As ordered reported by the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on February 25, 2015
H.R. 1029 would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make various changes related to the qualifications of members serving on the Science Advisory Board (SAB) and to expand disclosure requirements for members of the board. The SAB was established in 1978 by the Congress with a broad mandate to advise EPA on technical matters related to science. Some of the bill’s proposed changes include requiring EPA to solicit nominations from the public and from relevant federal agencies, such as the Departments of Agriculture, Defense, Energy, and Health and Human Services. Nominees also would be required to file a written report disclosing certain financial relationships and interests. Additionally, the bill would require EPA to make risk or hazard assessments available to the SAB and to publish the board’s advice, comments, and views in the Federal Register.
Based on information from EPA, CBO estimates that implementing the changes proposed by this legislation would cost less than $500,000 annually and about $2 million over the 2015-2020 period, subject to the availability of appropriated funds. That funding would provide for additional personnel and related administrative expenses.
Enacting H.R. 1029 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
H.R. 1029 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments.
