Secret Science Reform Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-1030
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Lamar [R-TX-21]
Introduced: 2015-02-24 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental regulatory procedures
Government information and archives
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2015-02-24
text: 

Secret Science Reform Act of 2015

 
This bill amends the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1978 to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from proposing, finalizing, or disseminating a covered action unless all scientific and technical information relied on to support such action is the best available science, specifically identified, and publicly available in a manner sufficient for independent analysis and substantial reproduction of research results. A covered action includes a risk, exposure, or hazard assessment, criteria document, standard, limitation, regulation, regulatory impact analysis, or guidance.

action_date: 2015-03-02
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
 

Secret Science Reform Act of 2015

 
(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1978 to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from proposing, finalizing, or disseminating a covered action unless all scientific and technical information relied on to support such action is the best available science, specifically identified, and publicly available in a manner sufficient for independent analysis and substantial reproduction of research results. A covered action includes a risk, exposure, or hazard assessment, criteria document, standard, limitation, regulation, regulatory impact analysis, or guidance. Scientific and technical information includes: (1) materials, data, and associated protocols necessary to understand, assess, and extend conclusions; (2) computer codes and models involved in the creation and analysis of the information; (3) recorded factual materials; and (4) detailed descriptions of how to access and use the information.
 
This Act may not be construed as requiring the EPA to disseminate scientific and technical information, or superseding any nondiscretionary statutory requirement. 
 
The EPA may not spend more than $1 million per fiscal year on carrying out this Act.
 
 
 
 
 

action_date: 2015-03-18
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on March 2, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 

Secret Science Reform Act of 2015

 
(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1978 to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from proposing, finalizing, or disseminating a covered action unless all scientific and technical information relied on to support such action is the best available science, specifically identified, and publicly available in a manner sufficient for independent analysis and substantial reproduction of research results. A covered action includes a risk, exposure, or hazard assessment, criteria document, standard, limitation, regulation, regulatory impact analysis, or guidance. Scientific and technical information includes: (1) materials, data, and associated protocols necessary to understand, assess, and extend conclusions; (2) computer codes and models involved in the creation and analysis of the information; (3) recorded factual materials; and (4) detailed descriptions of how to access and use the information.
 
This Act may not be construed as requiring the EPA to disseminate scientific and technical information, or superseding any nondiscretionary statutory requirement. 
 
The EPA may not spend more than $1 million per fiscal year on carrying out this Act.
 
 
 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-03-19
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2015-03-18
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2015-03-18
text: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 241 - 175 (Roll no. 125). (text: CR H1742)
action_date: 2015-03-18
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 241 - 175 (Roll no. 125).(text: CR H1742)
action_date: 2015-03-18
text: On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 181 - 239 (Roll no. 124).
action_date: 2015-03-18
text: The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H1747)
action_date: 2015-03-18
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Takai motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to add a new section at the end of the bill pertaining to protecting taxpayers from science promoted by polluting companies, pending a reservation of a point of order. Subsequently, the reservation was removed.
action_date: 2015-03-18
text: Mr. Takai moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. (consideration: CR H1746-1748; text: CR H1746)
action_date: 2015-03-18
text: The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
action_date: 2015-03-18
text: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H1746)
action_date: 2015-03-18
text: The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1030.
action_date: 2015-03-18
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Kennedy amendment No. 2, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Kennedy demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2015-03-18
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 138, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Kennedy Part B amendment No. 2.
action_date: 2015-03-18
text: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Edwards amendment No. 1, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Edwards demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
action_date: 2015-03-18
text: DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 138, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Edwards Part B amendment No. 1.
action_date: 2015-03-18
text: GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 1030.
action_date: 2015-03-18
text: The Speaker designated the Honorable Garret Graves to act as Chairman of the Committee.
action_date: 2015-03-18
text: House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 138 and Rule XVIII.
action_date: 2015-03-18
text: For each measure, resolution provides one hour of general debate; makes specified amendments in order; and allows a motion to recommit, with or without instructions.
action_date: 2015-03-18
text: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 138. (consideration: CR H1733-1748)
action_date: 2015-03-17
text: Rule H. Res. 138 passed House.
action_date: 2015-03-03
text: Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 138 Reported to House. For each measure, resolution provides one hour of general debate; makes specified amendments in order; and allows a motion to recommit, with or without instructions.
action_date: 2015-03-02
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 23.
action_date: 2015-03-02
text: Reported by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 114-34.
action_date: 2015-03-02
text: Reported by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 114-34.
action_date: 2015-02-25
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 16 - 11.
action_date: 2015-02-25
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2015-02-24
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
action_date: 2015-02-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-02-24
text: Introduced in House