House Science Subcommittees on Basic Research, Energy & Environment

The Science Committee is the authorizing committee on the House side for most of the federal government’s civilian science and technology policies and programs, particularly those relating to physics. Its counterpart in the Senate is the Commerce Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space (see FYI #29.)

Congress deals primarily with two types of bills, authorization and appropriations. Authorizing legislation gives a federal department or agency permission to spend money and sets policy direction; appropriations provide the actual money. In theory, major agencies and programs should be authorized before having funds appropriated for them, but in reality, many programs receive funding that have not been authorized.

The jurisdictional information for the subcommittees is taken from the Science Committee’s “Committee Rules for the 104th Congress,” approved January 5, 1995. See FYI #25 for the rosters of the other two House Science subcommittees.

SUBCOMMITTEE ON BASIC RESEARCH
B-374 Rayburn House Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20515, 202-225-9662

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 [which no longer exists.]”

SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
B-374 Rayburn House Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20515, 202-225-9662

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 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including all activities related to weather, weather services, climate, and the atmosphere, and marine, fisheries, and oceanic research.”

+Retiring at end of term. *Freshman Member.