Science Committee Members Introduce Bill to Build a Strong and Diverse Chip Workforce
(Washington, DC)—Yesterday, Subcommittee on Research and Technology Chairwoman Haley Stevens (D-MI) introduced H.R. 8251, the Creating Helpful Initiatives to Produce Personnel in Needed Growth Industries or, the CHIPPING IN Act of 2022. Chairwoman Stevens was joined by Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI), Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL), and Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH) in introducing this legislation. The CHIPPING IN Act will support the growth, retention, and development of a diverse, flexible, and … Continue Reading
June 21, 2022Chairwomen Johnson and Stevens Congratulate Dr. Arati Prabhakar on Her Nomination to Serve as OSTP Director
(Washington, DC) — Today, President Biden announced his intent to nominate Dr. Arati Prabhakar to serve as the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and, once confirmed, as the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology. Dr. Prabhakar previously served as the director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). “We are delighted to congratulate Dr. Arati Prabhakar … Continue Reading
June 17, 2022Chairwoman Johnson Joins DOE Secretary Granholm to Congratulate Lennox International on First Next-Generation Heat Pump
(Dallas, TX) — Today, Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) joined Department of Energy Secretary Granholm for the announcement that American heat pump manufacturer Lennox International became the first manufacturer to make a next-generation heat pump that has passed laboratory performance testing for the Department of Energy’s Residential Cold Climate Heat Pump Challenge. These heat pumps will heat homes better and more efficiently than current technologies. “As … Continue Reading
June 16, 2022Science Committee Members’ Statement on Release of Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia GAO Report
(Washington, DC) – Yesterday, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on harmful algal blooms (HABs) and hypoxia. The report was originally requested in April 2020 by 11 Members of Congress including Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK), Environment Subcommittee Chair Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Congressman Charlie Crist (D-FL), Congressman Bill Posey (R-FL), and Congressman Michael Waltz (R-FL). … Continue Reading
June 08, 2022Science Committee Majority Staff Report Finds Oil and Gas Sector Fails to Quantify and Address Super-Emitting Methane Leaks
(Washington, DC) – Today, during the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology's hearing, “Detecting and Quantifying Methane Emissions from the Oil and Gas Sector,” a Majority staff report on the oil and gas sector’s approach to addressing methane emissions was submitted for the record. The staff report, “Seeing CH4 Clearly: Science-Based Approaches to Methane Monitoring in the Oil and Gas Sector,” assesses the sector’s use of Methane … Continue Reading
June 07, 2022Chairwoman Johnson Congratulates Kenneth Graham on Selection to Serve as NWS Director
(Dallas, TX) – Today, Kenneth Graham has been selected as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Assistant Administrator for Weather Services and as the 17th Director of NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS). Mr. Graham was selected by the Administrator of NOAA and Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, Rick Spinrad, and approved by the Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “I welcome and congratulate Mr. Kenneth Graham on his selection as … Continue Reading
May 23, 2022Chairwoman Johnson Statement on Release of NOAA's Annual Greenhouse Gas Index
(Dallas, TX)—Today the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released its Annual Greenhouse Gas Index (AGGI) for 2021. In the Index, NOAA found that pollution has caused a 49% increase in trapped heat in the atmosphere since 1990. Methane emissions in 2021 alone were estimated to be 15% greater than from 1984-2006. The AGGI is based on thousands of samples collected globally from NOAA’s Global Greenhouse Gas Reference Network, and tracks increases in the warming … Continue Reading
May 20, 2022Chairwoman Stevens Reflects on Michigan Field Hearing on the Future of the Electric Vehicle Workforce
(Pontiac, MI) - Today, Chairwoman Haley Stevens (D-MI) hosted a Research and Technology Subcommittee hearing at the Oakland County Commission Chambers in Pontiac, Michigan. The hearing, entitled, “Building a Workforce to Navigate the Electric Vehicle Workforce,” gave Members an opportunity to explore the workforce needs for the automotive mobility and electrification industry in order to position the United States at the center of growth for electric vehicles … Continue Reading
April 22, 2022Chairwoman Johnson Statement on Earth Day
(Dallas, TX)— Every year on April 22, communities around the world celebrate Earth Day, a day dedicated to bringing attention to the health and protection of the environment. Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) made the following statement. “Since its founding, Earth Day has been a day of activism. Today, as we celebrate our remarkable planet, we also join together in the fight to protect our environment. After another year of severe storms, wildfires, and flooding, it is … Continue Reading
April 20, 2022Chairs Johnson and Beyer Statement on Release of Decadal Survey on Planetary Science and Astrobiology
(Washington, DC) – Yesterday, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s (NASEM) Committee on Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey released a new consensus study, “Origins, Worlds, and Life: A Decadal Strategy for Planetary Science and Astrobiology 2023-2032.” The report defines 12 priority science questions across three scientific themes – origins, worlds and processes, and life and habitability – to help identify … Continue Reading
