House Republicans Announce Committee Chairs

Republicans meeting in Washington on Wednesday selected Rep. Robert Walker (Pennsylvania) as the new chairman of the House science committee. Rep. Jerry Lewis (California) was named chairman of the House VA, HUD, Independent Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee. Rep. John Myers (Indiana) will chair the House Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee. The full House Appropriations Committee chairman is Rep. Bob Livingston (Louisiana.) Under new House rules, all will be limited to six years as chairmen.

The House science committee was renamed the House Technology and Competitiveness Committee. Rep. David Dreier (R-California) headed a Republican effort examining the House committee system. Announcing the name change, Dreier was asked why “science” and “space” had been left out of the title. He explained, “They’re part of Technology. Technology and international competition is what the world’s all about. It’s very exciting; it’s a new day.”

Fulfilling a pledge, House Republicans reduced the number and size of committees. The Technology and Competitiveness Committee will have 50 members, down from the current 55. Republicans, as the majority party, will gain an additional five members; Democrats will lose 10. Over-all committee staffs will be trimmed by one-third, although Republican staff will increase since they are now the majority.

The new Technology and Competitiveness Committee’s jurisdiction was increased. It keeps its current responsibilities and takes over energy research and development from the old House Energy and Commerce Committee formerly chaired by Rep. John Dingell (D-Michigan.) The committee’s new chairman, Rep. Robert Walker, represents a district in southeastern Pennsylvania. He has strongly supported basic science, the space station, and the SSC, and is a vigorous opponent of earmarking. Walker, 51, has called for the creation of a cabinet-level Department of Science composed of science agencies. The new chairman opposes federal technology programs assisting industry, such as the Advanced Technology Program. He favors turning over many of NASA’s programs to the private sector. Walker shows a thorough understanding of science. In hearings, he has worked well with Rep. George Brown (D-California), although he has been very outspoken against the former House Democratic leadership and its floor procedures. The new chairman of the House VA, HUD, Independent Agencies Appropriations Committee is Rep. Jerry Lewis. Lewis, 61, represents a vast district in southwestern California surrounding Barstow. In hearings, Lewis asks thoughtful questions of NSF and NASA officials. Lewis is a strong supporter of the space station. He is a moderate, and has an easy-going style in subcommittee hearings, similar to that of former chairmen Louis Stokes (D-Ohio) and Bob Traxler. The full House Appropriations Committee is also being reduced; the size of the subcommittee has not been announced.

Rep. John T. Myers, 68, becomes the new chairman of the House Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee. He represents Indiana’s 7th district surrounding Terre Haute and Lafayette. Although a conservative Republican, he was not conservative enough for incoming Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R-Georgia) who passed over the more senior Myers to select Rep. Bob Livingston as chairman of the full appropriations committee. Livingston’s district is generally north of New Orleans.

Walker, Lewis, and Myers are the primary shapers of physics-related science policy and funding in the new House of Representatives. All of them are friendly toward, and have an appreciation of, science. The new Congress convenes on January 4.