H.R. 4012 113th Congress House

Secret Science Reform Act of 2014

Official title: To prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from proposing, finalizing, or disseminating regulations or assessments based upon science that is not transparent or reproducible.

Introduced: February 6, 2014 Introduced by: David Schweikert Republican · Arizona See on congress.gov

Environmental Protection Administrative law and regulatory proceduresEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)Environmental assessment, monitoring, researchEnvironmental regulatory procedures

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Government information and archivesResearch administration and funding

Everywhere this bill has been 26 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Nov 20, 2014

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Nov 19, 2014

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Nov 19, 2014

The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H8101)

Nov 19, 2014

DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the E. B. Johnson (TX) motion to recommit with instructions, pending reservation of a point order. The instructions contained in the motion seek to report the same back to the House forthwith with an amendment to exempt any Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation that protects communities in an emergency, including an Ebola or pandemic flu outbreak, the release of toxic chemicals, or a nuclear, biological, or terrorist attack. Subsequently, the reservation of a point of order was removed.

Nov 19, 2014

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 237 - 190 (Roll no. 528).

Nov 19, 2014

On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 196 - 230 (Roll no. 527).

Nov 19, 2014

Ms. Johnson, E. B. moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. (consideration: CR H8100-8102; text: CR H8100-8101)

Nov 19, 2014

The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H8097)

Nov 19, 2014

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H8100)

Nov 19, 2014

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 4012.

Nov 19, 2014

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 756, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Kennedy Part B amendment No. 2.

Nov 19, 2014

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 756, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Gosar Part B amendment No. 1.

Nov 19, 2014

GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 4012.

Nov 19, 2014

The Speaker designated the Honorable John J. Duncan, Jr. to act as Chairman of the Committee.

Nov 19, 2014

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 756 and Rule XVIII.

Nov 19, 2014

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1422, H.R. 4012 and H.R. 4795. General debate is limited to 1 hour for each bill. The resolution specifies certain amendments are in order for H.R. 1422, H.R. 4012, and H.R. 4795. One motion to recommit with instructions is permitted for each bill.

Nov 19, 2014

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 756. (consideration: CR H8087-8103)

Nov 17, 2014

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 756 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1422, H.R. 4012 and H.R. 4795. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 1422, H.R. 4012, and H.R. 4795. General debate is limited to 1 hour for each bill. The resolution specifies certain amendments are in order for H.R. 1422, H.R. 4012, and H.R. 4795. One motion to recommit with instructions is permitted for each bill.

Nov 12, 2014

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 460.

Nov 12, 2014

Reported by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 113-619.

Jun 24, 2014

Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

Jun 24, 2014

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Mar 5, 2014

Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.

Feb 11, 2014

Hearings Held by the Subcommittee on Environment Prior to Referral.

Feb 6, 2014

Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Feb 6, 2014

Introduced in House

Votes taken on this bill 2

Date	Chamber	What was voted on	Result	Yes–No
Nov 19, 2014	House · vote #528	On Passage	Passed	237–190	See who voted →
Nov 19, 2014	House · vote #527	On Motion to Recommit with Instructions	Failed	196–230	See who voted →

Amendments to this bill 2

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

1 agreed to 1 failed

Amendment	Sponsor	Purpose	Status	Latest action
HAMDT 1,147	–	Amendment sought to allow the EPA to use all peer-reviewed scientific publications.	Failed	Nov 19, 2014
HAMDT 1,146	Gosar, Paul A.	Amendment provides that the EPA must make all scientific and technical information relied upon for rulemaking…	Agreed to	Nov 19, 2014

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Latest action November 20, 2014

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Secret Science Reform Act of 2014 - Amends the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1978 to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from proposing, finalizing, or disseminating a covered action unless all scientific and technical information relied on to support such action is specifically identified and publicly available online in a manner sufficient for independent analysis and substantial reproduction of research results. Includes as a covered action a risk, exposure, or hazard assessment, criteria document, standard, limitation, regulation, regulatory impact analysis, or guidance.

Related & companion bills 2

Bill text 4 versions

Engrossed in House Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
Introduced in House Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
Referred in Senate Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
Reported in House Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

Committees of jurisdiction 3

Environment Subcommittee
House of Representatives · subcommittee of Science, Space, and Technology Committee
Science, Space, and Technology Committee
House of Representatives
Environment and Public Works Committee
Senate

Cosponsors 53

Aderholt, Robert B.

Alabama · Nov 12, 2014

Cotton, Tom

Arkansas · Jul 29, 2014

Oklahoma · Jun 24, 2014

Massie, Thomas

Kentucky · Jun 24, 2014

Pennsylvania · Feb 27, 2014

Virginia · Feb 18, 2014

Gosar, Paul A.

Arizona · Feb 11, 2014

LaMalfa, Doug

California · Feb 11, 2014

North Dakota · Feb 6, 2014

Wyoming · Feb 6, 2014

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APA

U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4012: Secret Science Reform Act of 2014. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-4012/

MLA

"H.R. 4012: Secret Science Reform Act of 2014." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-4012/.

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H.R. 4012, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-4012/.

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