Notebook

NEW CHAIR IN TOWN: F. James Sensenbrenner Republicans retained control of the House and Senate in last month's elections, but there will be a few newcomers on science-related committees when the 105th Congress convenes early next month.The retirement of Rep. Robert S. Walker (R-Pa.) leaves Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) as his successor as chairman of the House Science Committee. Rep. George E. Brown, Jr. (D-Calif.) will remain its ranking minority member. Committee members Bill Baker (R-Calif.), Andrea Seastrand (R-Calif.), Harold Volkmer (D-Mo.), and Mike Ward (D-Ky.) failed to win re-election, as did Larry Pressler (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. Pressler will be replaced by John McCain (R-Ariz.), while Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) will take over the Senate Appropriations Committee from the retiring Mark Hatfield (R-Ore.). J. Bennett Johnston (D-La.), the ranking minority member of the Senate Appropriations Committee's subcommittee on energy and water development, is ...