A Scientist Joins the Science Committee in Congress - Such a Novel Idea?

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/03/03/the-only-physicist-in-congress-finally-able-to-join-science-committee-vows-to-explain-science-to-colleagues/

And now for a bit of good news.
The only PhD-level physicist in Congress, Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill.) announced that he is finally being assigned to the House science committee.
For many years Foster had focused his time on reforming banking and finance after the 2008 financial collapse. However, in the irony to end all ironies, Foster attributes Republican gridlock in Congress as what is giving him the free time to shift gears and fight for science instead.
“Congress is now seized in gridlock, and that made the Financial Services Committee a smaller drain on my time and my staff’s time,” he told Science Insider.
In other words, Republicans in Congress have made passing any legislation so impossible that Foster is able to throw himself into promoting science instead.