{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=24b88874-48c6-4911-82f6-b181dd159bd8", "Boozman, Manchin Work to Bring Transparency, Fairness to EPA Science Review Process", "2013-12-18", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "AR", "John Boozman", "B001236", "www.boozman.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) today introduced legislation to improve confidence in the fairness and transparency of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations and rulemaking by reforming the science advisory process.\r\nThe EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act makes changes to the Science Advisory Board (SAB) by increasing transparency, enabling SAB reviews of EPA \u201crisk or hazard assessments\u201d that are used to justify regulations, ensuring that the dissenting views of scientists on review panels are not silenced, standardizing the SAB member selection process to make it consistent with practices at the National Academies and other federal agencies, limiting non-scientific policy advice, increasing SAB disclosures, and eliminating SAB conflicts of interest.\r\n\u201cAmericans are worried about EPA rules and regulations that are not based on transparent science or developed through a fair and open process.\u00a0These actions drive up the cost of food, electricity, gas, and items on the store shelf; and low-income families are hit the hardest.\u00a0We must promote conservation, and protect our air and water.\u00a0But Arkansans and all Americans want the rule-making process to be fair and science-based, without conflicts of interest,\u201d Boozman, a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, said.\r\n\u201cFor too long, the EPA\u2019s regulations have been the result of a process that is too closed and too vulnerable to conflicts of interest and insider politics,\u201d Manchin said. \u201cThe EPA must improve its credibility with the American people and the entire energy sector, and this bipartisan legislation makes sure that the EPA is held accountable for creating fair, unbiased, and science-based rules and regulations. I thank Senator Boozman for his leadership in crafting commonsense ideas on how we can strengthen EPA transparency.\u201d\u00a0\r\nThe SAB was established by the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1978 (ERDDA) to provide scientific advice upon the request of the EPA Administrator and Congressional Committees, but improvements need to be made.\u00a0\r\nThis legislation\r\n \r\nStrengthens public participation and comment opportunities\r\nModernizes the selection of Science Advisory Board (SAB) and sub-panel members;\r\nEliminates conflicts of interest and increasing disclosures;\r\nExpands the ability of SAB members to express dissenting views;\r\nEnables SAB reviews of EPA \u201crisk or hazard assessments\u201d; and\r\nLimits non-scientific policy advice.\r\n \r\nSimilar legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Representative Chris Stewart, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=24b88874-48c6-4911-82f6-b181dd159bd8"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.7602711450308561, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}