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H.R. 1030: Secret Science Reform Act of 2015

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H.R. 1030: Secret Science Reform Act of 2015

114th Congress · introduced 2015-02-24 · Environmental Protection · Latest: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2015-02-24 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Smith, Lamar [R-TX-21] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 4 recorded votes in our records. Latest: House roll call 122 (2015): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR1030 (2015-03-18), Failed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Secret Science Reform Act of 2015

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on March 2, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Secret Science Reform Act of 2015 (Sec. 2) This bill amends the Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1978 to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from proposing, finalizing, or disseminating a covered action unless all scientific and technical information relied on to support such action is the best available science, specifically identified, and publicly available in a manner sufficient for independent analysis and substantial reproduction of research results. A covered action includes a risk, exposure, or hazard assessment, criteria document, standard, limitation, regulation, regulatory impact analysis, or guidance. Scientific and technical information includes: (1) materials, data, and associated protocols necessary to understand, assess, and extend conclusions; (2) computer codes and models involved in the creation and analysis of the information; (3) recorded factual materials; and (4) detailed descriptions of how to access and use the information. This Act may not be construed as requiring the EPA to disseminate scientific and technical information, or superseding any nondiscretionary statutory requirement. The EPA may not spend more than $1 million per fiscal year on carrying out this Act.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Secret Science Reform Act of 2015

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Lamar [R-TX-21] · 28 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 1030, Secret Science Reform Act of 2015 (2015-03-12)

Cosponsors on this site

David Schweikert (R-AZ), Frank D. Lucas (R-OK), Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Randy K. Weber, Sr. (R-TX), Brian Babin (R-TX), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Andy Harris (R-MD), Cynthia M. Lummis (R-WY), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Pete Sessions (R-TX), Paul A. Gosar (R-AZ), Eric A. "Rick" Crawford (R-AR), Mike Kelly (R-PA)

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (5)
Authorization
A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Fiscal year
The 12-month period a government uses for its budget. The federal fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30 and is named for the calendar year in which it ends. Most states use July 1 to June 30.
Rulemaking
The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.
Statute
A written law passed by a legislature. A statute can be changed by a later law; changing a constitution needs an amendment.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong114-hr1030 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114