So Far…

Statement

U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, released the following statement in applause of the committee's legislative accomplishments thus far in 2017.

"The American people gave a clear order last November that they wanted our country to go in a new direction. As a result, our committee returned in January and worked with Congress to immediately pass the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act, which is the sum of 11 pieces of stalled legislation to strengthen and reform agencies and programs that administer basic research while creating well-paying jobs for hardworking Americans. This bill was signed into law on January 6.

"In the new Congress, our committee hit the ground running with a White House that was ready to partner with Congress and the American people. We have worked tirelessly to bridge partisan divides and to pass nine bills out of the House, three of which have already been signed into law, with one more to be signed by President Trump in the coming days. With these valuable pieces of legislation, our committee has successfully paved the way for more women to pursue careers in STEM fields. Legislation signed by President Trump also included a much-needed authorization of NASA, which had not been authorized since 2010 and expired in 2013, that puts America back on track to being a global leader in space exploration. Next, President Trump is due to sign a bill from our committee this month that transforms our nation's weather forecasting and warning capabilities through research and private sector enterprise, making it possible for business owners, farmers, private property owners, and Americans across the country to better prepare for severe weather.

"Three of our bills have passed the House and are pending Senate action. One vital, bipartisan energy bill, the Department of Energy Research and Innovation Act, will advance basic research and nuclear energy research and development while setting clear fundamental science and technology transfer priorities for the Department of Energy. The HONEST Act and the EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act will require EPA to be open and honest while strengthening public trust in the science used at EPA.

"Our committee also approved the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, Assessment, and Auditing Act of 2017 that will hold federal agencies accountable for implementing recommended cybersecurity measures to better protect Americans' confidential tax, health, and other personal information. The committee has held seven subcommittee hearings and three full committee hearings to gain valuable information from world renown experts, stakeholders, agency officials, astronauts, and other leading scientists.

"While the 115th Congress has only been back at work for less than 100 days, our committee has had many significant accomplishments and we are just getting started.

"The committee has members with backgrounds ranging from military veterans to medical doctors to seasoned attorneys to small business owners. I look forward to working with my colleagues to generate even more worthy accomplishments and exceed the expectations of the American people. We will work closely with the Trump administration to make America great again."

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