EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2014

Bill: 113-hr-1422
Sponsor: Rep. Stewart, Chris [R-UT-2]
Introduced: 2013-04-09 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental regulatory procedures
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2013-04-09
text: 
EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2013 - Amends the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1978 to revise the process of selecting members of the Science Advisory Board, guidelines for participation in Board advisory activities, and terms of office. (The Board provides scientific advice to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA].)
 
Revises the procedures for providing advice and comments to the Administrator by: (1) including risk or hazard assessments in the regulatory proposals and documents made available to the Board, and (2) requiring advice and comments to be included in the record regarding any such proposal and published in the Federal Register. 
Revises the operation of Board member committees and investigative panels to: (1) require that they operate in accordance with the membership, participation, and policy requirements (including new requirements for public participation in advisory activities of the Board) contained in this Act; (2) deny them authority to make decisions on behalf of the Board; and (3) prohibit direct reporting to EPA. 
Adds guidelines for the conduct of Board advisory activities, including concerning: (1) avoidance of making policy determinations or recommendations, (2) communication of uncertainties, (3) dissenting members' views, and (4) periodic reviews to ensure that such activities address the most important scientific issues affecting EPA. 

action_date: 2013-07-22
text: 
EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2013 - Amends the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1978 to revise the process of selecting members of the Science Advisory Board, guidelines for participation in Board advisory activities, and terms of office. (The Board provides scientific advice to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA].) Prohibits federally registered lobbyists from being appointed to the Board.
 
Revises the procedures for providing advice and comments to the Administrator by: (1) including risk or hazard assessments in the regulatory proposals and documents made available to the Board, and (2) requiring advice and comments to be included in the record regarding any such proposal and published in the Federal Register. 
Revises the operation of Board member committees and investigative panels to: (1) require that they operate in accordance with the membership, participation, and policy requirements (including new requirements for public participation in advisory activities of the Board) contained in this Act; (2) deny them authority to make decisions on behalf of the Board; and (3) prohibit direct reporting to EPA. 
Adds guidelines for the conduct of Board advisory activities, including concerning: (1) avoidance of making policy determinations or recommendations, (2) communication of uncertainties, (3) dissenting members' views, and (4) periodic reviews to ensure that such activities address the most important scientific issues affecting EPA. 
 Prohibits this Act from being construed as supplanting the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act or the Ethics in Government Act of 1978.
action_date: 2014-11-18
text: 
EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2014 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1978 to revise requirements for the Science Advisory Board, which gives scientific advice to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and address public disclosure of scientific and technical information that the EPA uses as a basis for agency actions.
 
Emphasizes that the Board provides such advice independently.
 
Revises the process of selecting members of the Board. Requires at least 10% of Board membership to represent state, local, or tribal governments. Excludes from membership any federally registered lobbyists.
 
Directs the Board to ensure that:
 
 
the points of view represented on the Board are fairly balanced among the members,
 
persons with substantial and relevant expertise are not excluded from the Board because of affiliation with or representation of entities that might have a potential interest in the Board's advisory activities, and
 
members do not participate in advisory activities that involve review or application of their own work.
 
 
Revises Board terms of office.
 
Revises the procedures for providing advice and comments to the EPA by: (1) including draft risk or hazard assessments in the regulatory proposals and documents made available to the Board, and (2) requiring advice and comments to be included in the record regarding any such proposal and published in the Federal Register. 
Revises the operation of Board member committees and investigative panels to: (1) require that they operate in accordance with the membership, participation, and policy requirements (including new requirements for public participation in advisory activities of the Board) contained in this Act; (2) deny them authority to make decisions on behalf of the Board; and (3) prohibit direct reporting to EPA. 
Revises requirements for public participation and transparency. Requires the EPA and the Board to make all reports and relevant scientific information available to the public concurrently when that information is made available to the Board. 
Adds guidelines for the conduct of Board advisory activities, including: (1) avoidance of making policy determinations or recommendations, (2) communication of uncertainties, (3) dissenting members' views, and (4) periodic reviews to ensure that such activities address the most important scientific issues affecting EPA. 
 (Sec. 3) Prohibits this Act from being construed as supplanting the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act or the Ethics in Government Act of 1978.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-11-19
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2014-11-18
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2014-11-18
text: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 229 - 191 (Roll no. 525).
action_date: 2014-11-18
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 229 - 191 (Roll no. 525).
action_date: 2014-11-18
text: On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 195 - 225 (Roll no. 524).
action_date: 2014-11-18
text: The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H8062)
action_date: 2014-11-18
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Sean Maloney motion to recommit with instructions, pending reservation of a point of order. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to prohibit people from serving on the Science Advisory Board if they represent a corporation or a trade association with a financial interest in the outcome of the Boards decisions. The reservation of the point of order was subsequently withdrawn.
action_date: 2014-11-18
text: Mr. Maloney, Sean moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. (consideration: CR H8062-8063; text: H8062)
action_date: 2014-11-18
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 756, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Stewart Part A amendment No. 1.
action_date: 2014-11-18
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H8060-8064)
action_date: 2014-11-18
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - The Chair announced that pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule 19, further proceedings on H.R. 1422 had been postponed.
action_date: 2014-11-18
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 1422.
action_date: 2014-11-18
text: Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1422, H.R. 4012 and H.R. 4795. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 1422, H.R. 4012, and H.R. 4795. General debate is limited to 1 hour for each bill. The resolution specifies certain amendments are in order for H.R. 1422, H.R. 4012, and H.R. 4795. One motion to recommit with instructions is permitted for each bill.
action_date: 2014-11-18
text: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 756. (consideration: CR H8050-8064; text of measure as reported in the House: CR H8050-8051)
action_date: 2014-11-17
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 756 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1422, H.R. 4012 and H.R. 4795. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 1422, H.R. 4012, and H.R. 4795. General debate is limited to 1 hour for each bill. The resolution specifies certain amendments are in order for H.R. 1422, H.R. 4012, and H.R. 4795. One motion to recommit with instructions is permitted for each bill.
action_date: 2013-07-22
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 119.
action_date: 2013-07-22
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 113-165.
action_date: 2013-07-22
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 113-165.
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 21 - 16.
action_date: 2013-04-11
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2013-04-09
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
action_date: 2013-04-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2013-04-09
text: Introduced in House