Lamar Smith

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleague, chairman of the Research and Technology Subcommittee, Larry Bucshon, in support of this legislation, which reduces the regulatory burden faced by researchers and research universities. In its recently released report, the Federal Demonstration Partnership found that researchers devote 42 percent of their time to administrative tasks. Answering Federal regulatory and reporting requirements takes away from time spent on the conduct of science. H.R. 5056 requires the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to establish a working group under the National Science and Technology Council to review Federal regulations that affect research and research universities. The working group is tasked with making recommendations on how to harmonize, streamline, and eliminate duplicative Federal regulations and reporting requirements, and making recommendations on how to minimize the regulatory burden on research institutions. H.R. 5056 is an important step to ensure Federal research dollars are being spent on research and not on regulatory requirements. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Indiana, Dr. Bucshon, who is also the chairman of the Research and Technology Subcommittee of the Science Committee and the sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman, the ranking member of the subcommittee, for his very generous comments. They are much appreciated. We have lots to thank him for as well on this bill and on many other bills on which he has shown a leadership role and on which he has contributed much to many bills under consideration today. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The STEM Education Act of 2014 is bipartisan legislation that ensures computer science is included in the definition of STEM education for programs and activities at our Federal science agencies. The bill also supports and strengthens ongoing STEM education efforts at the National Science Foundation. I thank Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson and Representatives Elizabeth Esty, Larry Bucshon, Chris Collins, Randy Hultgren, Robin Kelly, Joe Kennedy, Dan Lipinski, and Frederica Wilson for their initiative on this bill. Earlier this year, the Science Committee held a hearing on STEM education. The discussion that took place at that hearing helped to illustrate the importance of STEM education and why we should include computer science as a component of STEM education. Frankly, it is hard to believe it hasn't been done before. Today, a variety of jobs from banking to business to medicine require familiarity with computer science. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, computing and mathematics will be one of the top 10 major occupational groups from 2010 to 2020; and by 2020, there will be over 4 million U.S. jobs in computing and information technology. Unfortunately, America lags behind many other nations when it comes to STEM education. American students rank 21st in science and 26th in math. That must change for the better. We need to ensure that young adults have the scientific and mathematical skills to strive and thrive in a technology-based economy, but we have to capture and hold the desire of our Nation's youth to study science and engineering, so they will want to pursue these careers. H.R. 5031 also includes language to support informal STEM education programs and activities at the National Science Foundation. These activities reach students outside of the classroom and strengthen a student's engagement in STEM subject areas. The STEM Education Act ensures that teachers working towards a master's degree in STEM subjects can participate in the Robert Noyce Master Teacher Fellowship program. This program provides more opportunities for teachers who want to strengthen their teaching skills and now will encourage more teachers to pursue advanced degrees. A healthy and viable STEM workforce, literate in all STEM subjects, including computer science, is critical to American industries. A well- educated and trained STEM workforce ensures our future economic prosperity. More graduates with STEM degrees means more advanced technologies and a more robust economy. We must work to ensure that students continue to go into these fields, so that their innovative ideas can lead to a more innovative and prosperous America. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5031) to define STEM education to include computer science, and to support existing STEM education programs at the National Science Foundation.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 5031, the bill under consideration.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to again thank the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. Esty) for her interest in this subject of STEM education and for her contributions to this bill as well. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Collins), who is a member of the Science Committee and also a cosponsor of this legislation.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 5029, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Science and technology research addresses the major challenges facing our Nation. These include energy production, public health, national security, and economic development. H.R. 5029, the International Science and Technology Cooperation Act of 2014, will improve our collaboration efforts with international partners on scientific issues. I thank the ranking member, Mr. Lipinski of Illinois, for his initiative on this issue and, as I mentioned a while ago, for his initiative on so many bills that are being considered today. Better collaboration with our international partners will strengthen the U.S. scientific activities and will additionally promote the free exchange of ideas in other nations. While many Federal agencies are engaged with international partners on science and technology projects, there is a need to coordinate these projects across the Federal Government and to identify opportunities for additional collaborations. Interagency coordination ensures that tax dollars are used efficiently and that U.S. priorities are consistently addressed when working with our international partners on science and technology issues. The International Science and Technology Cooperation Act directs the National Science and Technology Council to identify and coordinate the U.S. interagency strategy for international science and technology cooperation. Further, this council will make recommendations for how to improve U.S. engagement in science and technology cooperation with our global partners. This will help ensure that the U.S. maintains its leadership in science and technology research and discovery. The bill strengthens U.S. science and technology activities, improves economic and national security, and supports U.S. foreign policy goals. For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5029. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5029) to provide for the establishment of a body to identify and coordinate international science and technology cooperation that can strengthen the domestic science and technology enterprise and support United States foreign policy goals.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the EPA's regulatory process is flawed. The data EPA uses to justify its costly air regulations are hidden from the public. The Agency uses this secret science to make exaggerated claims about the alleged benefits of burdensome new regulations. Every major air quality regulation proposed by this administration has been based on nontransparent data and unverifiable claims. Americans impacted by EPA regulations have a right to determine for themselves if the EPA's actions are based on sound science or a partisan agenda. That is why, tomorrow, the Science Committee will consider the Secret Science Reform Act. It requires that the EPA make its regulatory data publicly available. If the EPA has nothing to hide, why not make the information public? The American people who foot the bill for these regulations deserve to see the data, and good policy requires it.