This is completely insane, PLEASE SHARE THIS ARTICLE AND COPY AND PASTE THIS TEXT ALONG WITH THE ARTICLE. This cannot be allowed to happen. The bill has been passed in the House and will soon reach the Senate Floor (See below for the legislative process on the Senate Floor).
What can we do about it? Simply put...bitch and complain. Below i have posted the contact list for all state senators, call or email your senator and let them know how you feel about the bill.
Some talking points may include:
*This bill will limit the amount of scientific input on future decisions made by the EPA.
*It will create a breeding ground for biased information, in favor of corporations.
*The bill will prevent scientists from voting on the release of a chemical by their employers into the environment.
*More insidiously, research scientists are barred under the act from advising on any topic that might “directly or indirectly involve review and evaluation of their own work”. In other words, the only people barred from advising the EPA on a particular chemical are those who have actually studied its toxicity or effect on the environment.
(In the name of credit where credit is due, I should mention, the last two are pulled directly from I Fucking Love Science's article)
I have tried contacting Mitch Mcconnell twice now to no avail but will continue trying, and have sent an email. Is it likely your senator will listen to what you have to say? Maybe not, but if we stay silent we might as well submit to a dictatorship now and get it over with.
(UPDATE: I have reached Mitch McConnells office, however i have not yet reached Rand Paul)
SENATOR CONTACT LIST:http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Text of Bill H.R. 1422: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr1422/text
The Legislative Process Senate Floor: https://www.congress.gov/legislative-process/senate-floor%60