Now in his second term on Capitol Hill, U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., will lead Republicans on the U.S. House Research and Technology (R&T) Subcommittee under the umbrella of the U.S. House Science, Space and Technology Committee.
Waltz announced this week that he will serve as the top Republican on the subcommittee.
“The Subcommittee on R&T has jurisdiction over the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, federal science research, university research and partnerships, intergovernmental research and development, intellectual property policy including civilian use of defense technologies, international technology trade, STEM education, and the National Science Foundation,” the congressman’s office noted.
Waltz offered a tip of the cap to U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla., who leads Republicans on the Science, Space and Technology Committee.
“I am grateful to Ranking Member Lucas for the opportunity to lead my Republican colleagues on this subcommittee as we look to secure taxpayer-funded research and technologies from adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party (CCP),” said Waltz. “I hope to use this position to build on Office of Science and Technology Policy efforts to safeguard America’s intellectual property and confront the CCP’s wholesale theft from our research institutions.”
“In the last Congress, Ranking Member Waltz quickly became a leader in the effort to support America’s technological development and protect our research from theft by foreign adversaries,” said Lucas. “He’s worked to shine light on threats to our scientific enterprise and he’s supported legislation to keep us at the cutting edge of research and development. He’s also been a strong advocate for STEM education and workforce development, and I look forward to working with him to keep America competitive.”
A graduate of VMI, Waltz served in the Army Special Forces in Afghanistan. He worked in George W. Bush’s administration, including as an advisor to Vice President Dick Cheney. Since then, Waltz has made the rounds on cable TV including as a Fox News contributor but he has also made appearances on CNN, MSNBC, PBS and other channels. In 2018, Waltz won an open congressional seat representing parts of Northeast and Central Florida, replacing Republican Ron DeSantis who was elected governor. Waltz is the first Green Beret to serve in Congress.
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.
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