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Science and Innovation

Beyer Statement On Historic Commercial Fusion Contract

| Posted in Press Releases

Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), founder and co-chair of the bipartisan Fusion Energy Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives, today hailed the announcement of an historic purchase agreement between Microsoft and Helion Energy to provide electricity generated by a fusion energy plant in 2028. “Helion’s agreement to power Microsoft on fusion energy in 2028 demonstrates the promise of historic…

Beyer Statement On Administration AI Initiatives

| Posted in Press Releases

Rep. Don Beyer, vice-chair of the bipartisan Congressional AI Caucus, today welcomed the Biden-Harris Administration’s announcement of new initiatives to address advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and called for further education and engagement by Congress to set comprehensive, long-term policies to govern the development of AI. “President Biden and Vice President Harris are taking…

Beyer Welcomes Forward-Thinking Fusion Framework From Nuclear Regulatory Commission

| Posted in Press Releases

Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), founder and co-chair of the bipartisan Fusion Energy Caucus in the U.S. House, today hailed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) announcement that it would regulate fusion energy systems under its existing byproduct materials regulatory framework. Earlier this year, Beyer led a request along with his fellow Fusion Energy Caucus co-chairs to the NRC seeking this…

Rep. Stevens Leads Bipartisan Legislation to Increase Access to Data Science and Literacy Education

| Posted in Press Releases

Today, Reps. Haley Stevens (D-MI), Don Beyer (D-VA), Young Kim (R-CA), and Jim Baird (R-IN) introduced the Data Science and Literacy Act, legislation to increase access to data science education, reduce course equity gaps for all students, and help build America’s 21st century STEM workforce. “To compete in a 21st-century economy, we need a 21st-century STEM workforce that reflects the…

Members of Congress, Public Health Experts, Science Advocates, and Environmental Justice Advocates Call on President Biden to “Love Our Lungs” by Enacting Strong Standards to Limit Soot Pollution

| Posted in Press Releases

Today, in an event organized by the Climate Action Campaign (CAC), members of Congress, public health experts, science advocates, and environmental justice leaders joined together, calling on President Biden and his administration to “Love Our Lungs” this Valentine’s Day by using all of their existing authority to cut pollution and protect public health.  Gathered together as part…

Committee Members Beyer and Norcross Introduce Legislation To Establish And Clarify Space Situational Awareness Roles For Civilian Agencies

| Posted in Press Releases

Today, Chairman Don Beyer (D-VA) of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, along with Congressman Donald Norcross (D-NJ), introduced the Space Safety and Situational Awareness Transition Act of 2022. Space situational awareness (SSA) provides a foundation for understanding where space objects are now, predicting their future trajectories, and evaluating the risk of potential…

Beyer Hails Historic Fusion Announcement

| Posted in Press Releases

Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), founder and chair of the bipartisan Fusion Energy Caucus in the U.S. House today celebrated the announcement by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) of the first ever net energy gain and first ever fusion ignition from a human-controlled fusion energy reaction in history. The long-sought breakthrough came in a December 5 experiment at Lawrence Livermore National…

Science Committee Members Celebrate Successful Launch of Artemis I

| Posted in Press Releases

Today, Artemis I, the first integrated Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion crew vehicle, successfully launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, beginning its four to six-week mission. The Artemis I mission is an uncrewed flight test that will demonstrate the performance of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion spacecraft that will eventually carry astronauts to…

Chairman Beyer Opening Statement for Hearing on Initial Results from the James Webb Space Telescope

| Posted in Speeches and Floor Statements

Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics is holding a hearing titled, Unfolding the Universe: Initial Science Results from the James Webb Space Telescope. Chairman of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, Rep. Don Beyer’s (D-VA) opening statement as prepared for the record is below. Before we begin,…