Science and Policy in the U.S. Congress

Abstract

Recently Congress seems to be waging war on science. However, attacking science may be a surrogate for opposition to federal regulations that are appearing at a faster rate than in the past. In addition, cutting federal research seems a politically benign, if ineffective, way to reign in federal spending.

Congress only has a few scientists, but dozens of scientific associations host policy offices that provide scientific information to Congress and assist their members in communicating with Congress. In addition, AAAS administers a program funded by about 30 scientific and engineering societies to place about 150 scientists and engineers in congressional offices.

Some efforts to reduce scientific research are not new. Following a tradition established in 1975 by Senator William Proxmire's Golden Fleece award, some legislators are picking out grants with suspicious sounding titles to justify cuts to research agencies such as the National Science Foundation.

Many legislators support bills that would prevent regulatory agencies from using scientific information as a basis for implementing regulations. An added complication is that the bill titles are misleading. For example, the Secret Science Reform Act would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from implementing regulations unless the scientific basis is publically available in a manner to allow reproduction of the research. This would mean that health studies where patient names are confidential could not be used to justify emissions restrictions.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90218 © 2015 Eastern Section Meeting, Indianapolis, Indiana, September 20-22, 2015