Lamar Smith: “I would like to thank the gentleman from Oklahoma, Mr. Lucas, the vice chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology…”

“I would like to thank the gentleman from Oklahoma, Mr. Lucas, the vice chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee for yielding to me, and I would also like to thank him for his leadership on H.R. 1431, the Environmental Protection Agency Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2017. This bill gives much needed transparency, fairness, and balance to the EPA's Science Advisory Board. These reforms will strengthen the public's trust of the science the EPA uses to support its regulations. It also allows more public participation in the EPA science review process, and it requires the SAB to be more responsive to the public and to congressional questions, inquiries, and oversight. Last Congress, similar legislation passed the House with bipartisan support. I appreciate Mr. Lucas and the ranking member of the Agriculture Committee, Representative Peterson, for introducing this legislation. Madam Speaker, I support this bill, and recommend it to my colleagues.”