Science-based Public Health, Safety Protections Would Be Devastated By RAA

Statement by Andrew Rosenberg, Union of Concerned Scientists

Published Apr 26, 2017

WASHINGTON (April 26, 2017)—The Senate has introduced a new version of the “Regulatory Accountability Act”—a bill that would cripple the ability of federal agencies to enforce laws that protect our health and safety, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Below is a statement by Andrew Rosenberg, director of the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists.

“This bill is a weapon aimed right at public health and safety protections. It would make it nearly impossible for agencies to use the best science to make decisions.

“This bill doesn’t support accountability—it removes accountability from the industries subject to regulation. It gives companies more opportunities to interfere with the development of vital safeguards and undermines the role science should play in our policymaking. It fits in perfectly with the short-sighted all-out assault on science-based policies from the Trump administration. If this bill passed, it would leave Americans worse off, especially low-income people, and people of color, who bear the biggest burden from pollution.

“It’s simple. Senators need to stand up for the best interests of their constituents and evidence-based policymaking, and strongly oppose the so-called Regulatory Accountability Act.”