Rounds Chairs Hearing on Oversight of Scientific Advisory Panels and Processes at the EPA

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), chairman of the Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management, and Regulatory Oversight, today conducted a hearing on the science behind the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision-making. The hearing focused on oversight of scientific advisory panels and processes at the EPA and included a legislative hearing on S. 543, the Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2015.

“The EPA is supposed to rely on science as the backbone of its decision making,” said Rounds. “The agency is tasked with implementing regulations that impact every American in every state across the country.  These regulations affect the water we drink, the air we breathe and the land we use.  Unfortunately in recent years, EPA regulations have been driven not by science but by politics. At a time when EPA is proposing sweeping regulations that are detrimental to American families, using sound science is as important as ever.”

The purpose of today’s hearing was to conduct oversight over the scientific process at EPA, EPA’s use of science, and improvements that can be made in EPA science. It also served as a legislative hearing on U.S. Sen. John Boozman’s (R-Ark.) bill, S. 543, the Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2015.

Click here to watch video of Rounds' opening statement