US Congress Senate Bill 1853 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 7-1)
Status: Introduced on December 18 2013 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2013-12-18 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Pending: Senate Environment And Public Works Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2013 - Amends the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1978 to revise the process of selecting members of the Science Advisory Board, guidelines for participation in Board advisory activities, and terms of office. (The Board provides scientific advice to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA].) Prohibits federally registered lobbyists from being appointed to the Board. Revises the procedures for providing advice and comments to the Administrator by: (1) including risk or hazard assessments in the regulatory proposals and documents made available to the Board, and (2) requiring advice and comments to be included in the record regarding any such proposal and published in the Federal Register. Revises the operation of Board member committees and investigative panels to: (1) require that they operate in accordance with the membership, participation, and policy requirements (including new requirements for public participation in advisory activities of the Board) contained in this Act; (2) deny them authority to make decisions on behalf of the Board; and (3) prohibit direct reporting to EPA. Adds guidelines for the conduct of Board advisory activities, including concerning: (1) avoidance of making policy determinations or recommendations, (2) communication of uncertainties, (3) dissenting members' views, and (4) periodic reviews to ensure that such activities address the most important scientific issues affecting EPA. Prohibits this Act from being construed as supplanting the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act or the Ethics in Government Act of 1978.

EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2013

Sen. John Boozman [R-AR]	Sen. Mike Crapo [R-ID]	Sen. Deb Fischer [R-NE]	Sen. James Inhofe [R-OK]
Sen. Joe Manchin [D-WV]	Sen. Jeff Sessions [R-AL]	Sen. David Vitter [R-LA]	Sen. Roger Wicker [R-MS]

Date	Chamber	Action
2013-12-18	Senate	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

HB1422 (Related) 2014-11-19 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/1853/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/s1853/BILLS-113s1853is.pdf