Week in Review — 10.15.21
The SST Newsletter highlights the goings on of the Committee, the hard work of our Members, and a look ahead. — Sign up to get it delivered straight to your inbox.
#WeatherReady Nation
On Thursday, we held a Full Committee hearing titled, “The Future of Forecasting: Building a Weather-Ready National on All Fronts.” During the hearing members examined recent reforms, successes, and modernization efforts at the National Weather Service (NWS), how they support the goal of building a “weather-ready nation,” and what these efforts mean for the NWS workforce. Members also discussed the findings and recommendations of several recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports on these topics and the status of NWS implementation of the recommendations. Additionally, the hearing included a discussion of the science and technology advancements needed to support forecasting improvements.
You can watch the hearing, read testimony, and review the GAO report here.
Congrats Nobel Laureates!
Over the last week, the 2021 Nobel Prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, and Peace as well as the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences, were announced. Each year, thousands of nominators submit candidates for the Nobel Prize, and Laureates are announced in October.
“Every year I am inspired by the groundbreaking accomplishments made by each of the individuals nominated for the Nobel Prize. It speaks to the state of the world, and our nation, that this year, more than one award was given for work related to climate change. In that regard, I would note the award to Dr. Syukuro Manabe who was jointly awarded this year’s Nobel Prize in Physics, the first in that category to be awarded for studies related to the human role in climate change. Dr. Manabe spent several decades at National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and helped build the foundation for today’s climate models.
“I offer my sincerest congratulations to all of this year’s laureates. These remarkable individuals are an inspiration to rising generations of problem solvers. The contributions they have made in their fields will continue to make a lasting impacts across the globe as we work to address our most pressing issues.” — Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX)
Coming up in Committee
SUBCOMMITTEE ON SPACE AND AERONAUTICS
Subject: “Accelerating Deep Space Travel with Space Nuclear Propulsion”
DATE: Wednesday, October 20, 2021
TIME: 10:00 a.m. EDT
PLACE: Online via videoconferencing
Witnesses:
· Dr. Roger M. Myers, Co-Chair, Committee on Space Nuclear Propulsion Technologies, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
· Dr. Bhavya Lal, Senior Advisor for Budget and Finance, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
· Mr. Greg Meholic, Senior Project Leader, The Aerospace Corporation
· Mr. Michael French, Vice President, Space Systems, Aerospace Industries Association
· Dr. Franklin Chang-Diaz, Founder and CEO, Ad Astra Rocket Company
SUBCOMMITTEE ON INVESTIGATIONS AND OVERSIGHT & SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY
Subject: “Judicious Spending to Enable Success at the Office of Nuclear Energy”
DATE: Thursday, October 21, 2021
TIME: 10:00 a.m. EDT
PLACE: Online via videoconferencing
Witnesses:
· Dr. Katy Huff, Acting Assistant Secretary, Office of Nuclear Energy, U.S. Department of Energy
· Ms. Amy Roma, Founding Member, Nuclear Energy and National Security Coalition, Atlantic Council, and Partner, Hogan Lovells US LLP
· Dr. Todd Allen, Director, Michigan Memorial Phoenix Project and Glenn F. and Gladys H. Knoll Department Chair of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences, University of Michigan
· Mr. Scott Amey, General Counsel and Executive Editorial Director, Project on Government Oversight
