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House Science, Space and Technology Committee adopts rules, oversight plan and introduces members for 119th Congress
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Summary
The House Committee on Science, Space and Technology adopted its committee rules and its authorization and oversight plan for the 119th Congress by voice vote during its organizational meeting, and committee leaders introduced new and returning members.
The House Committee on Science, Space and Technology adopted its committee rules and its authorization and oversight plan for the 119th Congress by voice vote during its organizational meeting, and committee leaders introduced new and returning members on both sides of the aisle.
The committee chair (name not specified) opened the meeting and said the rules package made minimal changes from the previous Congress, added a specific provision for electronic voting and conformed the panel’s procedures to the House rules. "I think it was time that the committee on SST and technology, started electronic voting," the chair said. The chair moved to adopt the rules; members approved by voice vote and the chair declared the rules adopted.
Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, the committee’s ranking member, said Democrats had reviewed the circulated rules and oversight plan and supported them. "I think the collaboration on our rules and oversight is an indication of our interest in working in a bipartisan basis with you to advance our country's interests," Lofgren said.
The committee then considered the authorization and oversight plan. The chair said the plan, prepared under clause 2(d)(1) of rule 10 of the House Rules for the 119th Congress, covers agencies and programs whose authorizations have lapsed or will lapse over the next two years. The plan specifically lists the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Weather Act programs, the National Quantum Initiative Act and NASA as items the committee intends to prioritize for authorization and oversight. The chair moved to adopt the oversight and authorization plan; members approved by voice vote and the chair declared the plan approved.
During introductions, leaders on both sides introduced many new and returning members and subcommittee chairs. The chair introduced several Republican members who are new to the committee, including Representative David Rausser (North Carolina), Representative Keith Self (Texas), Representative Sherry Biggs (South Carolina), Representative Mike Herodopoulos (Florida) — named chair of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee — Representative Patrick Harrigan, Representative Jeff Hurd, Representative Mike Kennedy (Utah), Representative Nick Begich (Alaska), Representative Randy Weber (subcommittee chair), Representative Scott Franklin (chair, Environment Subcommittee), Representative Rich McCormick (chair, Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee) and Representative Jay Obernolte (chair, Research and Technology Subcommittee). The chair also named a group of returning members by name.
Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren introduced Democratic new members including Representative Suhas Subramaniam, Representative Luz Rivas, Mayor Sylvester Turner, Representative Sarah McBride, Representative Laura Gillan, George Whitesides (former NASA chief of staff), Representative Laura Friedman, April McClain Delaney, and Representative Josh Riley. Lofgren also announced the panel’s Democratic subcommittee ranking members: Gabe Amo (Environment), Deborah Ross (Energy), Amelia Sykes (Investigations and Oversight), Haley Stevens (Research and Technology) and Valerie Fushi (Space and Aeronautics).
The chair concluded the organizational meeting after the introductions and said the full committee would reconvene for a hearing in five minutes.
Votes at a glance: The committee took two formal voice votes during the organizational meeting: adoption of the committee rules (motion moved by the chair; voice vote; chair stated "in the opinion of the chair, the ayes have it") and adoption of the authorization and oversight plan (motion moved by the chair; voice vote; chair stated "in the opinion of the chair, the ayes do have it"). No recorded roll-call tallies were provided in the transcript.
Background: The committee, established in 1958 after the Soviet Union’s Sputnik launch, oversees civil research agencies and programs including NOAA and NASA and has jurisdiction over federal efforts in science, space and technology policy. The committee notes the plan is intended to ensure authorization work and oversight for lapsed or expiring authorizations over the next two years.
