House Committee on Science Space & Tech - Republicans

Full Committee Markup of H.R. 9341, H.R. 9363, H.R. 2385, H.R. 5351, H.R. 5584, H.R. 6461, H.R. 8893, H.R. 9333, H.R. 9334, and H.R. 9372

Thu, 176 Jun 2026 10:00:00 EST

Full Committee Markup of:

H.R. 9341, AI-Ready Federal Data Guidelines Act - favorably reported to the House by a vote of 29-0

The AI-Ready Federal Data Guidelines Act directs NIST to develop voluntary guidelines to help federal agencies prepare datasets, including open government data assets, for use in training AI models. The bill aims to improve the quality, accessibility, and usability of federal data to support AI innovation, enhance government transparency, and expand access to reliable information.

Amendment #100 to H.R. 9341, offered by Rep. McClain Delaney (D-MD) - passed by voice vote
Requires the Director to ensure that AI guidelines align with data privacy statutes.

H.R. 9363, AI Security and Innovation Act - favorably reported to the House by a vote of 29-0

The AI Security and Innovation Act strengthens the federal government’s approach to securing artificial intelligence systems while supporting continued innovation. The bill advances efforts to identify and mitigate AI-related risks, improves coordination across government and industry, and promotes the development of secure, resilient, and trustworthy AI technologies.

Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (ANS) to H.R. 9363, offered by Rep. Obernolte (R-CA) - passed by voice vote
Makes conforming and technical changes to the bill.
Amendment #081 to the ANS to H.R. 9363, offered by Rep. Foushee (D-NC) - withdrawn
Adds AI Child Safety Assessments.
Amendment #095 to the ANS to H.R. 9363, offered by Rep. Foster (D-IL) - passed by voice vote
Ensures development of agentic AI standards.
Amendment #083 to the ANS to H.R. 9363, offered by Rep. Foushee (D-NC) - passed by voice vote
Includes explainability and interpretability research.
Amendment #074 to the ANS to H.R. 9363, offered by Rep. Obernolte (R-CA) - withdrawn
Increase authorization levels for the Center to $100 million.
Amendment #082 to the ANS to H.R. 9363, offered by Rep. Whitesides (D-CA) - passed by voice vote
Task CAISI with evaluating and assessing trends around autonomous artificial intelligence research and development.
Amendment #001 to the ANS to H.R. 9363, offered by Rep. Lofgren (D-CA) - withdrawn
Authorizes appropriations and reimbursement of loans.
Amendment #076 to the ANS to H.R. 9363, offered by Rep. Obernolte (R-CA) - withdrawn
Allows the Center to hire a sufficient number of technical experts to complete its obligations and mission

H.R. 2385, CREATE AI Act - favorably reported to the House by a vote of 29-0

The CREATE AI Act establishes a National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource to expand access to computing power and datasets for AI research. The bill aims to broaden participation in AI development by reducing barriers to critical resources. It supports U.S. innovation by enabling more researchers to develop and test advanced AI systems.

Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (ANS) to H.R. 2385, offered by Rep. Obernolte (R-CA) - passed by voice vote
Makes conforming and technical changes to the bill.
Amendment #078 to the ANS to H.R. 2385, offered by Rep. Foushee (D-NC) - passed by voice vote
Ensures NAIRR resources are interoperable.

H.R. 5351, NSF AI Education Act of 2025 - favorably reported to the House by a vote of 33-0

The NSF AI Education Act of 2025 expands artificial intelligence education and workforce training programs at the National Science Foundation. It supports scholarships, fellowships, and professional development to build AI skills among students, educators, and workers. The bill also promotes research and collaboration to improve how AI is taught and integrated into K–12 and higher education.

Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (ANS) to H.R. 5351, offered by Rep. Fong (R-CA) - passed by voice vote
Makes conforming and technical changes to the bill.
Amendment #079 to the ANS to H.R. 5351, offered by Rep. Whitesides (D-CA) - passed by voice vote
Establish workshops to identify gaps in data and published findings on the impacts to children from the integration of AI in the classroom.
Amendment #079 to the ANS to H.R. 5351, offered by Rep. Foushee (D-NC) - failed by recorded vote
Codifies NSF's EXPANDAI program.
Amendment #107 to the ANS to H.R. 5351, offered by Rep. Salinas (D-OR) - failed by recorded vote
Allows for the establishment of up to eight Community College or Area Career Technical Educational School Centers of Artificial Intelligence Excellence.

