Ranking Member Amo Opening Statement at Hearing on Deep-Sea Mining
Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member Gabe Amo (D-RI) opening statement as prepared for the record: Thank you, Chairman Franklin, for convening today’s hearing to discuss the state of science and technology surrounding deep-sea mining. And thank you to our witnesses for appearing before us today. For Rhode Island, the ocean is our history, our economy, and our identity. It feeds our communities, supports our fishermen, drives tourism, and anchors a growing blue economy. But it also … Continue Reading
March 26, 2026Ranking Member Lofgren Opening Statement at Hearing on Deep-Sea Mining
Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) opening statement as prepared for the record is below: Thank you, Chairman Franklin and Ranking Member Amo for convening this timely discussion on deep-sea mining research and technology. And thank you to our distinguished witnesses for appearing before the Committee today. While we live on a blue planet, we have barely scratched the surface of understanding of our oceans. As of last summer, only about 27% of the global seafloor has been mapped according to … Continue Reading
March 25, 2026Ranking Member Foushee Opening Statement at Hearing on Future of ISS
Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Ranking Member Valerie Foushee (D-NC) opening statement as prepared for the record is below: Good morning and thank you Chairman Haridopolos for holding today’s hearing on the future of low Earth orbit, or LEO. I want to welcome our witnesses and thank you for being here. When John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962, we could not have imagined that the United States would one day build an orbiting laboratory, or support … Continue Reading
March 25, 2026Ranking Member Lofgren Opening Statement at Hearing on Future of ISS
Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) opening statement as prepared for the record is below: Good morning, and thank you Mr. Chairman, for holding today’s hearing. I also want to thank our expert witnesses for being here. The International Space Station (ISS) is an incredible feat of technical achievement and international cooperation. For over twenty-five years, humans have continuously occupied the Station, with NASA astronauts living and working in space alongside international partner … Continue Reading
March 18, 2026Ranking Member Lofgren Opening Statement at Markup for NOAA Weather Radio Modernization
Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren's (D-CA) opening statement as prepared for the record is below: Thank you, Chairman Babin. Today, we are considering the NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act. I am excited to consider this bill today because the NOAA weather radio is a valued service used by many Americans across the country. Countless lives and immeasurable property have been saved by the timely and accurate reporting provided by NOAA weather radio. Now we will modernize it and make it even more … Continue Reading
February 24, 2026Ranking Member Lofgren Opening Statement at Hearing on Data Center Permitting
Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) opening statement as prepared for the record is below: Thank you, Chairman McCormick and Ranking Member Sykes, for holding this hearing. Thank you to our witnesses for appearing today. This hearing is a great opportunity for all of us to think carefully about an issue that has moved to the center of our political debate. Data centers loom large in the United States today. They are presented as the foundation of America’s global leadership in artificial … Continue Reading
February 24, 2026Ranking Member Sykes Opening Statement at Hearing on Data Center Permitting
Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee Ranking Member Emilia Sykes (D-OH) opening statement as prepared for the record is below: Thank you, Chairman McCormick, for holding this hearing. This will be a very interesting and timely discussion. When you go to watch your favorite show, send an email, shop online, or save a photo, you are using what is known as the “cloud,” which is really a general description for a data storage service. But this “cloud” is not in the sky, it’s in our … Continue Reading
February 11, 2026Ranking Member Lofgren Opening Statement at Hearing on U.S. Surface Transportation Research
Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) opening statement as prepared for the record is below: Thank you, Chairman Obernolte and Ranking Member Stevens, for holding today’s hearing. I would also like to thank our expert panel of witnesses for being here and for your testimony. While some topics we cover on this committee can feel abstract or futuristic, like quantum computing, surface transportation affects the lives of nearly every person in this country every day. Each year, the nation’s roads, … Continue Reading
February 11, 2026Ranking Member Stevens Opening Statement at Hearing on U.S. Surface Transportation Research
Research and Technology Subcommittee Ranking Member Haley Stevens (D-MI) opening statement as prepared for the record is below: Thank you, Chairman Obernolte, and thank you to our witnesses for being here today. For decades, Michigan has designed, engineered, and manufactured the components that made American vehicles the best in the world. I’ve spent my career fighting for the workers of Michigan, from helping run the Auto Rescue for President Obama that saved 200,000+ Michigan jobs, to my … Continue Reading
February 04, 2026Ranking Member Lofgren Opening Statement at Markup for NASA Reauthorization of 2026
Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) opening statement as prepared for the record is below: Thank you, Chairman Babin. I am glad to join you as an original co-sponsor of the NASA Reauthorization Act of 2026. Today the Science Committee recommits NASA to fulfill its multiple missions in exploration, earth and space science, aeronautics, innovation, education, and inspiration. All of NASA’s triumphs, dating back to the agency’s establishment by this Committee in 1958, have demonstrated to the … Continue Reading
