House and Senate Hearings Focus on Science, Cybersecurity, and Infrastructure

Science and infrastructure topics were the focus of three hearings this week as congressional authorization and oversight committees kick off their agenda’s for the 116th Congress. 

The House Science, Space and Technology Committee, chaired by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), held a hearing on The State of Climate Science and Why it Matters. The House Science Committee conducts oversight of non-defense federal scientific research and development, which includes agencies with climate change research missions, including NASA, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Energy. A mix of academia and industry were represented among the witness list, which was comprised of:  Dr. Natalie M. Mahowald, from Cornell University; Dr. Robert Kopp, Director from Rutgers University; Dr. Jennifer Francis, of the Woods Hole Research Center; Dr. Joseph Majkut, of the Niskanen Center; and Dr. Kristie from the University of Washington.

To view an archived webcast of this briefing, click here: https://science.house.gov/legislation/hearings/state-climate-science-and-why-it-matters

In the Senate, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing “to consider the status and outlook for cybersecurity efforts in the energy industry.” The Committee, again chaired by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) this Congress, heard from witnesses for this hearing included Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Neil Chatterjee; Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response at the Department of Energy, Karen Evans; and President and Chief Executive Officer of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, James Robb.

To view an archived webcast of this briefing, click here: https://www.energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/hearings-and-business-meetings?ID=FE0534E7-2FC7-4DB0-BEA6-2634D3821ADD

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation also held a hearing on America’s Infrastructure Needs: Keeping Pace with a Growing Economy. The main focus of the hearing was identifying new opportunities for improving the current state of American infrastructure, along with avenues for funding.  The witness list included Ian Jefferies, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Association of American Railroads; Matthew Polka, President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Cable Association; and Chris Spear, President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Trucking Association.

To view an archived webcast of this briefing, click here: https://www.commerce.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/hearings?ID=A73B1CC1-D6D6-4B18-A419-9F33FB5F69BA