House Passes Lucas Bill to Strengthen Scientific Integrity and Transparency at EPA

Washington – The U.S House of Representatives today approved H.R. 1431, the EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2017, introduced by Science, Space, and Technology Committee Vice Chair Frank Lucas (R-Okla.). The bill passed by a vote of 229-193.  This legislation restores the independence of Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Science Advisory Board (SAB) and promotes fairness, transparency, and public participation to ensure unbiased scientific advice.

Vice Chairman Lucas: “Sound science must be the cornerstone of sound policy. This principle holds true regardless of which party controls Congress or who sits in the Oval Office.  One way we can promote smart policymaking is by ensuring the research that goes into our decisions is transparent and unbiased. I’m pleased the House took action today to improve the Science Advisory Board so that the most qualified and objective experts are free to undertake an honest review of regulatory science.”

Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas): “This valuable bill opens the door to increased outside input, wider expert opinions, and more balanced recommendations in EPA’s SAB.  Long-needed reforms to the SAB will increase public participation in EPA’s science review process and require the SAB to be more responsive to the public and to Congress.  These changes will strengthen the public’s trust in the science that EPA uses to support its regulations. I appreciate Mr. Lucas’s leadership on this important legislation, and look forward to seeing this bill up for consideration in the Senate.”