Fun Fact: House Science Committee Has Held More Hearings On Aliens Than Climate Change

In recent years, the House Science Committee hasn’t exactly been seen as the most serious committee in D.C. After all, its members have included the likes of Todd “legitimate rape” Akin, Paul “Pit of Hell” Broun, and Dana “dinosaur flatulence” Rohrabacher. But still, membership aside, the committee is tasked with some pretty serious concerns, right? Not that you’d notice so much.

In just this session of Congress, NextGov reports that:

House committees tasked with covering U.S. energy and science have held a total of seven hearings to discuss climate change. By contrast, the two chambers have held a combined 19 hearings about space exploration in that same time period.

The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee—led by Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, since 2013—has held 15 hearings on space exploration alone, at least three of which have involved the search for extraterrestrial life. By comparison, Smith’s committee has held just two hearings devoted to climate change.

This is not to imply that the NASA mission, including the search for extraterrestrial life, is an invalid use of government resources. It’s not a zero-sum game, we can explore strange new worlds, and  try to save this one from burning to a crisp. It’s just that one might hope our nation’s leaders would take some interest in the number one scientific issue of our time. But no. Today it’s aliens. Oddly, though, committee members find it all a big joke.

In a House Science Committee hearing Wednesday, Seth Shostak, an American astronomer, defended the notion that the search for alien life is worthwhile…

“It’s very easy to make fun of this,” Shostak said. “On the other hand, it would have been very easy to make fun of Ferdinand Magellan’s idea to sail around the earth, or Captain Cook to map the South Pacific.”

And make fun of it the committee members did. Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Ohio, joked that extraterrestrial societies may be actively avoiding contact with earthlings. “Maybe they’ve got their caller ID turned on or something,” Johnson said.

Rep. Chris Collins, R-New York, joined the fun. “I’m going to ask what everyone in the room wants to ask. Have you watched Ancient Aliens, and what do you think of that series?” he asked. “I think I’ve been on that program,” Shostak replied.

But apparently, committee Chairman Lamar Smith takes it seriously, and was well-pleased when panelists confirmed that the likelihood of intelligent life on other planets is 100 percent. If only Smith were as interested in this planet. “But, judging by the actions of the committee Smith chairs, a reasoned debate about Earth’s atmosphere isn’t nearly as appealing as speculating on the atmospheres of other planets.”

It’s also worth noting that these committee members aren’t alone. Today’s astrobiology hearing was reportedly jam-packed:

1) This is the most packed Cong. hearing I’ve ever seen. The public appetite for #astrobiology is large.

— Jason Steinhauer (@JasonSteinhauer) May 21, 2014

By: Sandi Behrns

Sandi Behrns is a noted policy nerd, new media & web developer, and consultant to progressive organizations and campaigns. She is a senior contributor to Liberaland, and the Executive Editor of Progressive Congress News.