Paul Tonko

I am deeply concerned with the Department of the Interior's proposal for the reorganization and relocation of the Bureau of Land Management headquarters from Washington, DC to Grand Junction, Colorado.

Winning political points should never take precedence in decision making over working toward the mission of the protection of our Federal public lands and our service to the American people.

This proposal seems to be a continuation of the Trump administration's effort to drain the swamp, which oftentimes becomes adding to the alligators.

Science has been the engine which has driven prosperity in this country since its founding.

Scientific integrity is not partisan. Good policy and decision making have always and will always rely on a discussion of facts informed by a scientific process.

Unfortunately, as we have heard, that is not the case today at the Department of the Interior.

Scientific integrity refers to the processes in which independent science fully and transparently informs policy decisions free from inappropriate political influence.

There is no question that this issue presents a new urgency in our current administration.

The Scientific Integrity Act introduced by Rep. Paul Tonko (NY), and co-sponsored by over 200 members of the House, is good government legislation.

America's scientists should feel supported in their advancement as researchers and know that they are able to conduct their research without being mistreated or unduly pressured by political or special interests.

I am proud to have introduced H.R. 1709, the Scientific Integrity Act, which would protect public scientific research.

The Scientific Integrity Act, introduced by Representative Tonko and co-sponsored by over 200 Members of Congress, is good government legislation.

Our choices today will determine the kind of climate future we leave our children and grandchildren.

We cannot afford to wait until 2050, or even 2030, to act.

We also acknowledge that any meaningful climate action will require significant federal investments; particularly in rural, deindustrialized, and environmental justice communities.

We must invest in just transition policies for fossil fuel-dependent workers and communities.

Congress is looking to this Committee to take a leading role in developing the policies to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.

We cannot afford to wait until 2050 or even 2030 to act.

Yesterday, I joined Chairman Pallone, Energy Subcommittee Chairman Rush, and other members of the committee to announce support for a 100 percent clean economy by no later than 2050.

We have committed to ensuring this process will be open to all ideas and thoughtful in its response.

For years Republicans in Congress and the White House have made it a top priority to end healthcare protections for millions of Americans. They voted more than 60 times to repeal the Affordable Care Act, but when the time came, they had no…

So it's apparent that no matter what Administration, there's a benefit that comes by tightening up and statutorily imposing the integrity overviews that these agencies.

The Scientific Integrity Act is straightforward. It outlines prohibited conduct for employees of federal agencies that conduct scientific research.

I would really encourage and ask again my Republican friends including Mr. Norman from South Carolina and Dr. Marshall and others to consider signing onto the Tonko legislation.

I think that's exactly what we're here for, that politics intervening with scientific integrity is bad whether it comes from the right or from the left.