[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 156 (Saturday, November 8, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2254-E2255]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    INTRODUCTION OF A BILL TO CREATE THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR THE 
                              ENVIRONMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM SAXTON

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 7, 1997

  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a bill, the ``Sound 
Science for the Environment Act,'' along with Mr. Abercrombie, that 
would create a National Institute for the Environment (NIE). The sole 
mission of the NIE will be to improve the scientific basis for 
environmental decision-making.
  The United States spends more than $150 billion a year on pollution 
control and environmental clean up. Yet, less than 2 percent of that 
amount is spent on the background science to fully understand these 
problems before we legislate and regulate them. As we have seen on 
countless issues from clean air standards to endangered species 
habitat, from global warming to nonpoint source pollution, the 
credibility and impartiality of the science underlying our decisions is 
a topic of heated debate. However, very little has been done to provide 
unbiased science or to link it with policy-making. This legislation is 
an effort to put some substance behind the calls for ``sound science''.
  Our legislation envisions the creation of the NIE within the National 
Science Foundation, a significant difference from similar bills I have 
supported in past Congresses. Operating as part of the NSF will provide 
the National Institute for the Environment with opportunities to 
function more effectively, and will accord it a position of stature 
within the scientific community.
  Mr. Speaker, the NIE's sole purpose will be to come up with the best 
available science on a particular subject. That science will be used by 
us, the nation's lawmakers, who have been entrusted by our constituents 
to make the soundest environmental decisions, in their trust and their 
children's trust. We therefore must ensure that we do base our 
decisions on sound science. No politics, no interest group pressure, no 
lobbying. . . .just straightforward sound science by the country's best 
scientists. Importantly, this information will not be compiled by 
regulators, as the NIE is entirely a non-regulatory body. The NIE will 
support original scientific research, in addition to data assessment.
  The NIE signifies a new approach to environmental science by 
integrating knowledge assessment, research, and educational training. 
The NIE will be created by consolidating some environmental science 
programs and redirecting funds from programs that are not a high 
priority and not cost-effective. To minimize cost and bureaucracy, the 
NIE will not operate laboratories and research facilities, but will 
competitively award peer-reviewed grants to the best scientists in 
academia, the private sector, government.
  With the Federal Government's current fiscal constraints, Congress 
needs to implement cost-effective, integrated environmental science 
that underpins our environmental policies. The question is not whether 
the federal government will play a role in environmental science, but 
rather, the accuracy of that role. Thus the need for the NIE. Once we 
have the best environmental science and information at our fingertips, 
we can begin to make more informed environmental decisions based on the 
most accurate, reliable and unbiased science. The dividend returned on 
this investment will be long-term and will establish a true legacy to 
future generations.
  Mr. Speaker, we all share the common goal to inject credible, peer-
reviewed science into environmental legislation and regulations. This 
legislation will serve to accomplish that goal. I encourage all my 
colleagues to join me in cosponsoring this bipartisan legislation.
  Please include for the Record this line-by-line summary of our bill, 
the ``Sound Science for the Environment Act.''

 Outline of the Sound Science for the Environment ACT to Establish the 
                 National Institute for the Environment

       This outline describes legislation to create a National 
     Institute for the Environment (NIE), with the mission to 
     improve the scientific basis for decision-making on 
     environmental issues, & for other purposes.
       Section 1. Short title: the ``Sound Science for the 
     Environment Act.''
       Section 2. Findings: The Congress finds the following:
       A healthy environment is essential to an enhanced quality 
     of life, a competitive economy, & national security.
       The United States lacks an effective mechanism for 
     providing & communicating a comprehensive, objective & 
     credible scientific understanding of environmental issues in 
     a timely manner to policy-makers & the public.
       An appropriate understanding of the diverse scientific 
     issues that underlie the environmental problems facing the 
     United States is essential to finding environmentally & 
     economically sound solutions to these problems.
       To be useful, this understanding requires the integration 
     of ongoing assessments of the state of scientific knowledge 
     with credible problem-focused research, the communication of 
     scientific information, & the appropriate education & 
     training of environmental scientists, engineers, & other 
     professionals.
       These scientific activities are best carried out through a 
     neutral, institution without regulatory responsibilities, 
     where the public & private organizations and individuals can 
     establish a shared understanding of the state

