Political Quotes

“I hope we can all agree that it is in the nation's best interest to allow EPA to use the best available science to protect our health and well-being. This means the science that EPA uses should be held to the same standards as any other science. I support transparency in scientific research, but it is important to recognize that the data from many of the studies that EPA depends on cannot be made publicly available without violating the privacy of individuals. As a member of the Science Committee, I have supported increased public access to scientific data in science journals. However, there are exceptions to the types of data that can be shared publicly. EPA studies often rely on personal health records or proprietary computer models to characterize the harmful effects of pollutants. We must not mistake EPA's legally-mandated shielding of personally identifiable information as dubious ``secret science.'' These studies undergo a rigorous review process including peer review and sometimes replication. If the goal is more replication, Congress should provide funds to conduct additional studies, not throw out studies that depend on sensitive information. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that up to 50 percent of the studies that EPA uses rely on such sensitive materials. Through these studies, we gain a deeper understanding of our natural environment that is invaluable to informing public health policy.…”