Beyer Returns To House Science Committee

Rep. Don Beyer, previously a longtime member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Committee, was re-appointed to that committee by Democratic Leader Jeffries this week. Beyer departed the Committee after serving on it for his first four terms when Democrats lost slots at the beginning of the 118^th Congress. His appointment became official after being confirmed by the full House Democratic Caucus and with the approval of House Resolution 954 on Wednesday morning, where he was welcomed back by Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren.

"American leadership on scientific research and technology is at a crossroads, and many of the most important challenges facing our country fall under the jurisdiction of the House Science Committee. I am thrilled to return to the Committee as it seeks answers to key questions about our nation's future," said Beyer. "From rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and their implications for our economy and workforce, to energy policy amid rapidly rising electricity prices, to the debate over the future of our space program, to renewed battles over scientific integrity, the House Science Committee is engaged in extremely important policy work. I have never stopped my efforts in these areas, but serving on the Committee will make me a stronger advocate on these topics, especially for my district and my constituents. I thank Leader Jeffries and my Democratic colleagues for this opportunity, and Ranking Member Lofgren and my colleagues in both parties for their warm welcome."

Rep. Beyer is the founder and co-chair of the bipartisan Fusion Energy Caucus, and a steadfast advocate for the advancement of fusion energy technology. A leading voice in the House on energy and climate, he co-chairs the Safe Climate Caucus, and attended the 2021 COP26 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland with then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He co-chairs the bipartisan AI Caucus, was appointed by House leaders to serve on the bipartisan Artificial Intelligence Task Force in the 118^th Congress, and is currently working toward a master's degree in machine learning at George Mason University.

Beyer previously served for several terms on the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, where he helped protect funding for key science missions including the Nancy Grace Roman Telescope. As the Subcommittee Chair during the 117^th Congress, he was a key voice on intergovernmental debates over space situational awareness, and coauthored the first NASA authorizing legislation in over five years. Since taking office he has been a prominent advocate for scientific integrity, and an indefatigable defender of federal workers, including those who work in scientific fields.

Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) represents a Northern Virginia district in the U.S. House that is home to leading institutions of technology and research including the National Science Foundation, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the MITRE Corporation, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Virginia Tech's Institute For Advanced Computing, George Mason University's Mason Square campus, and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, along with numerous global aerospace and tech firms. He has been published in the pages of Scientific American, and his work has been covered by Popular Science, Science Magazine, Ars Technica, and Gizmodo, among others.

Beyer serves as co-Chair of the Congressional Artificial Intelligence Caucus. He was one of a handful of members selected to serve on the bipartisan Task Force On Artificial Intelligence, convened by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Speaker Mike Johnson. He is the author of the AI Foundation Model Transparency Act and a lead cosponsor of the CREATE AI Act, the Federal Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Act, Artificial Intelligence Environmental Impacts Act, the SECURE AI Act, and forthcoming legislation that will address President Trump's recent executive order on artificial intelligence.

Beyer is the founder and co-chair of the bipartisan Fusion Energy Caucus. He was a co-lead of the Fusion Energy Act, signed into law in 2024, and is the House sponsor of the bipartisan, bicameral Office of Fusion Act. He was a leading governmental voice celebrating the historic announcement of a net energy gain from a human-controlled fusion energy reaction. He has advocated for fusion energy research and funding as a long time member of the House Science Committee, with his colleagues in Congress, at the White House, in the pages of Scientific American, and elsewhere.

Beyer served as Chair of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee in the 117^th Congress, in which capacity he helped draft and pass the first bipartisan reauthorization of NASA in years (included in the CHIPS and SCIENCE Act). His work on the subcommittee also included leading the effort to protect funding for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, longtime advocacy for NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, and defending funding for NASA's Earth Science Division. He is the author of the Cleaner, Quieter Airplanes Act (signed into law in the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022), and the Space Safety and Situational Awareness Transition Act of 2023.

Beyer serves as Vice Chair of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, and co-chairs the Safe Climate Caucus. He has been a forceful advocate for scientific integrity and federal research during his tenure in Congress, and co-leads the Scientific Integrity Act. He represents a Northern Virginia district with numerous research institutions and federal agencies, which is home to more federal employees than any other in the U.S. House.