[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 142 (Wednesday, November 19, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1631]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        H.R. 4012 AND H.R. 1422

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 19, 2014

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, one of the last actions this chamber took 
before recessing for the Elections wasn't to act on Comprehensive 
Immigration Reform or pass a funding measure to avoid another 
Republican Government Shutdown. We didn't exercise Congress's 
constitutional role in debating issues of war and peace and take up an 
Authorization for Use of Military Force in response to the threat of 
ISIS. And we didn't address our nation's crumbling infrastructure by 
passing a long-term transportation bill.
   Sadly, just as they did then, the most anti-environmental House 
majority is once again engaging in science suppression and denial 
simply because they disagree with the findings and the responsible 
actions taken based on those findings to protect public health and 
preserve the environment.
   H.R. 4012, for example, is an attempt to tie the EPA's hands by 
restricting the information it can use in drafting safeguards. If 
passed, this bill would exclude a host of important data, including 
university research that is protected by privacy and confidentiality 
laws, as well as proprietary business information.
   Not to be outdone, H.R. 1422 would weaken the EPA's advisory process 
and make it easier for special interests to be appointed to and 
influence the Science Advisory Board. Do we really want to have the 
impartial analysis of our nation's leading experts replaced by big 
corporate interests? What could go wrong with that?
   Unfortunately, the public has grown accustomed to the House 
majority's repeated efforts to gut important environmental safeguards 
that protect public health. All told, my friends on the other side of 
the aisle have voted more than 200 times to block action to address 
climate change, to halt efforts to reduce air and water pollution, and 
to undermine protections for public lands, coastal areas, and the 
environment. The bills before us this week are more of the same.
   This know-nothing approach fails the public we are sworn to protect 
and serve. As elected officials, we have to recognize the valuable role 
science must play in making good public policy. Not anecdotes . . . not 
false narratives . . . science.
   I urge my colleagues to reject these bills, abandon this war on 
science, so that we can turn our attention to the pressing issues our 
country demands we address.

                          ____________________