H.R. 5584, LIFT AI Act - favorably reported to the House by a vote of 34-1

The LIFT AI Act authorizes the National Science Foundation to support programs that promote AI literacy for K–12 students and educators. It funds the development of age-appropriate AI learning materials, teacher training, and hands-on educational tools. The bill aims to prepare students for an AI-driven future and strengthen the U.S. workforce by improving early AI education.

H.R. 6461, READ AI Models Act - favorably reported to the House by a vote of 35-0

The Resources for Evaluating and Documenting (READ) AI Models Act directs NIST to establish a pilot program to develop voluntary resources for documenting AI models, including standardized templates and technical guidance. By improving transparency around how AI models are developed, evaluated, and deployed, the bill aims to support more informed decision-making, risk assessment, and responsible use of AI systems across sectors.

Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (ANS) to H.R. 6461, offered by Rep. McBride (D-DE) - passed by voice vote
Makes conforming and technical changes to the bill.

Amendment #045 to the ANS to H.R. 6461, offered by Rep. Webster (R-FL) - passed by voice vote
Prohibits foreign countries of concern from contributing to or participating in a pilot program.

H.R. 8893, Protecting Consumers from Deceptive AI Act - favorably reported to the House by a vote of 35-0

The Protecting Consumers from Deceptive AI Act directs NIST to support research, testing, and standards development for technologies that can detect, authenticate, and disclose the origin of digital content, including content generated or manipulated by AI. The bill aims to help consumers distinguish authentic content from AI-generated material and strengthen trust in online information.

Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (ANS) to H.R. 8893, offered by Rep. Foushee (D-NC) – passed by voice vote
Makes conforming and technical changes to the bill.
Amendment #082 to the ANS to H.R. 8893, offered by Rep. Foushee (D-NC) - passed by voice vote
Inserts music and visual-based content.
Amendment #041 to the ANS to H.R. 8893, offered by Rep. Lofgren (D-CA) - withdrawn
Adds a pilot program for developing standards related to user disclosure.
Amendment #103 to the ANS to H.R. 8893, offered by Rep. McClain Delaney (D-MD) - withdrawn
Supports technical solutions to verify user age for online applications in a privacy-protective manner.
Amendment #080 to the ANS to H.R. 8893, offered by Rep. Whitesides (D-CA) - withdrawn
Directs NIST to convene relevant stakeholders to develop voluntary technical standards for sharing screentime information across platforms and devices to enable interoperable parental controls.

H.R. 9333, AI Flaw Reporting and Security Enhancement Act - favorably reported to the House by a vote of 29-0

The AI Flaw Reporting and Security Enhancement Act directs NIST, in consultation with CISA, to establish a voluntary program for reporting, collecting, and tracking AI vulnerabilities, failures, and other flaws. The bill supports the development of common definitions, reporting frameworks, technical standards, and a national database to improve understanding of AI-related safety and security issues and promote more consistent reporting across sectors.

Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 9333, offered by Rep. Ross (D-NC) - passed by voice vote
Makes conforming and technical changes to the bill.

H.R. 9334, Workforce for AI Trust Act - favorably reported to the House by a vote of 35-0

The Workforce for AI Trust Act directs NSF to support interdisciplinary AI fellowships, skills-based training, and workshops to help develop a workforce capable of building, evaluating, and governing trustworthy AI systems. The bill also directs NIST to expand its AI workforce activities and develop a national framework identifying the tasks, knowledge, and skills needed for AI-related work.

Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 9334, offered by Rep. Lofgren (D-CA) - passed by voice vote
Makes conforming and technical changes to the bill.
Amendment #136 to the ANS to H.R. 9334, offered by Rep. Sykes (D-OH) - passed by voice vote
Includes the impact of AI on the workforce and economy as an area of research.
Amendment #080 to the ANS to H.R. 9334, offered by Rep. Foushee (D-NC) - passed by voice vote
Supports independent AI testing and evaluation.

H.R. 9372, Data Infrastructure Energy Measurement and Standards Act - favorably reported to the House by a vote of 34-1

The Data Center Energy Measurement and Standards Act directs NIST, in consultation with DOE, to improve how data center energy and water use are measured, reported, and analyzed. The bill supports the development of standardized metrics, best practices, and data-sharing mechanisms to improve forecasting capabilities, inform decision-making, and better understand the resource demands of AI and other advanced computing technologies.

Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 9372, offered by Rep. Subramanyam (D-VA) – passed by voice vote
Makes conforming and technical changes to the bill.
Amendment #075 to the ANS to H.R. 9372, offered by Rep. Obernolte (R-CA) - passed by voice vote
Directs the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a technology assessment focused on liquid-cooling systems for artificial-intelligence compute clusters and high-performance computing facilities, require the development of Federal Government-wide best-practice guidance for Federal agencies.

Opening Statement of Chairman Brian Babin at Full Committee Markup of H.R. 9341, H.R. 9363, H.R. 2385, H.R. 5351, H.R. 5584, H.R. 6461, H.R. 8893, H.R. 9333, H.R. 9334, and H.R. 9372

Thu, 176 Jun 2026 12:00:00 EST

I would like to welcome everyone to this morning’s full committee markup. Today, we will mark up ten bills on a topic that seems to dominate every newspaper, news channel, and podcast these days: artificial intelligence, or AI.

Most of us are already integrating AI into our lives, whether we realize it or not. For example, autocorrect and facial recognition systems on our phones, as well as filtering systems for emails and messages, depend on this technology. If you shop online, chances are products have been recommended using AI based on your past behavior, prices may be adjusted based on demand, and chatbots can help answer customer service questions. In banking, AI helps detect fraud and provide consumers with spending insights.

The United States is a global leader in AI innovation. Nearly 60 percent of the world’s most-cited AI researchers work at American institutions, and our nation remains the destination of choice for top AI talent.

In addition to talent, the United States benefits from significant investment and infrastructure in this space. In 2025 alone, venture capital investment in U.S. AI companies reached approximately $194 billion—roughly three-quarters of all global AI investment. That does not even account for the enormous investments being made in cloud computing, advanced infrastructure, and data center construction across the country—which dwarf the Chinese market.

Last July, the White House released an AI Action Plan, along with an Executive Order, focused on accelerating innovation, strengthening national security, and establishing federal AI policy priorities.

In January, we held a hearing in this room with White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios to explore specific actions Congress could take to build on President Trump’s AI Action Plan. In particular, we discussed the role of American innovation in AI and the national security challenges posed by foreign competitors, particularly as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues to invest heavily in AI capabilities.

A key component of the AI Action Plan and the accompanying Executive Order was bolstering cybersecurity protections for our nation’s critical infrastructure. One of the bills we have on the docket today, the AI Security and Innovation Act, supports that goal while maintaining continued U.S. leadership in AI research, development, and evaluation by authorizing the Center for AI Security and Innovation, or CAISI.

It’s important that CAISI is adequately funded, and I look forward to our Committee continuing to have a conversation about how we achieve that.

I see we have amendments to increase authorization levels for CAISI, which I fully support. In fact, I think funding for CAISI should perhaps be higher than the proposed amendments given its importance at this time. We should, however, ensure that we authorize CAISI in a manner that does not undermine future progress on the bill, and I commit to working with the sponsors to ensure we get the number “right” going forward.

In total, we will mark up ten bipartisan bills this morning. Members of this Committee have worked diligently to address important challenges in the AI space while preserving America’s competitive advantage.

These bills address a wide range of issues—from improving access to federal data resources for the next generation of AI systems to equipping Americans with the tools and training necessary to succeed in an AI-driven economy.

Through a variety of efforts, these bills reinforce partnerships among government, industry, and academia, recognizing that innovation does not happen in silos. They also invest in the workforce needed to sustain long-term leadership in this critical field.

Taken together, these bills will help advance America’s AI ecosystem, expand opportunity, and reinforce our leadership in an increasingly competitive world. They provide access to federal computing, data, and resources necessary to propel future innovation and discovery. They also focus on voluntary consensus-based standards to meet complex challenges – something this Committee is very familiar with.

I am pleased to take up this legislation today and welcome constructive amendments as we work together to make these bills as strong and effective as possible.

Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee Hearing - Safeguarding Federal Research Funds: The False Claims Act's Role in Combating Grant Fraud

Wed, 175 Jun 2026 10:00:00 EST

Opening Statement of Chairman Rich McCormick at Safeguarding Federal Research Funds: The False Claims Act's Role in Combating Grant Fraud

Wed, 175 Jun 2026 12:00:00 EST

Today’s hearing will examine an issue at the intersection of scientific innovation, government accountability, and national security. The United States invests tens of billions of taxpayer dollars every year in research conducted at universities, hospitals, and laboratories across the country to keep America at the frontier of science and protect our national interests. That investment only succeeds if the systems designed to protect it function effectively. Right now, in too many cases, they do not.

