Amidst Strong Democratic Opposition, House Passes Bill Limiting Scientific Advice to EPA, Risking Public Health
(Washington, DC) – Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1029, the Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2015. Numerous scientific, public health, and environmental organizations expressed strong opposition to this bill, characterizing the legislation as “harmful”, “unnecessary”, and aimed at “undermining important health, safety, and environmental protections.” A nearly identical bill passed the House last Congress along mostly party lines.
On the House floor, Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) of the Environment Subcommittee said, “This bill again misses the mark and limits the quality of scientific advice EPA receives and permits seemingly endless delays in EPA’s regulatory process. H.R. 1029 would make it easier for industry representatives to serve on a Board – even if they have a financial conflict of interest.
“As I said before, and I will say again I am not opposed to industry experts participating on the Science Advisory Board or in the peer-review process at EPA. In fact, their insight is extremely valuable. But this bill conflates bias with financial conflicts of interest, and it assumes a simple disclosure will prevent a material interest in an outcome from coloring the judgment and actions of a board member. Congress should not be endorsing legislation that undermines long-standing ethics requirements and practices that have worked well to ensure fairness and balance of views on all Federal Advisory Committees.”
In addition, to clearing the way for more industry representation on the SAB, the bill also discourages participation and scientific advice from qualified scientists.
Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said, “My Republican colleagues seem to have a fundamental distrust of scientists from our nation’s universities because H.R. 1029 puts in place a number of requirements that will likely dissuade academic scientists from serving on the Board. It is difficult to understand how anyone could object to the most knowledgeable academic scientists offering their advice and expertise to EPA.”
Ranking Member Bonamici proposed an amendment based on non-partisan recommendations that would have replaced the bill in its current form. The amendment was not adopted.
She said, “There was an opportunity to work together and draft a bill that would promote the ideals of transparency without compromising the integrity of EPA’s Science Advisory Board. Unfortunately, that opportunity never came, and instead we are again considering a bill that delays the actions of an Agency whose only mission is to protect public health and the environment.”
The bill passed the House by a vote of 236-181. To view all of the letters from outside organizations expressing concern or opposition to H.R. 1029, click here.
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