Schatz, Colleagues Introduce Legislation To Protect Integrity Of Public Science

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) led a group of 20 senators in introducing legislation to protect public scientific research and reports from the influence of political and special interests.

In addition to Schatz, the Scientific Integrity Act was co-sponsored by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Representative Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.).

"Science should be nonpartisan, regardless of administration," said Senator Schatz. "Our bill will protect government science from political interference by codifying clear scientific integrity principles and holding public scientists to the highest standards."

"At a time when Trump champions misinformation and distorts the truth to advance his own agenda, Congress must affirm the importance of independent science and research," said Leader Schumer. "The fact-driven science our county has been known for is a foundation of American prosperity and leadership. Trump's assault on science threatens all of that. Scientists should never have to live in fear of retaliation or interference. Their work is crucial to protecting Americans' health, advancing domestic industry, and responding to climate threats. Our legislation is a necessary safeguard against an administration that has proven it will not hesitate to attack any perceived enemies, especially the experts who might be critical of their disastrous political agenda."

The Scientific Integrity Act will:

• Formalize and reinforce policies that require federal agencies that conduct or fund scientific research to maintain clear scientific integrity principles;

• Affirm that science dictates policy, and that scientific research should be free from the pressure of politics, ideology, or financial influence; and
• Hold public scientists to high standards and guarantee their rights and protections under the law.

The Trump administration has repeatedly undermined scientific integrity, including by removing more than a dozen independent inspector generals, erasing and manipulating essential public health data, and restricting communications from the Department of Health and Human Services which stopped the publishing of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report for the first time in 60 years.

The text of the bill is available here.

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