Opening Statement of Chairman Brian Babin at Advancing Environmental Protection Through Science and Technology

Good morning. Thank you to our Subcommittee Chairman, Mr. Franklin, for presiding over this important hearing, and thank you to Dr. Gwinn for joining us today. This marks the first appearance by an EPA official before our Committee during the second Trump Administration, and we appreciate your willingness to be here.

The EPA's work grows more complex every year, and I welcomed Administrator Zeldin's decision to take a fresh look at how the Agency operates. Today's hearing gives us an opportunity to learn more about EPA's new Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions (OASES) and how the Agency is deploying its scientific capabilities to meet the nation's evolving needs. This reorganization comes at a time when scientific data, advancements in artificial intelligence, and public expectations for transparency continue to grow-making it essential that EPA adapts thoughtfully and effectively.

My district has more chemical manufacturers than any other Congressional district in the country. I see firsthand how this industry continues to create solutions to modern-day problems and replace legacy products with more efficient and environmentally friendly chemicals. The manufacturers, workers, and communities in my district-and throughout the nation-depend on the certainty that comes from regulatory decisions issued in a timely, consistent, and scientifically robust manner. Past backlogs and delays from previous Administrations demonstrate that this has not always been the case. Earlier this year, this Committee held a hearing where witnesses described the lengthy process required to bring a new chemical for commercial use to market-sometimes taking decades for the EPA to rule one way or another. This regulatory uncertainty hampers domestic manufacturers and makes them less competitive on a global scale.

The need for timely, science-based chemical reviews illustrates a broader principle that should guide every part of EPA's work. Whether the focus is on air quality, water quality, waste management, or chemical safety, EPA's work does not occur in isolation, and decisions in one area can affect the outcomes in another. When EPA delivers clear, timely decisions that protect human health and the environment, we all benefit. Delays create uncertainty, but protecting health and safety must remain central to every review. When EPA strengthens coordination, clarifies data needs, and supports consistent scientific methodologies that meet the rigorous expectations of Gold Standard Science, its mission is strengthened.

We all want a system grounded in both efficient processes and high-quality science. As innovation accelerates, EPA must equip itself with the tools, expertise, and organizational structure necessary to evaluate chemicals effectively.

EPA created OASES to meet that need. Placing scientific experts directly within the program offices that make regulatory decisions facilitates early communication between scientists and program staff. This approach helps EPA reduce duplication, improve coordination, and support a regulatory environment that encourages innovation.

At the same time, as EPA expands OASES, it must maintain a strong program of long-term research that looks beyond immediate regulatory needs and anticipates future environmental and technological challenges. OASES aims to strengthen applied science inside program offices, but forward-looking research sits outside that mission, and we must ensure it continues.

This research lays the broader scientific foundation that supports EPA's credibility and has contributed to modernized methods, improved risk-assessment tools, and advanced technologies needed to protect human health and the environment. Most importantly, it gives the Agency the ability to anticipate emerging threats before they reach the regulatory stage.

As we examine OASES today, we want to understand how the Agency strengthens the long-term scientific foundation that supports decisions across all programs and how this structure meets the immediate needs of program offices that protect human health and the environment.

I look forward to today's conversation and to gaining a clearer sense of where this approach already reinforces EPA's scientific capabilities and where opportunities remain for further improvement. Dr. Gwinn, thank you again for being here, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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