It has jurisdiction over non-defense federal scientific research and development.

More specifically, the committee has complete jurisdiction over the following federal agencies: NASA, NSF, NIST, and the OSTP.

The committee also has authority over R&D activities at the Department of Energy, the EPA, FAA, NOAA, the DOT, the NWS, the DHS and the U.S. Fire Administration.

[1] In the wake of the Soviet Sputnik program in the late 1950s, Congress created the Select Committee on Astronautics and Space Exploration on 05 March 1958, chaired by majority leader John William McCormack.

This select committee drafted the National Aeronautics and Space Act that created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

A staff report of the committee, the Space Handbook: Astronautics and its Applications, provided non-technical information about spaceflight to U.S. policy makers.

The name was changed in 1974 to the House Committee on Science and Technology.

The name was changed again in 1987 to the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.

During the 112th Congress, which was in session from 2011-2013, Committee Chairman Ralph Hall added "Space" back into the committee's name: "The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology" – a nod to the committee's history, broad jurisdiction, and the importance of space exploration in maintaining American innovation and competitiveness.