statement on Start of President Biden’s Invest in America Tour
(Washington, DC)—Today, President Biden began his Invest In America Tour in Durham, North Carolina. The Tour highlights the historic investments made possible by the CHIPS and Science Act, which was led in the House by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. The President will also be showcasing the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Wolfspeed, a semiconductor manufacturer, recently announced it will invest $5 billion to build a semiconductor … Continue Reading
March 27, 2023Science Committee Leaders Introduce Bipartisan DOE Partnership Bills
(Washington, DC)--Last week, House Science, Space, and Technology Committee leaders introduced two bipartisan bills to advance opportunities for the Department of Energy (DOE) to strengthen longstanding interagency research partnerships. H.R. 1713, the DOE and USDA Interagency Research Act, was introduced by House Science Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) and Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). The bill authorizes cross-cutting and collaborative research and development activities between the DOE … Continue Reading
March 25, 2023Science Committee Members Encourage Greater Transparency at EPA on Science and Testing for Train Derailment Cleanup
(Washington, DC)-House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK), Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member Deborah Ross (D-NC), Chairman Max Miller (R-OH), Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee Ranking Member Valerie Foushee (D-NC), Chairman Jay Obernolte (R-CA), and Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN) sent a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan requesting information about the … Continue Reading
March 23, 2023Bipartisan Group of Science Committee Members Introduce Legislation to Combat Spread of Tranq
(Washington, DC)-Today, Rep. Yadira Caraveo (D-CO) and Research & Technology Subcommittee Chairman Mike Collins (R-GA) led a bipartisan group of House Science, Space, and Technology Committee members to introduce H.R. 1734, the Testing, Rapid Analysis, and Narcotic Quality (TRANQ) Research Act, to combat the spread of novel synthetic opioids. Collins was joined by Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK), Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), and 15 other members. The TRANQ Research Act directs the … Continue Reading
March 23, 2023Ranking Member Lofgren Opening Statement for Hearing on the Future Unmanned Aircraft Systems
(Washington, DC)--Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a full Committee hearing titled Advanced Air Mobility: The Future of Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Beyond. Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren's (D-CA) opening statement as prepared for the record is below. Good morning. I want to thank Chairman Lucas for holding this hearing and also thank Chairman Babin for filling in for Mr. Lucas today. And I would like to thank our expert witnesses for appearing before the … Continue Reading
March 20, 2023Ranking Member Lofgren Statement on Latest IPCC Climate Report
(San Jose, CA)—Today, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its AR6 Synthesis Report. The Synthesis Report is the culmination of the Sixth Assessment Report cycle, which is comprised of three Working Group reports and Special Reports, all released over the last several years. “Scientists have again come together to rally the globe to take urgent action on the climate crisis with the release of IPCC’s latest report,” said Ranking Member Zoe … Continue Reading
March 17, 2023Lucas and Lofgren Statement on Inspector General Report on Law Enforcement in the U.S. Antarctic Program
(Washington, DC)-House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) and Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) released a statement in response to a white paper by the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) entitled “Law Enforcement Perspectives on Sexual Assault and Stalking Issues Pertaining to the United States Antarctic Program.” The white paper follows a report issued by NSF in 2022 detailing ongoing problems … Continue Reading
March 16, 2023Lofgren, 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