SST Business Meeting

Committee Organizing for 119th CongressHouse Science, Space, and Technology · February 5, 2025 · 119th Congress
The House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology convened its first meeting of the 119th Congress to formally organize, adopting the committee's rules and its authorization and oversight plan as required by House rules by March 1 [0:20:24]. Begins at ▶ 0:12:21
Transcript
Highlights

Title

Committee organizes for 119th Congress, adopts rules and oversight plan

Purpose

The House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology convened its first meeting of the 119th Congress to formally organize, adopting the committee's rules and its authorization and oversight plan as required by House rules by March 1▶ 0:20:24. Chairman Brian Babin (R-TX) and Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) also used the session to introduce the committee's new and returning members and announce subcommittee assignments and ranking members. Begins at▶ 0:12:21

Who spoke

• Chairman (Brian Babin, R-TX)▶ 0:12:21: Called the meeting to order to organize the committee for the 119th Congress▶ 0:12:21, outlined the committee's priorities including quantum information sciences, weather forecasting, commercial space, and NASA's return to the Moon and path to Mars▶ 0:15:23, and moved adoption of the committee rules▶ 0:18:24 and the authorization and oversight plan▶ 0:19:54; later introduced all new and returning Republican members and subcommittee chairs▶ 0:22:56.

• Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)▶ 0:16:23: Said the majority circulated the rules and oversight plan in advance and her caucus approved them the night before▶ 0:17:23, voiced support for both items▶ 0:19:24▶ 0:21:25, and introduced the committee's new Democratic members and named the subcommittee ranking members▶ 0:30:00.

Key moments

• The committee adopted its rules for the 119th Congress by voice vote, including a new provision for electronic voting▶ 0:18:54▶ 0:19:54.

• The committee adopted its authorization and oversight plan by voice vote, covering agencies including NOAA, the weather act program, the National Quantum Initiative Act, and NASA▶ 0:20:24▶ 0:21:55.

• The chairman noted the committee was established in July 1958 in direct response to the Soviet Union's 1957 launch of Sputnik 1▶ 0:13:52.

• Lofgren credited the committee's productivity to bipartisan collaboration and encouraged members to "reach out across the aisle"▶ 0:16:53.

• New Republican members introduced: David Rouzer (NC), Keith Self (TX), Sheri Biggs (SC), Mike Haridopolos (FL), (an unnamed member described as a former Green Beret and West Point graduate)▶ 0:25:27, Jeff Hurd (CO), Mike Kennedy (UT), and Nick Begich (AK), with subcommittee assignments given for each▶ 0:22:56.

• New subcommittee chairs named: Randy Weber (Energy), Scott Franklin (Environment), Rich McCormick (Investigations and Oversight), Jay Obernolte (Research and Technology), and Mike Haridopolos (Space and Aeronautics)▶ 0:27:28.

• New Democratic members introduced: Suhas Subramanyam, Luz Rivas, Sylvester Turner, Sarah McBride, Laura Gillen, George Whitesides, Laura Friedman, April McClain Delaney, and Josh Riley, each with subcommittee assignments▶ 0:30:00.

• Democratic subcommittee ranking members announced: Gabe Amo (Environment), Deborah Ross (Energy), Sykes (Investigations and Oversight), Haley Stevens (Research and Technology), and Valerie Foushee (Space and Aeronautics)▶ 0:33:31.

• The chairman apologized for initially overlooking Claudia Tenney (NY-24) and welcomed her back to the committee▶ 0:34:01.

• The meeting adjourned with the committee set to reconvene for a hearing five minutes later▶ 0:34:32.

Metadata

CommitteeHouse Science, Space, and Technology
Chamber / CongressHouse · 119th Congress
DateFebruary 5, 2025
TypeMeeting
Witnesses
(none listed in event metadata)
Videoyoutube
Transcript49 caption blocks · 3,413 words · 0:35:09 runtime
EventCongress.gov 117851