HR 1029 114th Congress House Environmental Protection Administrative law and regulatory procedures Advisory bodies Congressional oversight Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental assessment, monitoring, research Environmental regulatory procedures Federal-Indian relations Government ethics and transparency, public corruption Government information and archives Intergovernmental relations Public participation and lobbying Research administration and funding State and local government operations

EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2015

Introduced: February 24, 2015 Introduced by: Lucas, Frank D. Republican · Oklahoma See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 26 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Mar 18, 2015

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

Mar 17, 2015

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

Mar 17, 2015

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 236 - 181 (Roll no. 121).

Mar 17, 2015

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 236 - 181 (Roll no. 121).

Mar 17, 2015

On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 179 - 237 (Roll no. 120).

Mar 17, 2015

The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H1692)

Mar 17, 2015

DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Peters motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to add a new section at the end of the bill pertaining to Protecting Taxpayers from Science Promoted by Polluting Companies. Pending a reservation of a point of order. Subsequently, the reservation was removed.

Mar 17, 2015

Mr. Peters moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. (consideration: CR H1691-1693; text: CR H1691)

Mar 17, 2015

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H1691)

Mar 17, 2015

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1029.

Mar 17, 2015

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 138, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Bonamici Part A amendment No. 4.

Mar 17, 2015

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 138, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Polis (CO) Part A amendment No. 3.

Mar 17, 2015

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the McKinley (WV) Part A amendment No. 2, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Bonamici demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption ofthe amendment until a time to be announced.

Mar 17, 2015

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 138, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the McKinley (WV) Part A amendment No. 2.

Mar 17, 2015

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 138, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Grayson (FL) Part A amendment No. 1.

Mar 17, 2015

GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 1029.

Mar 17, 2015

The Speaker designated the Honorable Kevin Yoder to act as Chairman of the Committee.

Mar 17, 2015

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 138 and Rule XVIII.

Mar 17, 2015

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 138. (consideration: CR H1678-1693, H1693-1694; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H1685-1686)

Mar 3, 2015

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 138 Reported to House. For each measure, resolution provides one hour of general debate; makes specified amendments in order; and allows a motion to recommit, with or without instructions.

Mar 2, 2015

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 22.

Mar 2, 2015

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 114-33.

Feb 25, 2015

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 17 - 12.

Feb 25, 2015

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Feb 24, 2015

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

Feb 24, 2015

Introduced in House

Votes taken on this bill 2

Date	Chamber	What was voted on	Result	Yes–No
Mar 17, 2015	House · vote #121	On Passage	Passed	236–181	See who voted →
Mar 17, 2015	House · vote #120	On Motion to Recommit with Instructions	Failed	179–237	See who voted →

Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill 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 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This bill requires the Board to independently provide that advice.

Among the revisions to requirements concerning the Board's membership are the following:

a requirement to balance scientific and technical points of view;
a set minimum level of representation from state, local, or tribal governments;
allowance of affiliation with or representation of entities that may have a potential interest in the Board's advisory activities;
conflict of interest restrictions;
restrictions on participation in advisory activities involving review of a member's work;
restrictions on appointment of registered lobbyists; and
prohibitions on member receipt of current EPA grants or contracts.

The EPA must make public a list of nominees to the Board and accept public comments on the nominees. Reports filed upon the provisional nomination of a member disclosing financial relationships and interests must also be made public.

The EPA must provide draft risk or hazard assessments in its regulatory proposals and documents to the Board. The Board's advice and comments must be included in the record regarding any such proposal and published in the Federal Register.

The Board's member committees and investigative panels must operate in accordance with the membership, participation, and policy requirements contained in this Act, including new requirements for public participation in advisory activities of the Board. The member committees and investigative panels do not have the authority to make decisions on behalf of the Board and may not report directly to the EPA.

The bill imposes additional public participation requirements:

The EPA and the Board must make public all reports and relevant scientific information at the same time they are received by the Board.
The Board must hold public information-gathering sessions to discuss the state of the science related to a major advisory activity.
Prior to convening a member committee or investigative panel, the EPA must accept and address public comments on questions asked of the Board.
The Board, member committees, and investigative panels may not accept a question that unduly narrows the scope of an advisory activity.

The Board must strive to avoid making policy determinations or recommendations, communicate uncertainties, encourage dissenting members to make their views known, conduct periodic reviews to ensure that its activities address the most important scientific issues affecting the EPA, and respond to Congress fully and in a timely manner.

What's happening now March 18, 2015

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

Committees of jurisdiction 2