Smith pleased with bill to shake up EPA advisory board

Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) applauded the passing of the EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2013 by the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday.

Introduced by Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah), the bill changes the EPA’s advisory board selection criteria in an attempt to give more public participation, and create more balance and independence among its ranks.

Smith, who is the chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, said the EPA’s Science Advisory Board – established by Congress in 1978 – has not been fulfilling its mission of providing meaningful, balanced and independent assessments of the science that supports regulations.

“The EPA has an extensive track record of twisting the science to justify their actions,” Smith said. “The EPA undermines the board’s independence and prevents it from providing advice to Congress. As a result, the valuable advice these experts can provide is wasted. At a time when the agency is pursuing the most aggressive regulatory agenda in its 44 year history, it is critical that the board function as intended.”

In an opposing opinion piece, Science, Space and Technology Committee ranking member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) called the bill “one of the most anti-science and anti-health” pieces of legislation she’s witnessed.