October 31, 2017

Ranking Member Johnson Statement on Detrimental Changes to EPA Advisory Panels

(Washington, DC) – Today, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt announced a new policy prohibiting scientists who receive agency funding from serving on independent science panels that advise the agency. He dismissed current science advisers who received agency grants and replaced them with industry representatives and Republican state environmental officials. Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) gave the following statement. Today’s announcement by EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt leaves me deeply disappointed and troubled. This action completely undermines scientific integrity at the EPA, threatening the health of the American people and our environment. Allowing scientists funded by the very industries the agency is tasked with regulating to participate on independent science review panels, while prohibiting leading scientists simply because they have received funding through EPA grants, is the height of hypocrisy. This misguided attempt at ‘independence’ and ‘transparency’ runs counter to the EPA’s core mission by clearing the way for corporate interests to have an overrepresented role in science advisory committees at the agency.

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