Science in Policy Under the Trump Administration with the Center - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Science in Policy Under the Trump Administration

with the Center for Science and Democracy

Avenues of Decision Making (federal)

 Congress (House and Senate)

Bills informed by science

• Clean Air Act
• Clean Water Act
• Energy Independence

and Security Act (Fuel economy)

Avenues of Decision Making (federal)

 Agencies – advisory panels & peer review

• Environmental Protection Agency
• Dept of Interior – e.g. Advisory Committee
• n Climate Change and Natural Resource Science
• Center for Disease Control (HHS) – Lead Exposure

Avenues of Decision Making (federal)

 Rulemaking – comment periods

• Sugar labeling
• Clean Power Plan
• Clean Water Rule

Inform

Decision Venue Bill in Congress Federal Agency Rulemaking Process

Decision Venue How Scientists Participate Bill in Congress Submit research brief/testimony Ask Senator/Rep to act Federal Agency Advisory Council Provide peer review/data Rulemaking Process Public hearing/comment period

Decision Venue How Scientists Participate Bill in Congress Submit research brief Ask Senator/Rep to act

• Fuel Standards (Blunt bill)

Federal Agency Advisory Council Provide data

• Endangered Species Listing

Petitions Rulemaking Process Public hearing/comment period

• Clean Power Plan

Decoding the Flurry of Attacks on Science: Four Key Patterns

• 1. Suppressing Climate Science

• 2. Stacking Critical Positions with Industry Conflicts

• 3. Revoking Science-Based Safeguards

California Red-Legged Frog – reduction of critical habitat by 90% due to economic assessment

• 4. Creating a Hostile Environment

for Scientists

Top Threats in Political Landscape Now

 Anti-science pushes in agencies

• Anti-science leadership in Pruitt (EPA), Zinke (BLM)
• Industry reps in science advisory committees (or shutting down cmte)
• Harrassment of scientists/suppression of science
• Industry-driven standard rollbacks (Blunt bill, CPP, Clean Water Rule)

 Anti-science pushes in Congress

• Damaging budget cuts
• Endangered species riders in funding bills
• Regulatory Accountability Act, etc.

Scientific Integrity refers to processes through which independent science fully and transparently informs policy decisions, free from inappropriate political, ideological, financial, or

• ther undue influence.
• Center for Science & Democracy

Scientific Integrity Compromised Under the George W. Bush Administration

Why scientists, why now?

Decision Venue How to Influence Resource Bill in Congress Share information Ask Senator/Rep to act Congress.gov Ucsusa.org Federal Agency Advisory Council FederalRegister.gov (search “Advisory”) Endangered Species Listing/Habitat Definition ESA Toolkit Rulemaking Process Public hearing/comment period

• Clean Power Plan

Regulations.gov

“Science drives innovation and powers our State and National

• economy. It also guides wise

policy making - critical for the continued health of our natural resources and our

• Nation. Please oppose budget

cuts to science that benefits Montana.”

“Montana scientists like me use NASA earth science data to understand everything from the retreat of glaciers to soil moisture for agriculture to the impacts of wildfires. NASA is a global leader in earth science, and I am appalled that the government would choose to downscale these efforts at a time of rapid global change.”

“Budget cuts to the EPA (along with implementation delays of various standards related to public health) are most concerning, considering the largest superfund site in the country is just upstream

• f my home. “

Talk About the Benefits

Fuel efficiency standards will save buyers $6,000 (or 2%

• f earnings)

Tools: Watchdog for Science www.ucsusa.org/watchdogtoolkit

Fact Sheets

• Hosting a Letter-Writing Party
• Talking with Your Elected Officials at Public Events
• Hosting a Public Education Event with Community Groups
• Using Social Media
• Organizing a Call-In Day
• Writing a Sign-On Letter

Tools

• Endangered Species Act Toolkit
• Make a Note to the Record
• Sidelining Science report
• Communicating with the Media
• Scientist-Community Partnerships

We Can Do This!

X X

Joanna Nadeau Outreach Coordinator Center for Science and Democracy Union of Concerned Scientists jnadeau@ucsusa.org

CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND DEMOCRACY

• Seeks to strengthen the role and integrity of science in public policy
• We push back against misinformation
• We work to neutralize attacks on the science process
• We defend scientists when they are attacked for their work
• Works to strengthen Democratic processes by better and fairer access to

science

• More scientists are engaged in public policy
• Greater access to science for citizens