Investigations :: April 28, 2005
The relationship between politics and science has been of concern to Members of the Democratic Caucus. With the publication of the report Scientific Integrity in Poliy Making by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) in February 2004, the issue became acute. The UCS report described a number of instances where science used by Federal agencies to make policy was altered to achieve desired political outcomes. The Director of the Office of Science and Technology policy, Dr. John Marburger, took issue with the UCS report and declared to Congress: It was another issue in Dr. Marburger's response to Congress on the UCS report that caught the attention of Reps. Eddie Bernice Johnson and Brian Baird. Dr. Marburger stated: Ms. Johnson and Mr. Baird requested a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study in early 2004. Members of Congress regularly ask GAO (the investigative arm of Congress) for independent and nonpartisan reviews of Federal programs, policies and expenditures. Johnson and Baird asked GAO whether the Administration had suppressed Federal scientific data in favor of more politically beneficial outcomes. GAO responded in April 2004 with ‘best practices’ that Federal agencies should follow in their research activities to insure impartiality and the integrity of their findings. The Administration has refused to endorse GAO’s recommendations. Democrats on the Science Committee are not alone in their concern for the integrity of scientific research. Rep. Henry Waxman, Ranking Democrat on the Committee on Government Reform, has been equally diligent in examining the use of science for policymaking in the Federal agencies. Based on their work, Ranking Members Gordon and Waxman collaborated on the introduction of H.R. 839, the Restore Scientific Integrity to Federal Research and Policymaking Act, in February 2005. More information on the Caucus's work can be found below.“Scientific progress occurs when we foster the open exchange of ideas and information.”
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