Letter to EPA Administrator on the Use of Human Exposure Data in Regulating Toxic Chemicals
July 18, 2005 The Honorable Stephen L. Johnson Administrator US Environmental Protection Agency 401 M Street, SW Washington, DC 20460-0003 Dear Administrator Johnson: More than a year after the completion of the study by the National Academy of Sciences and five years after the joint FIFRA Science Advisory Panel's (SAP) and the Science Advisory Board's (SAB) review of the ethical and scientific issues associated with intentional human dosing experiments testing toxic … Continue Reading
July 12, 2005NASA Administrator Griffin Proposes Amending the Iran Nonproliferation Act
July 12, 2005 The Honorable Bart Gordon Ranking Democrat Committee on Science House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Mr. Gordon: On behalf of the Administration, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) proposes that the enclosed amendment to the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-178) be added to NASA authorization legislation or another appropriate legislative vehicle. The proposed amendment is a balanced approach that maintains U.S. … Continue Reading
April 28, 2005Letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services on "Gatekeeper" Policy for Science Advisors to International Organizations
April 28, 2005 The Honorable Michael Leavitt Secretary of Health and Human Services US Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20201 Dear Secretary Leavitt: Until April of 2004, when the World Health Organization or another international group wanted an NIH or CDC expert on health issues to consult, they could simply contact the appropriate person and invite them to attend a meeting or conference. However, as of April 15, 2004, all … Continue Reading
November 30, 2004Letter to EPA Administrator Concerning Conflict of Interest in Cooperative Research Agreement with American Chemistry Council
November 30, 2004 The Honorable Michael Leavitt Administrator Environmental Protection Agency Washington, DC 20460 Dear Mr. Leavitt: We are writing to express our concerns about the Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the American Chemistry Council (ACC) to study children's exposure to chemicals in the home. We are pleased the agency has decided to postpone the study to further examine the issues that have … Continue Reading
November 30, 2004Letter to EPA Administrator Questioning CHEERS Study
November 30, 2004 The Honorable Michael Leavitt Administrator Environmental Protection Agency Washington, DC 20460 Dear Mr. Leavitt: We are writing to inquire about the Longitudinal Field Measurement Study of Infants and Toddler's Aggregate Exposure to Pesticides and Persistent Pollutants the Agency planned to initiate this fall with the Centers for Disease Control, the Duval County Florida Health Department and the American Chemistry Council. We are encouraged by the recent … Continue Reading
October 26, 2004Rep. Brian Baird Letter to Attorney General Requesting Investigation of Improper Review of Advisory Committee Candidates
October 26, 2004 The Honorable John Ashcroft Attorney General of the United States Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20530 Dear Attorney General Ashcroft, You are certainly aware that there has been widespread discussion in the scientific community and the media about a perception that the Bush Administration has politicized the scientific advice it gets and the information it releases. One aspect of these charges has been the effort by political … Continue Reading
July 23, 2004Rep. Nick Lampson Letter to President on Maintaining Operations of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Satellite
July 23, 2004 The President The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: I'm writing to express my concern over NASA's announcement that it intends to terminate the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) later this year. I believe that such a step is ill-advised and will increase the risk to life and property from hurricanes, typhoons, and other severe storms over the next two years. As you know, such storms have devastated Texas and many other parts of the … Continue Reading
May 26, 2004Letter to Director of the Office of Management and Budget Criticizing Guidance on Agency Information Peer Review
May 26, 2004 The Honorable Joshua Bolten Director The Office of Management and Budget 725 17th Street, NW Washington, DC 20503 Dear Mr. Bolten: In December several of us wrote expressing a number of concerns about the proposed Peer Review Guidelines. We indicated that the proposal was unjustified, overly broad, burdensome, and did not appropriately guard against appointment of reviewers with conflicts of interest. We also expressed our concern that the proposal provided the Office … Continue Reading
May 19, 2004Reps. E.B. Johnson and Baird Letter Transmitting GAO Recommendations on Science Advisory Committee Member Selection Process to President
