Week in Review — 11.12.21
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.
Science Committee Members Attend #COP26 in Glasgow
This week, Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) joined Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland on behalf of the United States House of Representatives. In Glasgow, the delegation participated in bilateral meetings, panel discussions, and other engagements with global leaders on top climate priorities. The Chairwoman was joined by House Science, Space, and Technology Members Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), and Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL).
Read the full press release and watch the Chairwoman’s remarks at COP26 below.
National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program
On Wednesday, the Subcommittee on Research and Technology held a hearing titled, “Weathering the Storm: Reauthorizing the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program.” During the hearing, members reviewed the activities of the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program (NWIRP), including the importance of interagency collaboration. The Subcommittee also considered new and evolving challenges to improved windstorm and windstorm impact resilience, and opportunities to improve the Program.
“This summer, Southeast Michigan experienced a nonstop deluge of extreme winds and storms–we had nine hard-hitting, severe storms in nine weeks. Tornadoes, hail, derechos, flash floods, & Supercell storms created a cycle of destruction in our communities.”
Chairwoman Haley Stevens (D-MI) of the Subcommittee on Research and Technology
ICYMI: Chairwoman Johnson and Ranking Member Lucas Asks OSTP Director Lander to Protect Spectrum Access
On Friday, November 5, Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK) sent a letter to Dr. Eric Lander, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, recommending that he issue a charge to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) to report on strategies for protecting and enabling spectrum access and quality for science and operational applications. As demand for spectrum for mobile applications has increased drastically in recent years, spectrum-dependent scientific fields and operational functions such as weather forecasting are facing increasing threats to their spectrum equities due to harmful interference.
Science on Social
Coming up in Committee
Markup of:
- H.R. 5781, the “National Wildland Fire Risk Reduction Program Act”
- H.R. 1437, the “PRECIP Act”
- H.R. 5324, the “NWR Modernization Act of 2021”
DATE: Tuesday, November 16, 2021
TIME: 10:00 a.m. EST
PLACE: Online via videoconferencing
Subject: “Fostering a New Era of Fusion Energy Research and Technology Development”
DATE: Wednesday, November 17, 2021
TIME: 10:00 a.m. EST
PLACE: Online via videoconferencing
Witnesses:
- Dr. Troy Carter, Director, Plasma Science and Technology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles and Chair, Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee Long Range Planning Subcommittee
- Dr. Tammy Ma, Program Element Leader for High Energy Density Science, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
- Dr. Robert Mumgaard, CEO, Commonwealth Fusion Systems
- Dr. Kathryn McCarthy, Director, U.S. ITER Project Office
- Dr. Steven Cowley, Director, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
