[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 47 (Wednesday, April 10, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E412]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 1287

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE McINTYRE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 10, 2013

  Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R.1287, 
the Sound Science Act of 2013. Congressman Stephen Fincher and I 
introduced this bill on March 20, 2013 to ensure the highest level of 
Scientific Integrity at our federal agencies.
  Our bill is a sensible approach requiring federal agencies to develop 
scientific integrity policies that adhere to the scientific method, 
therefore maximizing the quality and integrity of science used in the 
regulatory decision-making process.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill is a continuation of the efforts the 
Administration has put forth on the issue of scientific integrity. In 
March of 2009, President Obama issued a Presidential memorandum 
directing the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to require 
federal departments and agencies to develop procedures ``for restoring 
scientific integrity to government decision making.''
  At the beginning of last year, the President continued this work by 
issuing Executive Order 13563, ``Improving Regulation and Regulatory 
Review,'' which stated that each agency ``shall ensure the objectivity 
of any scientific and technological information and processes used to 
support the agency's regulatory actions.''
  Since that process began, departments and agencies have developed 
their own policies to address the President's concerns. Unfortunately, 
not all agencies have made an equal commitment to scientific integrity.
  In fact, earlier this month, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), 
released a report on the status of such policies--now four years after 
this process started. Unfortunately, a variety of Departments and 
agencies have received an unfavorable review from UCS, including the 
Department of Energy, Health and Human Services, and the USDA to name a 
few. UCS notes that these departments have developed ``policies that do 
not make adequate commitments to scientific integrity.''
  This bill attempts to address some of the inadequacies highlighted by 
UCS and builds on the Administration's initiative by codifying the 
requirement that the Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy compel each federal agency to develop guidelines regarding the 
scientific information used by federal agencies.
  Additionally, this legislation clarifies that scientific information 
be supported by peer review when appropriate; ensures that scientific 
studies used in making decisions be disclosed to the public, and 
requires an opportunity for stakeholder input.
  It also requires federal agencies to give greatest weight to 
information based on reproducible data that is developed in accordance 
with the scientific method.
  Finally, the bill establishes any regulatory action in violation of 
an agency's internal scientific integrity guidelines be deemed 
arbitrary and subject to challenge by affected stakeholders.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill to ensure that 
government decisions are fact-based and made in sound science.

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