Lucas Returns as Republican Leader of Science, Space, Technology Committee

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) released the following statement after being re-elected by his colleagues as the Republican Leader of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology for the 117^th Congress.

“I’m honored to be given the opportunity to continue leading House Science Committee Republicans in the 117th Congress,” Lucas said. “This is a crucial time for America’s scientific and technological progress. We’re facing a growing threat from China, which seeks to outpace us through whatever means necessary, and we have a responsibility to protect taxpayer-funded research from foreign theft. We also have the opportunity to encourage the next generation of clean energy technologies, which will lower energy prices for Americans while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We’re poised to return humans to the Moon for the first time in a generation, and to plan historic crewed missions to Mars. Every day we’re seeing new discoveries and leaps forward in fields from supercomputing, to vaccine development, to weather prediction. There has never been a more exciting time for science in America, and I’m eager to work with my colleagues to support our research enterprise.

In his tenure as Ranking Member, Lucas has focused on keeping America at the cutting edge of scientific and technological development through investment in basic federal research. His priority legislation, the Securing American Leadership in Science and Technology Act (SALSTA), would double funding for basic research and strategically focus on industries of the future like artificial intelligence, quantum sciences, and advanced manufacturing. Lucas pledged to continue this work in the next Congress.

Republican Leader McCarthy praised Lucas’ leadership of the Committee: “As Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology in the 116th Congress, Frank Lucas focused on conservative policies to keep America at the forefront of scientific knowledge and technological development, prioritized basic research in critical areas like artificial intelligence, quantum sciences, and advanced manufacturing, and worked to protect our research from theft by China,” McCarthy said. “Under Ranking Member Lucas’s leadership, Republicans on the committee will work tirelessly next Congress to ensure the United States remains the world leader in science and technology.”

The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology has jurisdiction over programs at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Commerce, the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).