Science: John Culberson (R-TX) is the new chair of the Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS), and Related Agencies spending panel in the US House of Representatives. CJS oversees a large portion of US science research spending, including the funding for NASA, NIST, NSF, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Culberson says that he has had a lifelong passion for science despite his chosen career in law. He also says his desire to support government investment in science does not contravene his fiscal conservatism. However, that support seems to be limited to space science and basic research and does not include the social and behavioral sciences. He says he supports fellow Texas representative Lamar Smith's efforts to focus NSF's research grants on basic science.