Consider the scale of the problem. A 2024 Government Accountability Office report estimated that fraud costs the federal government somewhere between $233 billion and $521 billion every year, and federally funded research represents a meaningful share of that exposure. Last fiscal year, the Department of Justice recovered $6.8 billion through False Claims Act settlements and judgments, the highest single-year total in the statute's 160-year history. Nearly 1,300 of those cases were brought not by government auditors but by whistleblowers who came forward on their own, accounting for more than $5.3 billion of that recovery. That tells us something important: the misconduct existed. In many cases, our own systems did not find it. Brave whistleblowers had to come forward and expose it.

Then there is what that fraud actually entails. It is relatively rare for a researcher to invent data from nothing, though that happens. More often, it is quieter: a grant application that overstates compliance, a progress report that omits an inconvenient fact, or a certification that says everything is in order when it is not. These misrepresentations are material. They affect which projects get funded, how closely they are monitored, and whether the public can trust that its tax dollars produced what was promised.

Undisclosed foreign funding follows the same pattern, but the stakes are higher. Federal law requires institutions to disclose substantial foreign gifts and contracts precisely so agencies can evaluate conflicts of interest, intellectual property risks, and outside influence over taxpayer-funded work. When that disclosure does not happen, agencies make funding and oversight decisions with incomplete information at the exact moment our strategic competitors are working hard to access America's innovation pipeline. That is not an abstract concern. It is a recurring finding across multiple federal reviews, and it deserves this Committee's continued attention.

Cybersecurity compliance raises a related concern. Many federal awards require recipients to protect sensitive, taxpayer-funded data using specific, well-established standards. When an institution falsely certifies that it meets those standards, that is not merely a paperwork violation. It is exposing exactly the kind of information our adversaries are trying to obtain. The Department of Justice recovered more than $52 million last fiscal year in cybersecurity-related False Claims Act settlements alone and, notably, most of those cases involved misrepresentation rather than an actual breach. That is the system working as intended: catching the false certification before it becomes a national security incident, rather than after one occurs.

I want to be clear about something. The overwhelming majority of researchers and institutions that receive federal funding do honest work and meet their obligations. This hearing is not an indictment of American science. But we have an obligation to ask whether the systems meant to catch the exceptions are keeping pace with the scale of federal investment and how high the stakes have become.

The Department of Justice has taken real steps in the right direction by expanding False Claims Act enforcement and applying it to a broader range of compliance failures. That is progress. But enforcement after the fact is not the same as a system designed to prevent the problem in the first place, and the growth in federal research funding is not matched by an equivalent growth in oversight capacity.

This Committee's responsibility is to ensure that federal investment in science delivers the innovation, security, and economic strength taxpayers were promised — without fraud, waste, and abuse standing in the way. That is the purpose of today's hearing. Our witnesses can help us better understand both the scope of the problem and where the remaining gaps lie. I appreciate their willingness to be here, and I look forward to a substantive discussion about how Congress can strengthen accountability without discouraging the legitimate scientific collaboration that keeps America in the lead.

Opening Statement of Chairman Brian Babin at Safeguarding Federal Research Funds: The False Claims Act's Role in Combating Grant Fraud

Wed, 175 Jun 2026 12:00:00 EST

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to our witnesses for appearing today.

Fraud has no place in the American scientific enterprise. While federally funded research has produced tremendous benefits for our nation, recent enforcement actions make clear that even our most respected research institutions are not immune to failures of oversight, compliance, and accountability. Whether the misconduct involves fraud in the scientific process itself or fraudulent representations made to obtain federal grants and other funding, these actions undermine public trust in science and weaken confidence in America's research institutions.

The purpose of this hearing is straightforward: to examine whether federal taxpayers are receiving the transparency, accountability, and integrity they deserve from institutions that receive billions of dollars in federal research funding. It is estimated that the federal government loses between $233 billion and $521 billion annually to fraudulent actions.

