Union of Concerned Scientists Reports: Scientific Integrity Act Passes Out of Committee with Unprecedented Bipartisan Support

Six House Republicans joined 17 Democrats to ensure that science cannot be distorted or simply thrown aside and ignored in government policy-making.  The Union of Concerned Scientists reports:

The legislation makes it illegal for anyone to manipulate, suppress, or distort scientific research. It requires agencies to establish policies for approval of scientific papers written by agency scientists. It empowers scientists to participate in scientific meetings and serve in leadership positions within scientific associations.

It stops agency officials from delaying the release of scientific findings for non-scientific reasons. It requires agencies to train employees on proper conduct. And it requires agencies to report on their progress in implementing their policies.

In real life? If the bill is signed into law, political appointees can’t hold up analysis on formaldehyde because it’s politically inconvenient. They can’t order scientists to change testing procedures to hide the presence of toxic lead in children’s lunch boxes. They can’t misrepresent research on drinking water and fracking. They can’t politically restrict the types of scientific methods that scientists can use to understand environmental threats.

If it seems astounding that such legislation is required, consider where we are as a nation.

When the G7 meets next year in one of Trump’s hotels (assuming Trump is not in prison at that particular point in time), they will not be discussing climate change.

We are doing everything in our power to disembowel the Environmental Protection Agency.

Given all this, we need to be grateful that there is any level of congressional support for the inclusion of science in our thinking as a nation.

Pathetic, but true.