Tim Kaine: “reserving the right to object, we need to leave the science to scientists and researchers. Our public health Agencies…”

“reserving the right to object, we need to leave the science to scientists and researchers. Our public health Agencies, including the CDC and NIH, already release their studies publicly, and it is important that they have control over the release of this information. Forcing researchers to put out studies on an arbitrary timeline--this bill requires all studies to be released within 14 days from the passage of the bill--could force the release of studies before data collection is complete, before they are done analyzing and reviewing the data, before it is peer reviewed. It might force them to put out studies that were funded that came to inconclusive results that might be confusing to the public. So I think having a bill that would force release of material based on a date when a particular bill passed rather than when the science is done and it is ready to be released could be a recipe for disinformation and distrust. The bill seems to imagine a scenario where there is critical science being hidden away or stonewalled, and I have no reason to believe that is true. That would be a dangerous suggestion at a time when we are trying to encourage people to follow the guidance of these Agencies, and the Agencies are working around-the-clock to provide lifesaving cures and up-to-date information about how people can keep their families safe from COVID. Based upon those reasons, I object. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. The Senator from Utah.”