Washington, D.C. – The House of Representatives today passed six bipartisan Science, Space, and Technology Committee bills by voice vote.

Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas):  “These are all good bipartisan bills. H.R. 1561 protects lives and property through improved weather research to better forecast tornadoes and hurricanes and to increase warning lead times. H.R. 1119 takes steps to cut through administrative red tape to ensure our nation’s research investments are efficient and effective. H.R. 1156 improves economic and national security and supports U.S. foreign policy goals. H.R. 1162 promotes increased utilization of prize competitions within the federal government to create technological breakthroughs. H.R. 1158 shows this Committee stands together in wanting to further open up the capabilities and talents of the Department of Energy (DOE) to private sector innovators.  And H.R. 874 calls on DOE to develop a pathway towards the next generation of supercomputing systems. ”

H.R. 1561, the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2015, introduced by Vice-Chairman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) and cosponsored by Environment Subcommittee Chairman Jim Bridenstine (R-Okla.). The bipartisan bill improves America’s severe weather forecasting capabilities by prioritizing the protection of lives and property through a forward-looking weather research plan at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The bill received letters of support from 25 organizations representing the weather enterprise and industry.

H.R. 1119, the Research and Development Efficiency Act, introduced by Research and Technology Subcommittee Chair Barbara Comstock (R-Va.) and co-sponsored by Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas), Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas), and Research and Technology Subcommittee Ranking Member Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.). This is a bill to have Federal research regulations reviewed for unjustified burdens, unnecessary requirements, and duplication and to recommend cost saving reforms.

H.R. 1156, the International Science and Technology Cooperation Act of 2015, introduced by Research and Technology Subcommittee Ranking Member Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) and co-sponsored by Research and Technology Subcommittee Vice-Chairman John Moolenaar (R-Mich.), Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas), Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas), and Representatives Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.), Randy Hultgren (R-Ill.), and Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.). This is a bill to authorize the establishment of a body under the National Science and Technology Council to identify and coordinate international science and technology cooperation opportunities.

H.R. 1162, the Science Prize Competitions Act, introduced by Oversight Subcommittee Ranking Member Don Beyer (D-Va.) and co-sponsored by Oversight Subcommittee Vice-Chairman Bill Johnson (R-Ohio), Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas), and Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas). The bill encouraging federal science agencies to use private-public prize competitions to address significant health, environmental, and other issues.

H.R. 1158, the Department of Energy Laboratory Modernization and Technology Transfer Act of 2015, introduced by Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-Ill.) and co-sponsored by Representative Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.) , Ranking Member Johnson (D-Texas), Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas), Energy Subcommittee Chairman Randy Weber (R-Texas), and Representatives Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas), and Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) amongst others. This legislation would improve management of the National Laboratories, enhance technology commercialization, and facilitate public-private partnerships.

H.R. 874, the American Super Computing Leadership Act, introduced by Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-Ill.) and co-sponsored by Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas), and Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) amongst others. This legislation amends the Department of Energy High-End Computing Revitalization Act of 2004 to improve the high-end computing research and development program of the Department of Energy and establish an exascale computing program.