House Science Committee Chairman Robert Walker

Publication date
Number
13

House Science Committee Chairman Robert Walker has quickly become a prominent figure in science and technology policy since assuming his new position earlier this month. Well-known on Capitol Hill for his persistent defense of his party's rights on the House floor in previous years, Walker is a close confidant of House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

Walker was first elected in 1976, and represents portions of Chester, Delaware, and Lancaster counties in Pennsylvania's 16th district. Before coming to Congress he was a high school teacher and congressional aide. Walker, 52, is one of the House's most well-known conservatives, and is Vice Chairman of the House Budget Committee.

Walker has been a steadfast supporter of the space station and basic research, and is a vigorous opponent of earmarking (see FYI #169, 1994, for additional views.) During House consideration last August of the Hydrogen, Fusion, and High Energy and Nuclear Physics Research Act, Walker offered what he called "an antilobbying amendment from the standpoint of lobbying with taxpayers' money." This was in response to the opposition mounted to his possible amendment for an authorization cap on the DOE General Science and Research Activities budget. He did not offer the authorization cap amendment, and the House did not accept the antilobbying amendment.

The educational institutions in the 16th district are: Franklin and Marshall College, Immaculata College, Lancaster Bible College, Lancaster Theological Seminary, Lincoln University, Millersville University of Pennsylvania, Thaddeus Stevens State Tech, and West Chester University.

Zip codes in the 16th district are (*shared by more than one district):

17503 17504 17505 17506 17507 17508 17509 17512*
17516* 17517 17518 17519 17520 17522* 17527 17528
17529 17532 17534 17535 17536 17537 17538 17540
17543 17545* 17549 17551* 17552* 17555 17557 17560
17562 17563 17565 17566 17567 17568 17569 17572
17573 17576 17577 17578 17579 17580 17581 17582*
17583 17584 17585 17600 17601 17602 17603* 17604
17605 17606 17607 17608 17699 19310 19311 19316
19317* 19318 19319 19320 19330 19335 19341 19342*
19343* 19344* 19345 19346 19347 19348* 19350* 19351
19352* 19353 19354 19355* 19357 19358 19360 19362
19363 19365 19366 19367 19369 19370 19371 19372
19373* 19374 19375 19376 19380 19381 19382 19383
19390 19395 19457 19464 19465 19470 19475 19480
19501 19520            
               

See FYIs #8 and 9 for his subcommittee's rosters. The address of the House Science Committee is: 2320 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515-6301.