April 19, 2022Chairs Johnson and Beyer Applaud Biden-Harris Administration’s Commitment to Setting Peaceful International Norms in Space
(Washington, DC)—Yesterday, Vice President and National Space Council Chair, Kamala Harris, visited Vandenberg Space Force Base in California where she announced the United States’ commitment “not to conduct destructive, direct-ascent anti-satellite (ASAT) missile testing.” Vice President Harris also announced that the United States is seeking to establish this commitment as a new international norm for responsible behavior in space, and called on other nations to … Continue Reading
April 14, 2022Chairwoman Johnson Statement on EPA IRIS Release of Draft Formaldehyde Assessment
(Dallas, TX)— Today, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) program issued its draft risk assessment on formaldehyde. The draft assessment concludes that there is a causal relationship between formaldehyde exposure and myeloid leukemia. The public comment period on the assessment is open until June 13, at which point the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) will conduct a review. After a 2010 NASEM report on … Continue Reading
April 08, 2022Chairwoman Johnson Congratulates Locascio on Senate Confirmation to Lead NIST
(Washington, DC)—Yesterday, the Senate confirmed Laurie Locascio, Ph.D. as Under Secretary for Standards and Technology at the Department of Commerce and Director of National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Dr. Locascio was nominated by President Biden in July 2021. “I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to Dr. Laurie Locascio on her long-awaited confirmation to lead NIST, one of our nation’s premier science agencies,” … Continue Reading
April 07, 2022Chairwoman Johnson Congratulates Democratic Science Committee Members Named to the America COMPETES Conference Committee
(Washington, DC) – Today, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced names of the Democratic Members of the House who will go to conference with the Senate over the House’s America COMPETES Act of 2022. “Today we took the next critical step to advance our nation’s competitiveness with the naming of House Members of the Conference Committee,” said Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX). “The COMPETES Act incorporates a series of important Science Committee … Continue Reading
April 06, 2022Chairwoman Johnson and Ranking Member Lucas Urge President Biden to Rescind NTSB Proposal that would Exceed Agency Authority
(Washington, DC) – Today, Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK) sent a letter to President Biden expressing their concerns regarding the Administration’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for commercial space accident investigation that was issued by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). “Responsibilities and authorities for space accident investigation are to be determined by congressional action, as reflected in Title … Continue Reading
April 05, 2022Chairwoman Johnson Announces Hearing in Response to IPCC Reports to Discuss Solutions for the Climate Crisis
(Dallas, TX) - Yesterday, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its latest report titled, “Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change.” This report, assembled by IPCC’s Working Group III, focuses on climate change mitigation, assessing methods for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. The Working Group III report, coupled with the Working Group I report on the physical science basis, and the … Continue Reading
April 01, 2022Chairwomen Johnson and Sherrill Congratulate NOAA Research Director Craig McLean on Retirement
(Washington, DC) – On April 1, 2022, Mr. Craig McLean, the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) and Acting Chief Scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will retire after over 40 years in public service. Mr. McLean also served in the NOAA Commissioned Corps for nearly 25 years and retired at the rank of Captain. “I’d like to congratulate Mr. McLean on his retirement from NOAA,” said Chairwoman Eddie Bernice … Continue Reading
March 30, 2022Chairwoman Johnson Statement on the President’s Budget Request
(Dallas, TX) - On Monday, the Biden Administration released the President's Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2023. "Strong investments in federal research and development are critical to achieving the progress we hope to see for our nation," said Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX). "I'm pleased to see the President propose increasing vital funding for NSF, including support for international collaborations and climate change research. The President's request for NSF and NIST aligns with … Continue Reading
March 16, 2022Chairwoman Johnson and Ranking Member Lucas Welcome NSF Director Panchanathan’s Announcement of New Directorate Aligned with Bipartisan Committee Proposal
(Washington, DC) – Today, National Science Foundation (NSF) Director Sethuraman Panchanathan announced the launch of NSF’s new Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships at South by Southwest. This new directorate — NSF's first in more than 30 years — builds upon the agency's commitment over seven decades to serve as a beacon of U.S. innovation, advancing the frontiers of research and … Continue Reading
March 02, 2022Chairwoman Johnson Statement on President Biden’s First State of the Union Address
(Dallas, TX)—Yesterday evening, President Joe Biden delivered his first State of the Union Address to a Joint Session of Congress. “Last night, President Biden spoke to each and every American on what we have and what we can achieve as we work together to build a better America,” said Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX). “As Chairwoman of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, I was especially glad to hear the President reaffirm his strong … Continue Reading