History of the Committee
The Soviet Union launched the first satellite, Sputnik
1, into orbit on October 4, 1957, initiating the "Space
Race." When the 85th Congress reconvened in
1958, one of its first tasks was the creation
of a Select Committee on Astronautics and Space
Exploration. This Select Committee wrote the
Space Act, which established the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA) and the permanent
House Committee on Science and Astronautics,
the forerunner of the present Committee on Science
and Technology.
The Science and Astronautics Committee was the first
standing committee created in the House in 11 years
and the first committee since 1892 to be established
for an entirely new area of jurisdiction. The Committee’s initial
jurisdiction included exploration and control of
outer space, astronautical research and development,
scientific research and development, science scholarships
and legislation relating to scientific agencies. The scientific agencies
under the Committee initially included the National Bureau of Standards
(now the National Institute of Standards and Technology), NASA, the
National Aeronautics and Space Council, and the National Science
Foundation.
In 1974, the Committee’s name was changed
to the Committee on Science and Technology. At
that time, the Committee’s
jurisdiction was expanded to include legislation
related to energy, the environment, the atmosphere,
civil aviation research and development and the
National Weather Service. The Committee on Science
and Technology was also given a "special
oversight" function
providing for exclusive responsibility among all
Congressional Standing Committees to review and
study, on a continuing basis, all laws, programs
and government activities involving Federal non-military
research and development.
Civilian nuclear research and development was added
to the Committee’s jurisdiction in 1977 when the Joint Committee
on Atomic Energy was abolished. The name was again
changed at the outset of the 100th Congress to
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
The Republican Party took control of the House
in 1995 and officially changed the name of the Committee to the Committee
on Science.
In its early years, the Committee was an important
partner in the Apollo Program that led to a man landing
on the moon and strengthening science education
and scientific research. After the Committee’s role expanded,
the Committee has played an important role in much
of the legislation Congress has considered dealing with domestic
and international science, technology, standards and competitiveness.
Members of the Committee have gone on to play important
roles in Congress and the Executive Branch. Alumni
of the Select Committee and the Science Committee
have included President Ford, Vice President
Gore, Senate Majority Leader Reid, Commerce and
Transportation Secretary Mineta and Agriculture
Secretary Glickman.
Congressman Bart Gordon (D-TN) was named Chairman
of the Committee when Democrats resumed control
of Congress in 2007. He subsequently brought the
Committee back to its roots with a return to the name of Committee
on Science and Technology – a
move made to better reflect the broad jurisdiction
of the panel.
In the 110th Congress, the Committee comprises five
subcommittees: Energy & Environment; Technology & Innovation;
Research & Science Education; Space & Aeronautics; and Investigations & Oversight.
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