Week in Review 6.17.22
Welcome to this week’s edition of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee newsletter! The SST Newsletter highlights the goings on of the Committee, the hard work of our Members, and a look ahead.
Looking at the Future of Weather Research
On Tuesday, the Subcommittee on Environment held a hearing to discuss the highest priority investments needed for weather research and development over the next decade, as described in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Science Advisory Board’s “Priorities for Weather Research” report.
“Improving our understanding of precipitation trends and hurricane intensity is not just important for my constituents, but for all Americans. The accuracy of short-term weather forecasts in the range of a few days to two weeks has improved significantly in recent decades. However, there remain gaps in our ability to provide sub seasonal to seasonal forecasts. Improved longer-term forecasts, that are on the order of weeks to months would support the resiliency of critical infrastructure sectors, like transportation, utility, and energy sectors, that we rely on every day.”
- Chairwoman Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) of the Subcommittee on Environment
GAO: Water Quality: Agencies Should Take More Actions to Manage Risks from Harmful Algal Blooms & Hypoxia
This week, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on harmful algal blooms (HABs) and hypoxia. The report was originally requested in April 2020 by 11 Members of Congress including Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Ranking Member Frank Lucas (R-OK), Environment Subcommittee Chair Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Congressman Charlie Crist (D-FL), Congressman Bill Posey (R-FL), and Congressman Michael Waltz (R-FL). In the report, GAO recommends further action to address harmful algal blooms and hypoxia. GAO specifically calls on the co-chairs of the existing interagency working group, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to address HABs and hypoxia with six recommendations for executive action.
Read the Members’ statement on the report here.
Coming up in Committee
Subcommittee on Energy Hearing
Subject: “Investigating the Nature of Matter, Energy, Space, and Time”
Date: Wednesday, June 22, 2022
Time: 10:00 a.m. ET
Place: 2318 Rayburn House Office Building and Online via Zoom
Witnesses:
· Dr. Asmeret Berhe, Director of the Office of Science, Department of Energy
· Dr. Brian Greene, Director of the Center for Theoretical Physics, Columbia University
· Dr. Lia Merminga, Director, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
· Mr. Jim Yeck, Associate Laboratory Director and Project Director for the Electron-Ion Collider, Brookhaven National Laboratory
· Mr. Michael Guastella, Executive Director, The Council on Radionuclides and Radiopharmaceuticals
Subcommittee on Research and Technology and
Subcommittee on Environment Hearing
Subject: “Assessing Federal Programs for Measuring Greenhouse Gas Sources and Sinks”
Date: Thursday, June 23, 2022
Time: 10:00 a.m. ET
Place: 2318 Rayburn House Office Building and Online via Zoom
Witnesses:
· Dr. Eric K. Lin, Director, Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology
· Dr. Ariel Stein, Acting Director, Global Monitoring Laboratory and Director, Air Resources Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
· Dr. Karen M. St. Germain, Earth Science Division Director, Science Mission Directorate, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
· Dr. Bryan Hubbell, National Program Director for Air, Climate, and Energy, Office of Research and Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency
