House Committee on Science and Technology: 111th Congress – Agenda Overview

U.S. House of Representatives (1/9) – In the 111th Congress, the Committee on Science and Technology plans to work on issues including energy technology development, climate and weather monitoring, math and science education programs, nanotechnology, the space program, aviation research, and technical standards for industries from energy to health care to telecommunications. The Committee also will work with the new Administration to implement other critical science and technology priorities. Plans include:

Innovation: Maintaining Our Competitiveness

• Work with the new Administration and Congress to fully fund the America COMPETES Act
• Address the need for standards, evaluation techniques, and improved methods for characterization in the area of biologic pharmaceuticals
• Work to develop updated policies for encouraging Federally-supported research at labs and universities to be brought into the marketplace

Energy: Developing Clean Technologies

• Work with the new Administration to implement the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy (ARPA-E) – based on the successful DARPA model, ARPA-E is tasked with undertaking high-risk, high-reward energy technology development, especially research that is too cross-cutting or multi-disciplinary to fit into the current system, and partnering with the best talent in the private sector, universities, and the national labs
• Review programs at the DOE Office of Science, including ways to strengthen the linkages between basic energy research, applied energy research, and technology transfer and ways to make DOE lab management more effecti

Workforce: Creating Jobs of the Future

• Evaluate STEM education programs across the Federal government and determine how to better coordinate these efforts to make them more effective
• Directing investments across the economy in technologies and entities – including small manufacturers and high-tech firms - to create “green jobs” that boost economic growth