Larry Bucshon: “My amendment addresses timing. Timing is important when it comes to this issue because the public needs to know and this…”

“My amendment addresses timing. Timing is important when it comes to this issue because the public needs to know and this Congress needs to know what the science is before the rule is finalized, not after the rule has already been essentially finalized and the public comment period has passed. I had direct experience with this recently with the coal dust regulation. After the rule was essentially finalized, I asked for the data myself and was denied the data claiming that there would be HIPAA violations if they released scientific data on black lung disease, for example, that this coal dust regulation was based on, which is not true. I'm a physician, and there are scientific studies released every day in journals across America that show X-rays and other things of patients without names on them, and they don't violate HIPAA regulations. I think the timing of this is important because if the rule is finalized, even if you see the science, it makes it very difficult to overturn the rule and the opportunity has passed for peer review and congressional review of the science behind a proposed rule. With that, I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Bucshon). The amendment was agreed to. Amendment No. 3 Offered by Mr. Waxman The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 3 printed in House Report 112-680.”