Science

Science Committee Leader
Congresswoman Johnson has served for 15 years on the House Committee on Science and Technology.  She is a careful study of the details of science policy and an engaged participant in the lawmaking process.  In March 2009, she successfully passed three amendments to bills, in committee, that would decrease the environmental harms of old computer hardware and would improve the coordination of federal research on water conservation and efficiency.  Congresswoman Johnson currently serves on the Research/Science Education and on the Energy/Environment subcommittees.

Supporting Well-Prepared Teachers
The America COMPETES Act, major legislation signed into law in 2007, is peppered with programs shaped by the Congresswoman’s hand.  An example is the Noyce Teacher Training program.  The program gives grants to universities, who can then offer scholarships to math, science, and engineering students to become teachers.  Noyce scholars receive a full scholarship for their teacher training.  They need only serve two years in a high-need school per year of scholarship.  This program ensures that all young people get access to bright, well-prepared teachers who are excited about teaching math and science.

Diversity and Innovation Caucus Founder
The Congresswoman founded the House D&I Caucus, a group of more than 60 members of the House of Representatives who feel that the science and engineering workforce needs to be more diverse.  The active Caucus wrote the Appropriations Committee as well as Budget Committee leadership, advocating for research and education programs that provide equal opportunity for all.  Congresswoman Johnson helped devise an Eight Point Policy Agenda for the new caucus, after soliciting feedback from more than 100 stakeholder groups.  The Congresswoman also coordinated a letter to Dr. John Holdren, the new director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, to make OSTP aware of the D&I Caucus’ interests and open the lines of communication between the legislative and executive branches of government.

Avid Advocate for NASA
NASA, the National Aeronautics and Administration, is a major economic engine in Texas.  The Congresswoman has been a consistent advocate for NASA’s endeavors.  She has spoken, on the record, in favor of NASA, both in the proceedings of the House Science Committee, as well as on the House floor.

Making Science Accessible for All
The Congresswoman believes that our nation’s leaders should honor the accomplishments of distinguished Americans, especially those who do good for science.  Over the years, she has introduced resolutions in the House of Representative that do just that.  In 2009, she wrote a resolution honoring the achievement of educational parity among African American students in computer science.  In 2008, she introduced resolutions honoring the Project SEED program, which engages economically disadvantaged youth with scientific mentors and provides experience-based scientific research experiences.  Before, she honored African American innovators with a Congressional resolution.

Pushing for a Permanent R&D Tax Credit
In 2009, the Congresswoman introduced H.R. 717, the Research and Development Tax Credit Act.  The Act makes the R&D Tax Credit permanent, a move that has been strongly advocated over the years by the high tech industry.  Enacted in 1981 but never made permanent, the credit has proven to be a powerful incentive for companies to increase research spending. H.R. 717 changes the R&D tax credit formula so that the credit is based on a company’s research spending instead of gross receipts. It proposes a 20 percent credit for U.S. research expenses exceeding 50 percent of a company’s average expenses over the preceding three years.  Innovative companies need time to adjust to changes in the after-tax cost of R&D, so a long-term focus is necessary for industry to take full advantage of the credit. This is why it is critical to have an R&D tax credit that is permanent.

Convening Top Experts on Science Policy
For more than a decade, the Congresswoman has hosted the annual Science and Technology Braintrust.  An audience of more than 100 students, teachers, and policy professionals gather to hear ideas on how to improve research and educational opportunities for young people.  One year, the Congresswoman even hosted a DJ rock star duo to discuss how they utilize high-tech to produce music.  That certainly got attention and changed young people’s thoughts about the possibilities of a career in math, science or engineering.