May 19, 2004 The President The White House Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: As you know, there has been an ongoing controversy regarding the integrity of the science used in policy-making during your administration. Both Representative Waxman and the Union of Concerned Scientists, the later supported by 20 American Nobel prize-winners, have issued detailed reports documenting disturbing patterns of politicization of science and science advice during your tenure. We are … Continue Reading
July 28, 2003Letter from Reps. E.B. Johnson and Jackson Lee to EPA Acting Administrator Regarding Agency EEO Policies
July 28, 2003 The Honorable Marianne Lamont Horinko Acting Administrator Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 Dear Acting Administrator Horinko: In the Autumn of 2000, we asked GA0 to monitor the initiatives launched by Administrator Browner and report back to us when EPA had new procedures and systems in place to handle EEO complaints. We have now received that long-awaited General Accounting Office report on the Environmental Protection Agency's equal … Continue Reading
April 28, 2003Administration Response to Caucus Concerns on Independence of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board
April 28, 2003 The Honorable Ralph Hall Ranking Democrat Committee on Science U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 ...Your observations and suggestions, and the spirit in which they have been made, are appreciated. In response to your concerns and those expressed by other Members of Congress about the independent operation of the CAIB, the operation and reporting requirements of the Board have been changed to respond to those concerns. The CAIB charter was amended to … Continue Reading
February 06, 2003Letter to the President on the Independence of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board
February 6, 2003 The President The White House Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: In the wake of the Shuttle Columbia tragedy, we agree with NASA's decision to promptly constitute both internal and external investigating teams. The external team - known as the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (AIB) and chaired by Admiral Hal Gehman - has already begun its deliberations.... We would respectfully ask that the charter of the AIB be re-drafted to reflect a broad mandate … Continue Reading
January 28, 2003Letter to Secretary of Energy Recommending Resumption of Participation in International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Project
January 28, 2003 The Honorable Spencer Abraham Secretary US Department of Energy 1000 Independence Ave., SW Washington, DC 20585 Dear Mr. Secretary: We are writing to express our support for U.S. participation in one of the most important endeavors being undertaken by the international energy sciences community - the ITER project. Since the 1998 U.S. withdrawal from ITER, the project has been substantially redesigned, its costs have been greatly reduced and a strong consensus … Continue Reading
September 30, 2002NASA Response to Rep. Hall's Letter on Space Station Crew Support Capabilities
September 30, 2002 The Honorable Ralph M. Hall Ranking Democrat Committee on Science House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Mr. Hall: Thank you for your letter of June 13, 2002, forwarding a number of questions related to NASA's decision to implement an orderly shutdown of the X-38 project in favor of the pursuit of multipurpose vehicle concepts. Over the past few months, NASA has conducted a number of reviews to assess the Integrated Space Transportation Plan (ISTP), … Continue Reading
June 13, 2002Letter to NASA Requesting Information on Plans to Support the International Space Station
June 21, 2002 The Honorable Sean O'Keefe Administrator National Aeronautics and Space Administration Washington, D.C. 20546 Dear Administrator O'Keefe: I have received the June 13, 2002 letter from Mr. Charles Horner, III of NASA's Office of Legislative Affairs regarding your intention to pursue an "orderly shutdown" of the X-38/Crew Return Vehicle (CRV) program. Adds you know, I have been concerned about the failure to date to commit to a restoration of the crew size … Continue Reading
November 01, 2001Letter to Secretary of Energy Seeking U.S. Representation at International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Meetings
November 1, 2001 The Hon. Spencer Abraham Secretary US Department of Energy James Forrestal Building 1000 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20585 Dear Mr. Secretary: We are writing to urge you to begin sending a representative to the international discussions regarding the International Thermonuclear Energy Reactor (ITER), which, as you know, is a major fusion research initiative. The next set of discussions will be held in Toronto, on November 8 or 9. While it may be … Continue Reading