United States House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology explained

House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
Type:standing
Chamber:house
Congress:118th
Status:active
Formed:January 3, 1959
Chair:Frank Lucas
Chair Party:R
Chair Since:January 9, 2023
Ranking Member:Zoe Lofgren
Rm Party:D
Rm Since:January 3, 2023
Vice Chair:Vacant
Seats:40
Majority1:R
Majority1 Seats:22
Minority1:D
Minority1 Seats:18
Oversight:NASA, NSF, NIST, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy

The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology is a committee of the United States House of Representatives. It has jurisdiction over non-defense federal scientific research and development. More specifically, the committee has complete jurisdiction over the following federal agencies: NASA, NSF, NIST, and the OSTP. The committee also has authority over R&D activities at the Department of Energy, the EPA, FAA, NOAA, the DOT, the NWS, the DHS and the U.S. Fire Administration.[1]

History

In the wake of the Soviet Sputnik program in the late 1950s, Congress created the Select Committee on Astronautics and Space Exploration on 05 March 1958, chaired by majority leader John William McCormack. This select committee drafted the National Aeronautics and Space Act that created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). A staff report of the committee, the Space Handbook: Astronautics and its Applications, provided non-technical information about spaceflight to U.S. policy makers.

The committee also chartered the permanent House Committee on Science and Astronautics, which officially began on January 3, 1959, and was the first new standing committee established in the House since 1946. The name was changed in 1974 to the House Committee on Science and Technology. The name was changed again in 1987 to the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. After the Republican Party gained a majority in Congress in 1994, the name of the committee was changed to the House Committee on Science. With the return of control to the Democrats in 2007, the committee's name was changed back to the House Committee on Science and Technology.

During the 112th Congress, which was in session from 2011-2013, Committee Chairman Ralph Hall added "Space" back into the committee's name: "The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology" – a nod to the committee's history, broad jurisdiction, and the importance of space exploration in maintaining American innovation and competitiveness.

Members, 118th Congress

Resolutions electing members: (Chair), (Ranking Member), (R), (D), (D), (R), (D), (D)

Subcommittees

SubcommitteeChair[2] Ranking Member[3]
EnergyBrandon Williams (R-NY)Jamaal Bowman (D-NY)
EnvironmentMax Miller (R-OH)Deborah Ross (D-NC)
Investigations and OversightMike Collins (R-GA)Valerie Foushee (D-NC)
Research and TechnologyJay Obernolte (R-CA)Haley Stevens (D-MI)
Space and AeronauticsBrian Babin (R-TX)Eric Sorensen (D-IL)

Committee chairs, 1959–present

Chairmen since 1959

Historical membership rosters

117th Congress

Resolutions electing members: (Chair), (Ranking Member), (D), (R), (D), (D), (R), (R)
Subcommittees
SubcommitteeChair[5] Ranking Member[6]
EnergyJamaal Bowman (D-NY)Randy Weber (R-TX)
EnvironmentMikie Sherrill (D-NJ)Stephanie Bice (R-OK)
Investigations and OversightBill Foster (D-IL)Jay Obernolte (R-CA)
Research and TechnologyHaley Stevens (D-MI)Michael Waltz (R-FL)
Space and AeronauticsDon Beyer (D-VA)Brian Babin (R-TX)

116th Congress

Sources: (Chair), (Ranking Member), (D), (R), (D), (R), (R), (R), (D), (R)
SubcommitteesThere were five subcommittees in the 116th Congress.
SubcommitteeChairRanking Member
EnergyJamaal Bowman (D-NY)Randy Weber (R-TX)
EnvironmentMikie Sherrill (D-NJ)Roger Marshall (R-KS)
Investigations and OversightBill Foster (D-IL)Ralph Norman (R-SC)
Research and TechnologyHaley Stevens (D-MI)Jim Baird (R-IN)
Space and AeronauticsDon Beyer (D-VA)Brian Babin (R-TX)

115th Congress

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: History and Jurisdiction. House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. January 20, 2019.
  2. Web site: 2023-02-09 . Lucas Announces Subcommittee Rosters and Leadership . 2023-02-17 . House Committee on Science Space & Tech - Republicans . en.
  3. Web site: Ranking Member Lofgren Announces Organization of Science Committee Democrats House Committee on Science, Space and Technology . 2023-02-17 . democrats-science.house.gov . en.
  4. Web site: House Committee on Science, Space and Technology Subcommittees. January 26, 2021. House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.
  5. https://science.house.gov/news/press-releases/house-science-space-and-technology-committee-democratic-caucus-organizes-for-the-117th-congress HOUSE SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS ORGANIZES FOR THE 117TH CONGRESS
  6. https://republicans-science.house.gov/news/press-releases/lucas-announces-republican-science-committee-leaders Lucas Announces Republican Science Committee Leaders