Will NIEHS’ New Priorities Protect Public Health?

The Domestic Policy Subcommittee will hold a hearing to examine the impact on public health of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences’ (NIEHS) new research direction and priorities. A new emphasis on treating disease has come at the expense of preventive research, education and outreach.

In March 2007, the Domestic Policy Subcommittee in conjunction with the Oversight and Government Reform Committee began an inquiry into former NIEHS director Dr. David Schwartz, amid allegations of conflicts of interest, financial misconduct, profiting from his title as director, and extremely low morale and lack of confidence among agency employees. In August 2007, Schwartz was asked to temporarily step down as director of NIEHS while the National Institute of Health (NIH) conducts its own internal investigation.

Witnesses for the hearing include:
Panel I
• Dr. Samuel H. Wilson, Acting Director, NIEHS

Panel II
• Dr. George W. Lucier, Former Editor-in-Chief, Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP)
Former Associate Director, National Toxicology Program (NTP)
• Dr. Lynn Goldman, Professor, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health
• Ms. Peggy Shepard, Executive Director, WE ACT For Environmental Justice
• Ms. Stefani D. Hines, Member, National Advisory Environmental Health Sciences Council (NAEHSC)
Senior Curriculum and Assessment Specialist & Environmental Health Specialist, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico