Obernolte, Jay

Jay Obernolte is a Republican representative from California's 23rd district who chairs the Research and Technology Subcommittee of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. As chair, he sets the subcommittee's agenda and controls which research and innovation bills advance, giving him significant influence over federal science policy, technology development, and STEM education priorities. The subcommittee has jurisdiction over the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and research programs across federal agencies.

Obernolte brings substantial technical expertise to this role. He holds a bachelor's degree in engineering and applied science from Caltech, a master's degree in artificial intelligence from UCLA, and is the only serving member of Congress with a graduate-level degree in AI. Before entering Congress, he founded and led FarSight Studios, a video game development company, and previously served in the California State Assembly and as mayor of Big Bear Lake.

As subcommittee chair, Obernolte has focused heavily on artificial intelligence policy and innovation infrastructure. He co-chaired the bipartisan House AI Task Force and has championed legislation including the CREATE AI Act to establish a National AI Research Resource, providing researchers access to computing power and data. He has held hearings on AI governance, biotechnology, surface transportation research, and emerging technologies. His recent bills address cloud computing for research, robotics development, and AI standards.

Obernolte is known for emphasizing public-private partnerships in science and technology development, fiscal responsibility in federal research spending, and maintaining U.S. competitiveness against international competitors in emerging technologies. He serves on multiple committees including Energy and Commerce and the Budget Committee, positioning him as a key voice on technology and innovation policy across multiple legislative areas.