I 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3096

To provide for the establishment of the position of Deputy Administrator 

for Science and Technology of the Environmental Protection Agency, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 16, 2003

Mr. EHLERS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Science 

A BILL

To provide for the establishment of the position of Deputy 

Administrator for Science and Technology of the Environmental Protection Agency, and for other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Strengthening Science 

5 at the Environmental Protection Agency Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 For purposes of this Act—

8 (1) the term ‘‘Administrator’’ means the Ad9 ministrator of the Agency; 
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1 (2) the term ‘‘Agency’’ means the Environ2 mental Protection Agency; 

3 (3) the term ‘‘Deputy’’ means the Deputy Ad4 ministrator for Science and Technology appointed 

5 under section 4; and 

6 (4) the term ‘‘research’’ means research, devel7 opment, and demonstration. 

8 SEC. 3. RESEARCH MISSION OF AGENCY. 

9 Conducting, sponsoring, and evaluating environ10 mental science and technology research shall be a central 

11 mission of the Agency. The results of such research shall 

12 be used to help initiate, formulate, and carry out the 

13 Agency’s agenda, and the Agency shall seek to increase 

14 the public’s understanding of environmental science and 

15 technology by making those research results available to 

16 the public. 

17 SEC. 4. DEPUTY. 

18 (a) APPOINTMENT.—The President shall appoint, by 

19 and with the advice and consent of the Senate, a Deputy 

20 Administrator for Science and Technology, who shall co21 ordinate and oversee the science and technology activities 

22 of the Agency and ensure that Agency decisions are in23 formed by the results of appropriate and relevant re24 search. 

25 (b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Deputy shall—
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1 (1) provide advice to the Administrator regard2 ing science and technology issues and their relation3 ship to Agency policies, procedures, and decisions; 

4 (2) participate in developing the Agency’s stra5 tegic plans and policies and review the science and 

6 technology aspects of those plans and policies; 

7 (3) coordinate the acquisition and compilation 

8 of relevant science and technology information avail9 able from academic sources, government agencies, 

10 and the private sector; 

11 (4) develop and oversee guidelines for the dis12 semination of research results conducted, sponsored, 

13 or cited by the Agency to the public, including his14 torically black colleges and universities, Hispanic15 serving institutions, minority communities, and rural 

16 communities; and 

17 (5) develop and oversee guidelines for peer re18 view of science and technology research. 

19 (c) QUALIFICATIONS.—An individual appointed 

20 under subsection (a) shall be a person who has an out21 standing science and technology background, including re22 search accomplishments, scientific reputation, and public 

23 policy experience. 

24 (d) CONSULTATION.—Before appointing an indi25 vidual under subsection (a), the President shall consult 
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1 with the National Academy of Sciences, the National 

2 Academy of Engineering, the Science Advisory Board of 

3 the Agency, and other appropriate scientific organizations. 

4 (e) COMPENSATION.—The Deputy shall be com5 pensated at the rate provided for level III of the Executive 

6 Schedule pursuant to section 5314 of title 5, United 

7 States Code. 

8 (f) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 5314 of 

9 title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 

10 end the following: 

11 ‘‘Deputy Administrator for Science and Technology 

12 of the Environmental Protection Agency.’’. 

13 SEC. 5. ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR FOR RESEARCH AND 

14 DEVELOPMENT. 

15 (a) TITLE AND TERM.—There shall be an Assistant 

16 Administrator for Research and Development of the Agen17 cy, who shall also have the title of Chief Scientist of the 

18 Agency. Appointments to such position made after the 

19 date of the enactment of this Act shall be for a term of 

20 5 years unless sooner removed by the President. 

21 (b) QUALIFICATIONS.—An individual appointed 

22 under subsection (a) shall be a person who has an out23 standing science and technology background, including re-
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1 search accomplishments, scientific reputation, and experi2 ence in leading a research and development organization.

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