[[Page E2255]]

     of scientific knowledge on environmental issues, & support 
     research, education, and information exchange to expand and 
     spread the state of knowledge.
       A National Institute for the Environment will allow the 
     Nation to more effectively use science to improve 
     environmental decisionmaking, thereby reducing costs and 
     saving lives.
       Section 3. Purpose: Create an institute to improve the 
     scientific basis for decision-making on environmental issues 
     by integrating the functions of knowledge assessment, 
     research, information services, education & training, provide 
     national leadership in environment science and research, and 
     facilitate the sharing of public and private resources to 
     enhance understanding and communication of scientific 
     knowledge about the environment.
       Section 4. Establishment: Authorizes and directs the 
     National Science Foundation to establish a National Institute 
     for the Environment with a mission to improve the scientific 
     basis for decisionmaking on environmental issues. Directs 
     that management of the Institute be awarded competitively.
       Section 5. Duties & Functions: Sets the duties of the 
     Institute to:
       1. Initiate, facilitate, & where appropriate perform 
     assessments of the current state of knowledge of 
     environmental issues & their implications;
       2. Award competitively peer-reviewed grants & where 
     appropriate, contracts, for extramural scientific research;
       3. Establish a National Library for the Environment as a 
     universally accessible, easy to use, electronic, state-of-
     the-art information system for scientists, decisionmakers, & 
     the public;
       4. Sponsor education & training of environmental scientists 
     & professionals & improve public environmental literacy.
       Section 6. Governing board: Establishes a Governing Board 
     composed of 18 members appointed by the President and 
     confirmed by the Senate, which shall establish goals, 
     priorities, & policies of the Institute, & will include 
     approximately equal numbers of scientists & users of 
     scientific information on the environment. Ensures diverse 
     composition including representation of States, academic 
     institutions, business, labor, environmental groups, other 
     citizens groups, women & minority groups. Ensures geographic 
     diversity. Provides for 6-year terms of office in order to 
     provide stability. Designates one member of the National 
     Science Board to serve on the Governing Board.
       Section 7. Management and Staff; Provides for a Director, 
     Assistant Directors, & staff. Directs that the Institute be 
     operated by a non-profit organization under contract with 
     NSF.
       Section 8. Relation with National Science Board, Directs 
     the National Science Board to recommend names for the 
     Governing Board and to approve selection of the Director.
       Section 9. Cooperation with Agencies: The Institute may 
     acquire any unclassified data & non-proprietary knowledge 
     possessed by Federal agencies. The Institute shall cooperate 
     with the agencies to ensure that the information & products 
     of the Institute are useful & accessible to the agencies.
       Section 10. Interagency Advisory Committee: Directs the 
     Committee on Environment and Natural Resources of the 
     National Science and Technology Council or an equivalent body 
     to serve as an interagency advisory committee, to ensure that 
     the efforts of the Institute & Federal agencies are 
     complementary.
       Section 11. Grants, contracts, & other authorities: 
     Provides the Institute with the same authority as NSF to 
     enter into financial arrangements, including competitively 
     awarded grants, loans, cooperative agreements, & contracts to 
     institutions, teams, & centers, after rigorous peer-review. 
     States that scientists, engineers, & other researchers should 
     be able to receive funding regardless of whether they are 
     from government or private sector institutions. Allows the 
     Institute to receive funds from Federal agencies, states, & 
     private sector institutions to carry out particular projects 
     & activities, subject to guidelines established by the Board. 
     Directs that funds provided not be used to reduce amounts 
     available to the Institute from appropriations.
       Section 12. Authorization of appropriations. Authorizes 
     such sums as may be necessary to NSF to be transferred to the 
     Institute. Prohibits funds of NSF from being transferred.
       Section 13. Definitions.
       Environmental sciences--the full range of fields of study 
     including biological, physical, chemical, geological, & 
     social sciences, engineering, & humanities, relevant to the 
     understanding of environmental problems.
       Scientist--practitioner of science relevant to the 
     environment.
       Decisionmakers--elected or appointed officials of Federal, 
     State, tribal, & local governments & similar individuals in 
     the private sector.

     

                          ____________________