Bill > HR1287

This bill, known as the Sound Science Act of 2013, aims to ensure that federal agencies use high-quality, objective, useful, and reliable scientific information when making policy decisions. By January 1, 2014, each federal agency must establish guidelines for this purpose. These guidelines must ensure that scientific information used in policy decisions is subject to established scientific processes, like peer review, and that the agency appropriately applies this information. With few exceptions, agencies must make the scientific information they consider publicly available and give the most weight to data that is experimental, empirical, quantifiable, and reproducible, developed through sound scientific methods. Furthermore, agencies must allow for public comment on scientific findings related to proposed rules, to the extent feasible. The bill also mandates that agencies make policy decisions based on the best available scientific, technical, economic, and other evidence, and have procedures to identify and address any compromises to the integrity of the scientific information they use. Importantly, no policy decision can take effect after January 1, 2014, unless the agency has approved guidelines in place, and any decision made without complying with these approved guidelines will be considered unlawful. The bill defines "agency" and "policy decision" broadly, including actions like identifying hazardous substances and issuing agency guidance, which are statements of general applicability that set policy or interpretations.