The False Claims Act is one of the federal government's most effective tools for combating fraud. It applies to federal funding recipients and is increasingly used in recent years to protect our research enterprise. Through the Act’s enforcement mechanisms and whistleblower provisions, it recovered billions of dollars on behalf of taxpayers and exposed misconduct that might otherwise have gone undetected. As Chairman McCormick referenced, in 2025 alone, the Department of Justice reported a record $6.8 billion in False Claims Act recoveries across all agencies and funding types.

The federal government invests heavily in scientific research through agencies such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the Department of War, and others. These investments drive innovation, strengthen our economy, and advance our national security. But they also depend on trust—trust that recipients of federal funding are providing accurate information, complying with federal requirements, safeguarding sensitive research, and using taxpayer dollars responsibly.

This hearing will examine the tools available to enforce our laws, including the False Claims Act, in several areas of growing concern: false certifications by institutions seeking to obtain or retain federal funding; failures to disclose foreign funding, affiliations, and other potential conflicts of interest; and research security compliance, particularly adherence to cybersecurity requirements designed to protect sensitive government-funded research and information.

These issues are especially important as the United States faces increasing global competition and attempts by foreign adversaries to gain access to American research, technology, and intellectual property. Protecting research integrity is not only a matter of financial stewardship—it is a matter of national security.

Enforcing these laws is not about discouraging scientific research or international collaboration. It is about ensuring that taxpayer funds are used responsibly and that federal research programs operate with integrity, transparency, and accountability. Taxpayers deserve confidence that federal funds are awarded based on accurate information, that recipients comply with the obligations they accept, and that misconduct is detected and addressed when it occurs.

Congress has a responsibility to ensure that federal research funding serves the interests of the American people—not the interests of bad actors who seek to exploit weaknesses in oversight systems. Institutions that play by the rules should be supported. Institutions that knowingly violate those rules should be held accountable.

Taxpayers deserve transparency. They deserve integrity. And they deserve confidence that the federal government is safeguarding both their investment and America's leadership in science and technology.

I look forward to our discussion today, and I hope this hearing will improve our understanding of the laws that protect federally funded research, identify where gaps remain, and explore what additional steps may be necessary to strengthen accountability, safeguard the future of our research enterprise, and ensure effective enforcement.

H.R. 9363, AI Security and Innovation Act

Mon, 173 Jun 2026 12:00:00 EST

Text

H.R. 9363, AI Security and Innovation Act

Summary

Status

Follow the bill's progress on congress.gov

Endorsed by:

SeedAI

Information Technology Industry Council (ITI)

H.R. 5584, LIFT AI Act

Mon, 173 Jun 2026 12:00:00 EST

Text

H.R. 5584, LIFT AI Act

Summary

Status

Follow the bill's progress on congress.gov

Endorsed by:

Google

SeedAI

Information Technology Industry Council (ITI)

H.R. 9372, Data Infrastructure Energy Measurement and Standards Act

Mon, 173 Jun 2026 12:00:00 EST

Text

H.R. 9372, Data Infrastructure Energy Measurement and Standards Act

Summary

Status

Follow the bill's progress on congress.gov

H.R. 6461, READ AI Models Act

Mon, 173 Jun 2026 12:00:00 EST

Text

H.R. 6461, READ AI Models Act

Summary

Status

Follow the bill's progress on congress.gov

H.R. 2385, CREATE AI Act

Mon, 173 Jun 2026 12:00:00 EST

Text

H.R. 2385, CREATE AI Act

Summary

Status

Follow the bill's progress on congress.gov

Endorsed by:

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE-USA)

SeedAI

Information Technology Industry Council (ITI)

H.R. 9334, Workforce for AI Trust Act

Mon, 173 Jun 2026 12:00:00 EST

Text

H.R. 9334, Workforce for AI Trust Act

Summary

Status

Follow the bill's progress on congress.gov

Endorsed by:

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE-USA)

SeedAI

H.R. 8893, Protecting Consumers from Deceptive AI Act

Mon, 173 Jun 2026 12:00:00 EST

Text

H.R. 8893, Protecting Consumers from Deceptive AI Act

Summary

Status

Follow the bill's progress on congress.gov

H.R. 9341, AI-Ready Federal Data Guidelines Act

Mon, 173 Jun 2026 12:00:00 EST

Text

H.R. 9341, AI-Ready Federal Data Guidelines Act

Summary

Status

Follow the bill's progress on congress.gov

Endorsed by:

SeedAI

Information Technology Industry Council (ITI)

