Tag: Advocacy group

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz introduced new legislation today, dubbed the Scientific Integrity Act, to protect public scientific research and reports from the influence of political and special interests. Schatz, along with U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), said this longstanding concern has “taken on newfound urgency under President Trump.” “These are challenging and unprecedented times for science,” said Schatz in a news release. “And while it’s not the first time it has been under attack, this time feels worse. That’s why we need to answer the call of our times and stand up for science. It would make data and findings off-limits for political appointees and managers, and make sure scientists follow careful processes for review.” The Scientific Integrity Act would establish uniform standards for policies at U.S. agencies meant to prevent public research and findings from being distorted or shelved for political reasons. Public scientists would be held to high standards, but also be guaranteed rights and protections. In its first two years, he said the Trump administration has prohibited the Centers for Disease Control staff from using the words “evidence-based” and “science-based” in budget documents, and scrapped an EPA-recommended ban on chlorpyrifos, a pesticide proven to impair brain development in young children. “Our economy, our health and safety, and our environment all depend on independent federal scientific research and fully informed, science-based policies,” said Andrew Rosenberg, director of the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, in a statement. “The Scientific Integrity Act would protect scientists from political interference in their scientific work, and make sure that they can carry out their research and share it without fear of retaliation. Congress should pass the Scientific Integrity Act so that all presidential administrations can be held to that strong standard.”

Called Americans for Gun Safety Now, the group is spearheaded by Ambassador Al Hoffman Jr., a Florida estate real developer and GOP donor who served as Ambassador to Portugal under George W. Bush. The group has devised a six-point plan for comprehensive gun legislation, which is outlined in an ad it ran in the Wall Street Journal Saturday, urging Congress to pass it as soon as possible. “If they don’t do this, my guess is that they will lose big in November.” The details of the group were first reported by TIME earlier this month, but Hoffman officially launched the group Saturday, to coincide with the March For Our Lives demonstration in Washington D.C., which he is attending. They include Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter Jaime was killed in the shooting; Republican Congressmen Carlos Curbelo and Brian Mast, who authored a New York Times op-ed last month supporting a ban on assault weapons; and Dennis Blair, who served as Director of National Intelligence from 2009 to 2010. Presumably, this could provide cover for other Republicans who want to contribute to the group but don’t want to disclose that they have done so. That those who stay on the wrong side of this movement they’re [going to] lose their traditional donor money,” Guttenberg said in an interview with TIME. “I’m going to encourage anyone whose involved with giving money to any member of the Republican party not to give money to these candidates that will not endorse this plan,” he said. And convincing Congress to pass comprehensive gun safety legislation may seem like a breeze compared to the ultimate objective of the group: implementing a complete ban on assault weapons which is what Hoffman originally said was his red line for supporting candidates and lawmakers following the Parkland shooting. Overall, Hoffman does not seem oblivious to the mountainous challenges that lie ahead of this group, despite the influence some of the supporters hold within the Republican party. “But you know, this is my swan song, and I’m going to give it everything I’ve got.”