On Thursday (May 20), the House Treasury, Postal Service and General Government Committee will mark-up the Treasury, Postal Service and General Government appropriations bill. During this mark-up, an effort will be made to block implementation of the data access law.
The law requires that scientific data used to support federal regulation must be made available to the public through the Freedom of Information Act. The law stands for open government -- government in the sunshine. The law is aimed at stopping the use of 'secret science' to regulate taxpayers -- especially when taxpayers funded the science to start with.
Click here for a current example of the importance of the law and here for the first FOIA request made under the new law.
The amendment will be introduced by Reps. David E. Price (D-N.C.) and James Walsh (R-NY).
The Committee members listed below are undecided about the issue.
Please contact (e-mail or call) the Committee member of your choice. Urge them to oppose the Walsh/Price amendment that will be offered Thursday, May 20, to the FY 2000 Treasury/Postal Appropriations. Tell the member a vote for the amendment is a vote for secret government. Fax them a copy of this editorial. You can also call the committee directly at 202-225-2771.
Committee member
Majority
Henry Bonilla (R-TX) fax (202) 225-2237
Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) fax (202) 226-0326
Kay Granger (R-TX) fax (202) 225-5683
Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) fax (202) 226-2356
Tom Latham (R-IA) fax (202) 225-3301
Anne Northup (R-KY) fax (202) 225-5776
Ralph Regula (R-OH) fax (202) 225-3059Minority
Allen Boyd (D-FL) fax (202) 225-5615
Jim Clyburn (D-SC) fax (202) 225-2313
Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL) fax (202) 225-0899
John Murtha (D-PA) fax (202) 225-5709
John Olver (D-MA) (202) 226-1224
Ed Pastor (D-AZ) (202) 225-1655
Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) (202) 225-8259SAMPLE MESSAGE --
To the Honorable XXXXXXXX:
I urge you to vote "No' on Walsh/Price amendment that will be offered Thursday to the FY 2000 Treasury/Postal Appropriations.
The amendment would allow federal agencies to continue to withhold from the public scientific data paid for by the public and used to regulate the public. The amendment essentially permits the use of "secret science" by regulatory agencies.
The Environmental Protection Agency is currently proposing to make Americans pay $3.5 billion more for automobiles and gasoline annually based on "secret science." This is an outrage.
I am for "Government in the sunshine." I hope you are, too.
Sincerely,
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