Committee Assignments
Education Committee
As a member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, I believe it is the responsibility of the Congress (and this committee) to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the nation. This means supporting policies and initiatives that make it possible for children from all walks of life to receive a high quality education, not only to allow every child to fulfill their potential, but to equip them to prosper in an intensely competitive global economy.
It is the responsibility of Congress to ensure fair wages and safe and healthful working conditions for American workers. And Congress should help provide the opportunity for workers to earn a safe and secure retirement. Working families are an essential building block of our nation's economy.
Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness
The Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness has jurisdiction over all welfare reform programs including work incentive programs, welfare-to-work requirements, and childcare services including the Childcare Development Block Grant (CDBG); education and training beyond the high school level including, but not limited to higher education generally, including post-secondary student assistance and employment services. Title VI of the Higher Education Act, displaced homemakers, adult basic education (family literacy), rehabilitation, professional development, and training programs from immigration funding; pre-service and in-service teacher training, including Title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and Title II (teacher training) of the Higher Education Act; Title I (student aid) of the Higher Education Act as it relates to Titles II and IV; Title III (HBCUs) and V (HSIs) of the Higher Education Act; science and technology programs; Native American Programs Act, Robert A. Taft Institute, and Institute for Peace.
Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations
The Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations has jurisdiction over pension, health, and other employee benefits, including the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA); all matters dealing with relationship between employers and employees generally including, the National Relations Act and the Bureau of Labor Statistic; all matters related to equal employment opportunity and civil rights in employment.
Science Committee
The Science Committee has jurisdiction over the following legislative issues:
- All energy research, development, and all federally owned or operated nonmilitary energy laboratories.
- Astronautical research and development, including resources, personnel, equipment, and facilities.
- Civil aviation research and development.
- Environmental research and development.
- Marine research.
- Measures relating to the commercial application of energy technology.
- National Institute of Standards and Technology.
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
- National Space Council.
- National Science Foundation.
- National Weather Service.
- Outer space exploration.
- Science Scholarships.
- Scientific research, development.
Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Environment, Technology, and Standards
The Subcommittee on Environment, Technology, and Standards handles issues related to environmental science and issues related to the technological competitiveness of the U.S. The Subcommittee has jurisdiction over research at the Environmental Protection Agency, surface transportation research at the Department of Transportation, and R&D programs at the Department of Commerce, including programs at NOAA and NIST. Recent issues before the Subcommittee have included standards for voting machines, strengthening the U.S. manufacturing sector, transportation research, weather research, the Sea Grant program, and invasive species research.
Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics
The Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee has jurisdiction over all matters relating to astronautical and aeronautical research and development including: national space policy, including access to space; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and its contractor and government-operated laboratories; space commercialization, including the commercial space activities relating to the Dept. of Transportation and the Dept. of Commerce; exploration and use of outer space; international space cooperation; National Space Council; space applications, space communications and related matters; earth remote sensing policy; civil aviation research, development and demonstration; research, development and demonstration programs of the Federal Aviation Administration; and space law.