January 22, 2026Ranking Member Lofgren Opening Statement at Hearing on Quantum Technology
Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) opening statement as prepared for the record is below: Thank you, Chairman Babin, for holding today’s hearing. I would also like to welcome our distinguished panel of witnesses. Thank you for volunteering your time and expertise. For decades, the United States enjoyed being the global leader in quantum information science in terms of both research output and investment across every quantum application and modality. Our leadership was built upon a foundation … Continue Reading
January 14, 2026Ranking Member Stevens' Opening Statement at Hearing on AI Action Plan
Research and Technology Subcommittee Ranking Member Haley Stevens (D-MI) opening statement as prepared for the record is below: Thank you for holding today’s hearing, Mr. Chairman. I would also like to thank Mr. Kratsios for joining us today. I look forward to a thoughtful discussion on implementing the Administration’s AI Action Plan while protecting American workers. You can’t talk about AI innovation and American competitiveness without talking about Michigan manufacturing, and you can’t … Continue Reading
January 14, 2026Ranking Member Lofgren Opening Statement at Hearing on AI Action Plan
Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) opening statement as prepared for the record is below: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to Mr. Kratsios for joining us today. AI has the potential to reshape the American economy and innovation ecosystem. I am truly excited about its promise and the potential opportunity it brings to improve productivity and accelerate innovation. However, AI has also accelerated harmful and even criminal activities. Just a little over a week ago, xAI’s chatbot Grok … Continue Reading
January 13, 2026Ranking Member Lofgren Opening Statement at Hearing on Weather Satellites
Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) opening statement as prepared for the record is below: Thank you, Chairman Franklin and Ranking Member Amo for convening this discussion on the importance of weather satellites. And thank you to our distinguished witnesses for appearing before the Committee today. The United States’ ability to protect lives, property, and national security depends on the uninterrupted flow of weather, climate, and ocean observations provided by NOAA’s satellite system. In … Continue Reading
January 13, 2026Ranking Member Amo's Opening Statement at Hearing on Weather Satellites
Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member Gabe Amo (D-RI) opening statement as prepared for the record is below: Along with Chairman Franklin, I would like to thank the witnesses for joining us today to discuss the importance of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s satellites and how we can improve the interagency partnership between NOAA and the Department of Defense. NOAA’s environmental satellite programs play a critical role in collecting and disseminating Earth … Continue Reading
January 08, 2026Ranking Member Lofgren's Opening Statement at Hearing on Chemistry Competitiveness
Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren's (D-CA) opening statement as prepared for the record is below: Thank you, Chairman Babin. I welcome the opportunity, one year into the Trump Administration’s scorched earth assault on environmental protection, to discuss what is happening at EPA. I do want to note that we are halfway through this Congress and not a single EPA official has testified before the Committee. Not one. A core responsibility of Congress is to hold the executive branch accountable, and the … Continue Reading
December 18, 2025Ranking Member Lofgren's Opening Statement at Hearing on Research Security
Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) opening statement as prepared for the record is below: Thank you, Chairman McCormick and Ranking Member Sykes, for this hearing. Thank you to our witnesses for appearing today. As I said before, I hope that research security remains a bipartisan and productive topic for this Committee. We have an impressive legacy of legislation and oversight on research security. For years, on both sides of the aisle, we have maintained a deep understanding of, and … Continue Reading
December 18, 2025Ranking Member Sykes' Opening Statement at Hearing on Research Security
Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee Ranking Member Emilia Sykes (D-OH) opening statement as prepared for the record is below: Thank you, Chairman McCormick. And thank you to all of our witnesses for appearing today. Research security has long been a productive, bipartisan topic on this Committee. We have been able to put aside a lot of the noise coming from Committees and Members who are less serious about understanding the nuances of this issue, and we have a lot of successful … Continue Reading
December 10, 2025Ranking Member Ross' Opening Statement at Hearing on The Genesis Mission
Energy Subcommittee Ranking Member Deborah Ross' (D-NC) opening statement as prepared for the record is below: Thank you, Chairman Babin, for convening today’s hearing on The Genesis Mission. I also want to thank Dr. Gil for being here this morning as our witness. This initiative led by the Department of Energy is a strategic undertaking for the future of our nation’s prosperity and security. The Genesis Mission has the potential to double American research productivity within a decade by … Continue Reading
December 10, 2025Ranking Member Lofgren's Statement at Hearing on Genesis Mission
Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren's (D-CA) opening statement as prepared for the record is below: Good morning and thank you, Chairman Babin, for holding this hearing today, and to Under Secretary Gil for being here. Under normal circumstances, I would now begin talking about the exciting activities under your portfolio and how much I look forward to working with you on each of them. That would certainly include my longstanding support for dramatically accelerating the development and … Continue Reading