House Science Subcommittees: Basic Research, Energy & Environment

The House Science Committee is the authorizing committee for the federal government’s science and technology policies and programs. (An authorizing committee approves federal programs, but does not fund them.) Agencies under its jurisdiction in the 104th Congress include OSTP, OTA, NSF, NASA, NIST, and the Department of Energy’s non-military R&D programs. The committee has been reduced from five subcommittees to four: Basic Research, Energy and Environment, Space and Aeronautics, and Technology.

This FYI provides the rosters and jurisdiction of the subcommittees on Basic Research, and Energy and Environment. FYI #9 will provide the same information for the Space and Aeronautics, and Technology subcommittees. The quotes regarding subcommittee jurisdiction are taken from the science committee’s “Committee Rules for the 104th Congress,” approved January 5th of this year. (Note: Full Committee chairman Robert Walker (PA) and Ranking Democratic Member George Brown (CA) are ex-officio members of each subcommittee.)

SUBCOMMITTEE ON BASIC RESEARCH:

Republicans: Democrats:

Jurisdiction: “Legislative jurisdiction and general and special oversight and investigative authority on all matters relating to science policy including: Office of Science and Technology Policy; all scientific research, and scientific and engineering resources (including human resources), math, science and engineering education; intergovernmental mechanisms for research, development, and demonstration and cross-cutting programs; international scientific cooperation; National Science Foundation; university research policy, including infrastructure, overhead and partnerships; science scholarships; government-owned, contractor-operated non-military laboratories; computer, communications, and information science; earthquake and fire research programs; research and development relating to health, biomedical, and nutritional programs; to the extent appropriate, agricultural, geological, biological and life sciences research; and the Office of Technology Assessment.”

SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT:

Republicans: Democrats:

Jurisdiction: “Legislative jurisdiction and general and special oversight and investigative authority on all matters relating to energy and environmental research, development, and demonstration including: Department of Energy research, development, and demonstration programs; federally owned and operated nonmilitary energy laboratories; energy supply research and development activities; nuclear and other advanced energy technologies; general science and research activities; uranium supply, enrichment, and waste management activities as appropriate; fossil energy research and development; clean coal technology; energy conservation research and development; science and risk assessment activities of the Federal Government; Environmental Protection Agency research and development programs; and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including all activities related to weather, weather services, climate, and the atmosphere, and marine, fisheries, and oceanic research.”