Rep. Bonamici Statement on Passage of Legislation that Will Undermine Science Research

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) released the following statement after the House passed two bills that will undermine the research and scientific integrity of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

“I applaud my colleagues’ effort to improve transparency at the EPA, but unfortunately neither of these bills will do that. Instead, these bills place unnecessary requirements on the agency and hinder its ability to protect public health and the environment.

“The ‘Secret Science Reform Act’ (H.R. 4012) requires that all EPA action be based on reports for which the underlying data is publicly available and capable of being reproduced. These requirements would exclude countless studies that rely on personal medical information. This will significantly limit the research available to EPA and hamper its ability to protect human health through rational regulation.

“The second piece of legislation, the EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act (H.R. 1422), will restructure the panel of experts responsible for assessing studies and advising the EPA. The bill will depart from current practice by allowing industry representatives who have financial conflicts of interest to serve on the board if their conflict is disclosed. At the same time, the bill will preclude service by the best and brightest scientists because it includes new provisions that bar anyone who participated in a study that was even indirectly reviewed by the EPA. The bill would also delay Board action by requiring duplicative proceedings and written Board response to substantial public comments.

“I support making scientific research more accessible and making the Science Advisory Boards more transparent, but these bills limit the science on which EPA can base its decisions, and threaten the ability of the agency to fulfill its mission.”

WATCH Congresswoman Bonamici’s remarks about H.R. 4012:https://bit.ly/1F1d61v.

###