| July 26, 2010 |  |
House Passes Bill That Would Make Federal Advisory Committees More Accountable, Better Able to Serve the Public
A bipartisan bill approved this evening by the House of Representatives reforming the federal advisory committee process would ensure that committees work for the public interest, not special interests, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). By improving the accountability and transparency of the nearly 1,000 committees advising dozens of federal agencies on issues ranging from drug safety to air quality to homeland security, the bill would enhance the reliability of committees’ advice.
The bill responds to criticisms by the Government Accountability Office and reform groups that agencies fail to disclose what advisory panels do, how they select their members, and whether committee members have financial conflicts of interest.
The Federal Advisory Committee Act Amendments of 2010 (HR 1320), sponsored by Reps. William Lacy Clay Jr. (D-Mo.) and Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.), would strengthen federal advisory committees by:
- Requiring that agencies make advisory committee appointments without regard to political affiliation or activity.
- Giving the public more information about advisory panel members’ financial conflicts of interest and how the agency addresses them.
- Requiring that all meetings are accessible on the agency’s website, either as a transcript or an audio or video recording.
- Increasing and broadening public participation. When appointing members of advisory committee, agencies would be required to seek nominations from the public and take public comments into consideration when selecting panel members.
"Federal advisory committees have been part of the ‘unseen government’ whose advice can affect the health and safety of every American family," said Francesca Grifo, director of UCS’s Scientific Integrity Program. "This legislation would make the work of advisory panels more visible and hold panel members to high standards of impartiality.
"Enhanced transparency and accountability would help ensure that advisory committee recommendations are grounded in robust, independent science," she added. "We urge the Senate to take up this bipartisan, uncontroversial bill without delay."
The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet's most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.