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Madam Speaker, the liberal national media continues to downplay the IRS scandal. Last week, the IRS claimed it lost 2 years of emails of former director Lois Lerner, which likely contained information about the agency's targeting of conservative organizations. One would think that this would be breaking news, but it took The Washington Post and The New York Times 4 days before they considered the missing emails newsworthy. This may be one reason why consumers are turning to social media for their news. What a dramatic shift from how these publications covered President Nixon's missing 18 minutes of audio tape. During Watergate, The Post and The Times' front pages and editorials almost daily criticized the Nixon administration's abuse of power. The liberal national media hasn't changed between Watergate and now. What has changed is the political party of the administration in power.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, tens of thousands of unaccompanied minors are surging across our southern border. According to an internal Border Patrol report, the blame falls squarely on the President. The report shows that 95 percent of the illegal immigrants interviewed came to the U.S. to get a ``free pass'' from the President's announced amnesty policy. His failure to enforce immigration laws and his promise of amnesty by executive order entices these immigrant children to enter the U.S. illegally. The estimate for this year alone is expected to reach 90,000--15 times more than 4 years ago. The President's solution is to issue public service announcements in Central America, but the administration's actions speak louder than their words. The President's pro-amnesty policies have caused this crisis. The real solution to the border surge is to enforce current immigration laws, not undermine them as the President has done.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Americans do not trust the liberal national media to provide them with accurate, fair, and balanced news. A recent poll conducted by The Brookings Institution and Public Religion Research Institute found that only 23 percent of Americans consider the national broadcast news networks to be their most trusted news outlet, but 26 percent of independents listed FOX News as their most trusted network, compared to only 17 percent who chose the broadcast networks. The least trusted network, according to the poll, is MSNBC. Only 5 percent of Americans selected that network as their must trusted news source. Americans' distrust of the liberal national media will continue to grow until the media stops telling them what to think. There is a good reason why FOX News has been the highest rated cable news network for 12 straight years.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, congratulations to the San Antonio Spurs on winning the 2014 NBA championship over the Miami Heat. This is the fifth NBA championship for the Spurs under Coach Greg Popovich. Coach Popovich was also named this season's NBA Coach of the Year. The entire Spurs team, led by captains Tim Duncan and Tony Parker, played with determination to bring the championship trophy back to San Antonio. The Spurs also clinched the best record in the NBA this season with 26 wins and 20 losses. Also, congratulations to Kawhi Leonard, who was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player. Leonard averaged over 17 points and six rebounds in the championship series, with three consecutive 20-point performances. Leonard also had the help of the Spurs ``Big 3,'' made up of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Tony Parker. The ``Big 3'' now has the most playoff wins of any trio in NBA history. A well-deserved congratulations to the Spurs for bringing the trophy back to the Alamo City. As we say in San Antonio: Go, Spurs, go.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Americans know that liberal media bias is a major problem in our country. They realize that our democracy rests on fair and balanced news coverage. Instead of reporting the facts, though, the national liberal media pushes the agenda of the administration. A recent Rasmussen poll found that Americans now believe media bias is a bigger problem than large campaign contributions. It also found that a majority of Americans believe the news media has too much power and influence over government decisions. This is largely because many Americans believe that the media goes easy on this administration. Americans will continue to view the media as a problem until it provides fair and balanced coverage. The media should give the American people the facts, not tell them what to think.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4412, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, NASA has accomplished some of the most awe-inspiring and technologically advanced space initiatives in the history of mankind. This bill, H.R. 4412, the NASA Authorization Act of 2014, helps ensure that the United States will continue its proud tradition of being a world leader in space exploration. The U.S. was the first nation to put a human on the Moon; and NASA's Voyager 1, an American space mission, was the first human-made object to enter interstellar space. Our astronauts are national heroes. Alan Shepherd, John Glenn, Neil Armstrong, and Buzz Aldrin are household names. Today's astronauts, like Rick Mastracchio, Mike Hopkins, and Chris Cassidy, inspire American students to study science, technology, engineering, and math. Space exploration is an investment in our Nation's future--often the distant future. This bill expressed bipartisan support for investment in the future of America's space endeavors. The bill provides the resources and guidance to NASA to push humanity further into the cosmos. It contains provisions for the development of American rockets that will take cargo and people to low-Earth orbit and beyond. It supports the James Webb Space Telescope, which will identify and characterize new planets in our galaxy and help researchers look back in time to see how the universe began. It directs NASA to continue to focus resources on the detection of near-Earth asteroids that may threaten the Earth and its inhabitants. It instructs NASA to design and send a robotic mission to Jupiter's moon, Europa, to see if any life exists in the waters under its icy surface. It directs NASA to work with the National Academies to put together a strategy for finding more exoplanets. The bill also requires NASA to develop a human exploration roadmap similar to the recommendation made in last week's National Academy of Sciences report. This roadmap will provide a long-term plan for future human space exploration. This bill also reflects the skepticism that members of the Science Committee and the scientific community have about the Obama administration's proposed asteroid retrieval mission. The bill requires the administration to provide Congress with a detailed budget profile, a detailed technical plan, a description of the technologies and capabilities expected to be gained in the area of planetary defense, and a review by the Small Bodies Assessment Group and the NASA Advisory Council. Congress will be better equipped to consider the administration's proposed missions once we have all of the proper information. This bill is an example of how well Congress can work together to accomplish an objective that will benefit the entire Nation. It was voted out of committee with unanimous bipartisan support. Mr. Speaker, I also want to thank the ranking member, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson; Mr. Palazzo, chairman of the Space Subcommittee; and Ms. Edwards, ranking member of the Space Subcommittee, for their leadership in working together to find common ground on this bill. I urge my colleagues to support this bill to ensure that the United States maintains its leadership in space and continues to inspire young people to shoot for the stars. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4412) to authorize the programs of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no other individuals who wish to speak on this bill on this side. If the ranking member is willing to yield back her time, I am as well.

Mr. SMITH of Texas

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1254) to amend the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Posey), a member of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.