The Key Players: Select Science-Related Congressional Committees (I)

Over the next five months, committees in the House and Senate will draft legislation of major importance to the physics and astronomy community. This FYI and FYI #71 provide a brief background on the two kinds of bills to watch, and list the key players in this process.

AUTHORIZATION BILLS

Authorization bills give permission to spend money, but do not provide the money itself.

In theory, an authorization bill defines what a department, agency, or program can do, and sets spending limits. For example, NSF programs were authorized for five years under the now expired NSF Authorization Act of 1988.

When a new (non-appropriations) bill is introduced, it is sent to one or more of the authorizing committees. The next step is to schedule a hearing, although most bills never get to this stage. However, if the bill is sponsored by a chairman, is on an important topic, or has many cosponsors, there is a greater probability that a hearing(s) will be held. If there is general consensus about the need for legislation, a bill will be drafted by the subcommittee or committee and a full committee vote held. The bill will then be reported to the full House or Senate for its consideration, where it may be modified. This process is repeated in the other chamber. If passed in both, the House and Senate will confer on bill language, and a final vote will be held in each chamber. The legislation is then sent to the president for approval or veto.

In practice, authorizing committees have lost much of their power to the appropriations committees. For example, authorizing legislation has expired for most science and technology agencies and programs. Authorizing committees may regain some of their influence this year under a new plan being advanced by congressional leadership.

Authorizing committees also hold oversight hearings, in which federal and non-federal witnesses testify to the strengths and weaknesses of a program or agency.

Committees which draft physics and astronomy-related authorization bills include:

SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SPACE SH-428 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510, (202) 224-8172 Chairman, Conrad Burns (R-Montana) Ranking Democratic Member, John D. Rockefeller IV (D-West Virginia) Jurisdiction: Science, engineering and technology research and development

HOUSE SCIENCE COMMITTEE 2320 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515, (202) 225-6371 Chairman, Robert S. Walker (R-Pennsylvania) Ranking Democratic Member, George E. Brown Jr. (D-California) Jurisdiction: NSF, NASA, NIST, some DOE, research and development SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SD-364 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510, (202) 224-8115 Chairman, Pete V. Domenici (R-New Mexico) Ranking Democratic Member, Wendell H. Ford (D-Kentucky) Jurisdiction: Nuclear research and development, new technologies R&D

SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE SR-228 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-6050 (202) 224-3871 Chairman, Strom Thurmond (R-South Carolina) Ranking Democratic Member, Sam Nunn (D-Georgia) Jurisdiction: Department of Defense, defense-related R&D

HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COMMITTEE 2120 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515-6035 (202) 225-4151 Chairman, Floyd D. Spence (R-South Carolina) Ranking Democratic Member, Ronald V. Dellums (D-California) Jurisdiction: Department of Defense, defense-related R&D

FYIs #62 and 63 provide guidance on communicating with Members of Congress.