Scale AI

H.R. 9333, AI Flaw Reporting and Security Enhancement Act

Mon, 173 Jun 2026 12:00:00 EST

Text

H.R. 9333, AI Flaw Reporting and Security Enhancement Act

Summary

Status

Follow the bill's progress on congress.gov

H.R. 5351, NSF AI Education Act of 2025

Mon, 173 Jun 2026 12:00:00 EST

Text

H.R. 5351, NSF AI Education Act of 2025

Summary

Status

Follow the bill's progress on congress.gov

Endorsed by:

Google

SeedAI

Information Technology Industry Council (ITI)

Full Committee Hearing - An Overview of the Department of Energy’s Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request

Wed, 161 Jun 2026 10:00:00 EST

Opening Statement of Chairman Brian Babin at An Overview of the Department of Energy’s Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request

Wed, 161 Jun 2026 12:00:00 EST

Thank you for joining us for today’s hearing, “An Overview of the Department of Energy’s Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request.” It is a pleasure to have Secretary Wright with us this morning as we examine the Department’s priorities, ongoing reforms, and vision for America’s energy future.

Over the past year, the Department of Energy (DOE) has undergone a dramatic transformation. The current Administration inherited a Department that had shifted away from its traditional focus on basic science toward a greater emphasis on applied research.

Basic research serves as the backbone of scientific and technological breakthroughs; however, because those breakthroughs are often years away from commercialization, industry frequently struggles to justify funding such work. Applied research, by contrast, focuses on solving specific challenges and bridging the gap between scientific discovery and practical application.

To address this imbalance, DOE announced a sweeping reorganization in November. Led by Secretary Wright, the effort sought to refocus the Department on its core mission and improve its ability to deliver for the American people. As a result, new offices were created, and the Under Secretary of Science and Under Secretary of Energy portfolios were rebalanced. By realigning offices and responsibilities, DOE established clearer priorities.

Current geopolitical tensions have only underscored the importance of this effort. Combating the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) efforts to corner the market in emerging technologies should be a bipartisan and bicameral mission. We have seen the CCP implement its market-takeover playbook in sectors ranging from critical minerals to solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries. The U.S. cannot afford to rely on a single country for the technologies and infrastructure that power our future. We are in a global competition where energy is the common thread.

For decades, electricity demand in the U.S. remained relatively flat, but in recent years it has surged. Maintaining our technological advantage over China requires expanding reliable baseload power generation. In an effort to surpass us and dominate emerging technologies, the CCP races to add as much power as possible to its grid, including approximately 78 gigawatts of new coal-fired power generation last year alone.

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has further strained global energy markets. Before the conflict, approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply flowed through the Strait of Hormuz. More than 13 million barrels of oil per day are now at risk due to the Iranian regime’s harassment of shipping. Relying on foreign energy sources exposes our nation to macroeconomic volatility, national security risks, and supply chain bottlenecks.

I applaud Secretary Wright and the Trump Administration for championing domestic energy production to strengthen our energy security, support economic growth, and ensure the United States has the power needed to compete and win in the technologies of tomorrow.

Many factors contribute to rising electricity demands. While artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers receive much of the attention, the electrification of everyday American life and the return of manufacturing and industrial activity to the U.S. are also increasing the demand for reliable, affordable power. These challenges were compounded during the Biden Administration, which pushed regulations that accelerated the retirement of reliable power plants without ensuring adequate replacement generation was available. As demand grew, those policies placed grid stability at risk.

Simply put, America must produce more energy, not less.

I look forward to hearing from the Secretary about the steps taken over the past year to modernize the Department and how this budget request builds upon that progress.

Again, I would like to thank Secretary Wright for appearing before the Committee, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Chairman Babin Congratulates Artemis III Crew on Selection for Historic Mission

Tue, 160 Jun 2026 12:00:00 EST

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Brian Babin congratulated the Artemis III crew following NASA’s announcement of the astronauts selected for the mission.

"Congratulations to Commander Randy Bresnik, Pilot Luca Parmitano, Mission Specialist Frank Rubio, Mission Specialist Andre Douglas, and Backup Crew Member Bob Hines on your selection to the Artemis III mission,” said Chairman Babin. "Following the success of Artemis II, you are preparing to carry forward America’s proud legacy of exploration and help advance our nation’s deep space ambitions. As you begin training for this mission, know that you have my prayers and the support of the American people.

