I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2876 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 9, 2011 Mr. Pompeo (for himself, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Carter, Mr. Harper, and Mr. McKinley) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To prevent discrimination on the basis of political beliefs by the Environmental Protection Agency in its student programs.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the EPA Student Nondiscrimination Act.

2.

Prohibition against discrimination

No student internship, fellowship, scholarship, or other student program administered by the Environmental Protection Agency may establish any requirement that an applicant possess any experience that constitutes an endorsement of a particular political position with regard to environmental protection.

3.

Prohibition against funding certain EPA student programs

No funds shall be used to provide financial compensation, including grants, stipends, expenses, or salary, for the following student programs administered by the Environmental Protection Agency: (1)The Student Diversity Internship Program Environmental Justice Eco-Ambassador Focus. (2)Programs related to the study of greenhouse gas emissions.

4.

Report on procedures

Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall submit a report to Congress detailing existing policies, procedures, and actions taken within the last 3 years in recruiting and hiring applicants for all Environmental Protection Agency student programs. The report shall include— (1)efforts to recruit student advocates, including any communications between the Environmental Protection Agency and nongovernmental organizations; (2)policies and procedures related to the review of student applications, including a list of the personnel involved in such processes; (3)any efforts to consider applicants with policy views or experience that were counter to stated agency goals; and (4)policies to ensure that applicants for Environmental Protection Agency student programs will be recruited and reviewed in accordance with section 2 of this Act.