[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 17 (Wednesday, February 16, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E260-E261]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE RESTORE SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY TO FEDERAL RESEARCH 
                      AND POLICYMAKING ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BART GORDON

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 16, 2005

  Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, today, Representative Waxman and I are 
introducing a bill to protect the integrity of science conducted and 
utilized by the federal government: The Restore Scientific Integrity to 
Federal Research and Policymaking Act of 2005.
  The Restore Scientific Integrity to Federal Research and Policymaking 
Act makes it illegal for any federal official to tamper with research 
findings, censor findings of research or to disseminate findings known 
to be false or misleading. It extends whistleblower protections to 
federal scientists who disclose incidents of political interference 
with science.
  The Restore Scientific Integrity to Federal Research and Policymaking 
Act codifies the

[[Page E261]]

recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office in their 
April 2004 report to Representative Johnson and Representative Baird. 
These provisions will improve the process for evaluating appointees to 
federal scientific advisory committees and make the advisory committee 
appointment and deliberation process more transparent to the public.
  We need this legislation. The Administration has turned a deaf ear on 
the science community's call to restore scientific integrity in 
policymaking, including the voices of 48 Nobel Laureates, 62 National 
Medal of Science recipients, and 135 members of the National Academy of 
Sciences. While it is true that no Administration has been immune from 
the temptation to politicize science or has failed to succumb on 
occasion to this illness, the chronic condition displayed by this 
Administration requires strong medicine.
  Two years ago, the Administration suggested that the incidents raised 
by the press, by Representative Waxman's Government Reform Committee 
staff report, and in the February 2004 report by the Union of Concerned 
Scientists were a series of misunderstandings or a partisan effort to 
defame the Bush Administration's science policies.
  However, reports of the manipulation of science and information by 
the Administration have continued unabated. The diversity of complaints 
and their sources is unprecedented. Incidents have been reported by the 
non-governmental science community, former appointees of both 
Republican and Democratic administrations, Inspectors General of 
federal agencies, and career federal scientists.
  Just this past week, two additional incidents have emerged. EPA's 
Inspector General issued a report indicating the Agency's senior 
management instructed EPA staff to produce a standard to fit a pre-
determined national emission limit for mercury from power plants. And a 
survey of federal scientists at the Fish and Wildlife Service released 
by the Union of Concerned Scientists and Public Employees for 
Environmental Responsibility indicates a serious morale problem and a 
disturbing pattern of suppression and manipulation of scientific 
results by political appointees at the Agency.
  Federal scientists should be free to conduct their research without 
fear of political censorship. Federal scientists should be active 
participants in the larger scientific community. Scientific progress 
occurs when we foster the open exchange of ideas and information. We 
must maintain a culture of openness and freedom of inquiry if we are to 
maintain the preeminent status of this nation in the world scientific 
community, develop new technologies, and to safeguard our environment 
and public health.
  It is common in Washington to talk about the importance of basing 
government policy on reliable scientific and technical information and 
analyses. We can only accomplish that if politics does not unduly 
influence the objectivity and independence of our nation's scientific 
enterprise. The Restore Scientific Integrity to Federal Research and 
Policymaking Act of 2005 will ensure that scientific integrity remains 
the hallmark of all science conducted in this nation. I urge all my 
colleagues to join Representative Waxman and me in support of this 
legislation.

                          ____________________