"Artemis is about more than returning astronauts to the Moon—it is about securing American leadership in space, maintaining our strategic advantage over China, and ensuring the next great chapter of exploration is led by the United States. The nation that leads in space will help shape the future of science, technology, economic growth, and national security, and America must remain at the forefront.

"I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to help ensure the success of Artemis and sustain America's leadership in space. May your mission inspire future generations to dream boldly, explore fearlessly, and push the boundaries of what is possible."

Artemis III will build on the success of Artemis II and mark another important step in America's return to the Moon. The mission will advance scientific discovery, strengthen partnerships with our allies, and demonstrate capabilities needed for future lunar surface missions. Together with the Artemis missions that follow, it will help establish a sustained human presence on and around the Moon and pave the way for future exploration of Mars.

Environment Subcommittee Hearing - Advancing Environmental Protection Through Science and Technology

Thu, 155 Jun 2026 10:00:00 EST

Opening Statement of Chairman Brian Babin at Advancing Environmental Protection Through Science and Technology

Thu, 155 Jun 2026 12:00:00 EST

Good morning. Thank you to our Subcommittee Chairman, Mr. Franklin, for presiding over this important hearing, and thank you to Dr. Gwinn for joining us today. This marks the first appearance by an EPA official before our Committee during the second Trump Administration, and we appreciate your willingness to be here.

The EPA’s work grows more complex every year, and I welcomed Administrator Zeldin’s decision to take a fresh look at how the Agency operates. Today’s hearing gives us an opportunity to learn more about EPA’s new Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions (OASES) and how the Agency is deploying its scientific capabilities to meet the nation’s evolving needs. This reorganization comes at a time when scientific data, advancements in artificial intelligence, and public expectations for transparency continue to grow—making it essential that EPA adapts thoughtfully and effectively.

My district has more chemical manufacturers than any other Congressional district in the country. I see firsthand how this industry continues to create solutions to modern-day problems and replace legacy products with more efficient and environmentally friendly chemicals. The manufacturers, workers, and communities in my district—and throughout the nation—depend on the certainty that comes from regulatory decisions issued in a timely, consistent, and scientifically robust manner. Past backlogs and delays from previous Administrations demonstrate that this has not always been the case. Earlier this year, this Committee held a hearing where witnesses described the lengthy process required to bring a new chemical for commercial use to market—sometimes taking decades for the EPA to rule one way or another. This regulatory uncertainty hampers domestic manufacturers and makes them less competitive on a global scale.

The need for timely, science-based chemical reviews illustrates a broader principle that should guide every part of EPA’s work. Whether the focus is on air quality, water quality, waste management, or chemical safety, EPA’s work does not occur in isolation, and decisions in one area can affect the outcomes in another. When EPA delivers clear, timely decisions that protect human health and the environment, we all benefit. Delays create uncertainty, but protecting health and safety must remain central to every review. When EPA strengthens coordination, clarifies data needs, and supports consistent scientific methodologies that meet the rigorous expectations of Gold Standard Science, its mission is strengthened.

We all want a system grounded in both efficient processes and high-quality science. As innovation accelerates, EPA must equip itself with the tools, expertise, and organizational structure necessary to evaluate chemicals effectively.

EPA created OASES to meet that need. Placing scientific experts directly within the program offices that make regulatory decisions facilitates early communication between scientists and program staff. This approach helps EPA reduce duplication, improve coordination, and support a regulatory environment that encourages innovation.

At the same time, as EPA expands OASES, it must maintain a strong program of long-term research that looks beyond immediate regulatory needs and anticipates future environmental and technological challenges. OASES aims to strengthen applied science inside program offices, but forward-looking research sits outside that mission, and we must ensure it continues.

This research lays the broader scientific foundation that supports EPA’s credibility and has contributed to modernized methods, improved risk-assessment tools, and advanced technologies needed to protect human health and the environment. Most importantly, it gives the Agency the ability to anticipate emerging threats before they reach the regulatory stage.

As we examine OASES today, we want to understand how the Agency strengthens the long-term scientific foundation that supports decisions across all programs and how this structure meets the immediate needs of program offices that protect human health and the environment.

I look forward to today’s conversation and to gaining a clearer sense of where this approach already reinforces EPA’s scientific capabilities and where opportunities remain for further improvement. Dr. Gwinn, thank you again for being here, and I yield back the balance of my time.