Congress Selects New Top Appropriators for Science Agencies

The Senate and House Appropriations Committees have finalized their members and subcommittee leaders for the 119^th Congress, including several new leaders who now have greater influence to push for their own funding priorities. Some of these new leaders have previously been involved with the scientific community and advocated for funding increases for science agencies.

Commerce-Justice-Science Subcommittee

Both the Senate and House have a new top Democrat on their CJS subcommittees, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY). This subcommittee drafts spending legislation for several science agencies including NASA, the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Van Hollen noted in a press release that many agencies under the subcommittee’s jurisdiction are located in Maryland, including NIST, NOAA, and NASA Goddard. He has previously supported funding increases for NASA and its partners, including the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and the Space Telescope Science Institute in Maryland. Van Hollen has also introduced legislation to help historically Black colleges and universities reach R1 or “very high research activity” status.

Van Hollen replaced Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) as the subcommittee’s top Democrat. Shaheen is now ranking member of the subcommittee on agriculture.

Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) remains chair of the Senate CJS subcommittee. In a press release, Moran said he would prioritize goals related to space exploration, including advocating for support for NASA, promoting STEM education, and working towards returning U.S. astronauts to the Moon.

In the House CJS subcommittee, Meng has previously advocated for funding increases for NSF and NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement to strengthen partnerships between universities and federal research agencies. In 2022, the nonprofit Science Coalition presented her with the Champion of Science award, which recognizes members of Congress “whose actions and votes consistently reflect their commitment to federally funded fundamental research.”

Meng’s press release on her selection as chair emphasized her advocacy for federal investments in “public safety and education” and “efforts to create jobs and reduce costs for families.” Meng replaced former Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA) as ranking member after he lost reelection.

Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY) remains chair of the House CJS subcommittee. In a press release, Rogers highlighted NOAA and NASA as priorities for the committee. “In light of recent natural disasters across the country, we will work closely with the Department of Commerce and the agency’s numerous offices to address affected storm areas and to improve life-saving weather alerts,” he said. “NASA will also remain a top priority, as we continue to empower space exploration and partnerships with the commercial aerospace industry.” He also noted the importance of “rooting out waste” in the agencies under CJS purview.

Defense Subcommittee

The Senate’s Defense Subcommittee is also seeing new leadership, with Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as chair and Sen. Christopher Coons (D-DE) as ranking member. The subcommittee is responsible for the Defense Department’s budget, including its science and technology portfolio, which is currently more than $20 billion a year.

McConnell served as the Senate Republican leader until 2025 and succeeds Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) as the top Republican on the subcommittee. Coons succeeded former Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), who lost reelection.

McConnell’s views on science policy are unclear, whereas Coons has been vocal on the subject. Coons has put forth various ideas for Congress to advance science, including a bipartisan effort to secure sustained federal funding for basic science research. He studied chemistry as an undergraduate and has introduced legislation on sustainable chemistry, carbon dioxide removal, climate resilience, and increasing research and innovation activities.

Coons’ press release on his selection as ranking member emphasizes “robust American engagement with the world” and ensuring “our military remains the most capable and lethal fighting force in the world and has the weapons and resources required to project our values and defend our interests.”

In the House, Reps. Ken Calvert (R-CA) and Betty McCollum (D-MN) continue to lead the Defense Subcommittee.

Energy and Water Development Subcommittee

The leadership of the Energy-Water Subcommittees in both the Senate and House remain the same. The subcommittee’s jurisdiction encompasses all of the Department of Energy.

Because Republicans won the majority in the Senate, the subcommittee’s former ranking member, Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA), is now its chair, while Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) went from chair to ranking member. Murray is also ranking member of the full Appropriations Committee.

Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN) is chair of the House subcommittee and Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) is ranking member. In a press release, Fleischmann said he wants to “make our nation the world leader in new nuclear technologies” and “unleash all forms of American-made energy.”

Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Subcommittee

The leadership of both Labor-HHS-Education Subcommittees also remains the same. Their jurisdiction includes the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Education.

In the House, Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL) is chair and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) is ranking member. DeLauro is also ranking member of the full Appropriations Committee.

Last year, Aderholt joined then-Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) in proposing a new structure for NIH, including by merging some of the agency’s institutes and centers to reduce the total number from 27 to 15. Aderholt has also expressed concerns regarding the agency’s oversight of researchers’ foreign funding sources and the high concentrations of NIH funding at a small number of elite institutions.

Meanwhile, DeLauro has said Congress should gather more input and reach bipartisan agreement before advancing reform proposals for NIH.

In the Senate, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) is chair and Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) is ranking member. Both leaders have expressed strong support for the agency’s work.