A June 24 Roll Call op-ed, “The Far Right’s Assault on Science Won’t Help Economy” made numerous unfounded charges against Republicans on the House Science Committee. While the author attempts to come across as an independent observer, his allegations are tired partisan rhetoric.

Mr. Lubell must have failed to poll his American Physical Society colleagues prior to submitting his piece. Just the day before, a number of physicists, including APS fellows and professors from esteemed institutions of higher education such as Princeton University, the University of California-Santa Barbara and UCLA, sent a letter supporting the committee’s efforts to ensure this administration’s regulations are based on transparent science, not hidden data.

Other nations are catching up to America’s long-held lead in science and technology. To that end, the Science Committee has set meaningful priorities for the types of federally-funded research that will help keep America competitive in the global marketplace.

Those who challenge the status quo will always encounter naysayers who prefer to march in place.

On one subject we agree: Dr. Allan Bromley, once chairman of Yale’s Physics Department, was a great man. He taught me physics my freshman year.

Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, is chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee.