McMorris Rodgers: Increasing Transparency within the EPA

WASHINGTON, DC– Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) released the following statement today after the House passed legislation to create a more transparent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), including H.R. 1422, the EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2013, and H.R. 4012, the Secret Science Reform Act of 2014, of which she is an original co-sponsor.

“Any and all EPA-produced guidelines and regulations impacting Eastern Washington jobs must be fair and balanced, and through this critical legislation we are holding the agency accountable for the proposals it introduces. By increasing transparency within the EPA, we are enabling more public participation from stakeholders and involved parties throughout Eastern Washington – because their thoughts and ideas should be paramount to the discussion regarding job creation at home. We must hold the EPA accountable, and must ensure regulations impacting our local economy be based on scientific fact.”

The EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2013 makes changes to the EPA’s Science Advisory Board (SAB) to increase public participation, increase the transparency for selecting advisors, and ensure the SAB remains focused on science.

The Secret Science Reform Act of 2014 requires the EPA to base its regulations on data that is public, ending costly EPA rulemaking from happening behind closed doors and out of public view.

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