Environmental Law and Policy/Governance
When Politics Trump Science: The Erosion of Science-Based Regulation
Author
Romany Webb, Lauren Kurtz, and Susan Rosenthal
Author Bios (long)

Romany Webb is an Associate Research Scholar at Columbia Law School and Senior Fellow at Columbia’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law. Lauren Kurtz is the Executive Director of the Climate Science Legal Defense Fund. Susan Rosenthal is a Project Attorney at the Climate Science Legal Defense Fund.

Date
September 2020
Volume
50
Issue
9
Page
10708
Type
Comment(s)
Summary

The Silencing Science Tracker is an online database that records anti-science actions taken by the federal government. Drawing on three-and-a-half years of tracker data, this Comment analyzes the Trump Administration’s evolving war on science and shows how it is changing the way federal agencies perform, use, and communicate scientific research. We focus primarily on climate science, which has been the subject of particularly fierce attacks under President Trump, though
he has also targeted other areas. His actions could have long-lasting consequences, damaging the role of science in regulation for years to come.

H.R. 10479
Update Type
Committee Name
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Sponsor Name
Deluzio
Sponsor Party Affiliation
D-Pa.
Issue
2
Volume
55
Update Issue
36
Update Volume
54
Congress Number
118
Congressional Record Number
170 Cong. Rec. H7358

would amend Title 46, U.S. Code, with respect to grants for vessel concept development and infrastructure to build commercially viable specialty vessels for supporting energy transition initiatives.

S. 5601
Update Type
Committee Name
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Sponsor Name
Cantwell
Sponsor Party Affiliation
D-Wash.
Issue
2
Volume
55
Update Issue
36
Update Volume
54
Congress Number
118
Congressional Record Number
170 Cong. Rec. S7180

would improve NOAA's weather research, support improvements in weather forecasting and prediction, and expand commercial opportunities for the provision of weather data.

S. 5569
Update Type
Committee Name
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Sponsor Name
Markey
Sponsor Party Affiliation
D-Mass.
Issue
2
Volume
55
Update Issue
36
Update Volume
54
Congress Number
118
Congressional Record Number
170 Cong. Rec. S7105

would establish a state rail formula grant program, direct Federal Railroad Administration to create a Green Railroads Fund, expand passenger rail programs, address air quality concerns, and establish rail workforce training centers.

S. 5561
Update Type
Committee Name
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Sponsor Name
Van Hollen
Sponsor Party Affiliation
D-Md.
Issue
2
Volume
55
Update Issue
36
Update Volume
54
Congress Number
118
Congressional Record Number
170 Cong. Rec. S7105

would establish a federal standard in order to improve the nation's resilience to current and future flood risk.

H.R. 6489
Update Type
Committee Name
Committee on Natural Resources
Committee Report
H. Rep. No. 118-883
Issue
2
Volume
55
Update Issue
36
Update Volume
54
Congress Number
118
Congressional Record Number
170 Cong. Rec. H7227

would amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to provide that village corporations shall not be required to convey land in trust to the state of Alaska for the establishment of municipal corporations.

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