Science and Technology
As Chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Representative Smith is an advocate for America’s innovators by promoting policies that encourage scientific discoveries, space exploration, and the development of new innovations to expand our economy and create jobs for American workers. The Science Committee oversees agency budgets totaling $39 billion, most of which is focused on research and development. The purpose of the Science Committee is to encourage the basic research that leads to new innovations.
The Committee was established in 1958 as the primary congressional body to oversee NASA, our nation’s newly formed space agency. Throughout the years, its jurisdiction has expanded, and now includes the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation, the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, among others.
The Committee is currently working on legislation to reauthorize NASA’s programs and give direction to our space agency as it undergoes a period of uncertainty and transition following various administration proposals. Space exploration is an investment in our nation’s future—often the far distant future. But space exploration also captures the minds of Americans and encourages future generations to dream big, work hard and shoot for the stars. The Committee will also be considering various bills in the coming months with the common theme of making sure America stays competitive in the global marketplace.
As Chairman of the Science Committee, Representative Smith is looking for ways to not only encourage students to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), but also to inspire them to pursue careers in STEM fields. That means preparing students for advanced degrees and ensuring that young adults have the scientific and mathematic literacy to thrive in a technology-based economy.
The Science Committee plays an important role in promoting the work of Texas’ innovators, from the high-tech industry in Austin and San Antonio to the energy and space sectors in Houston. For more information on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, please visit the website, http://science.house.gov/.
More on Science and Technology
WASHINGTON – House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) released the following statement today after President-elect Donald J. Trump announced former Texas Governor Rick Perry will lead the Department of Energy.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), chairman of the U.S. House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, today released the following statement following the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) announcement that it has reopened its investigation of the use of an insecure, private email server to conduct official business by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
WASHINGTON – On the fifth anniversary of its enactment, Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX) celebrated the achievements of the America Invents Act. Spearheaded by Smith and Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the legislation passed 2011 at a time when the country’s patent system was long overdue for reform.
WASHINGTON – Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX) issued the following statement after FBI Director James Comey’s testimony before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s recommendation not to prosecute former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for maintaining classified information on a private server:
Washington, DC – On Thursday, Congressman Lamar Smith (TX-21) and Congresswoman Susan Brooks (IN-5) sent a letter to House appropriators urging them to prioritize support for K-12 computer science education.
Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today introduced the Scientific Research in the National Interest Act, bipartisan legislation to ensure that the National Science Foundation (NSF) is accountable to the taxpayers about how their hard-earned dollars are spent. The bill requires that each NSF public announcement of a grant award be accompanied by a non-technical explanation of the project’s scientific m
– Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that EPA must consider cost before deciding whether the Mercury Air Toxics regulation is appropriate and necessary to regulate under the Clean Air Act.
The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee today held a hearing to examine the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent regulatory agenda, including the lack of scientific and technical justification for regulations and their impact on American competitiveness. Witnesses focused on three specific proposals: the Clean Power Plan, the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for Ozone, and the Waters of the United States, recently rebranded the “Clean Water Rule” by EPA.
Washington, DC—House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today introduced an amendment to H.R. 2578, the Fiscal Year 2016 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Act that increases funding for improved weather forecasting technology by $21 million. The funding would be used to implement activities authorized in Smith’s bipartisan Science Committee legislation, H.R. 1561, the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2015, which passed the House of Representatives unanimously just weeks ago.
Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its controversial Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule, under a new name, the “Clean Water Rule.” The EPA has long claimed the rule is intended to define which bodies of water can be regulated by the Clean Water Act. But the rule is written so broadly it could allow the EPA to regulate virtually every body of water in the United States, including private and public lakes, ponds and streams.