Franklin Introduces Establishing Gold Standard Science Act To Restore Transparency and Accountability To EPA's Scientific Advisory Process

Rep. Scott Franklin (FL-18), Chairman of the House Science Committee's Environment Subcommittee, today introduced the Establishing Gold Standard Science Act, legislation to strengthen transparency, accountability and scientific integrity in the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) scientific advisory process.

"Americans should be able to trust that science informing federal policy is based on sound research, not politics or predetermined outcomes," said Congressman Scott Franklin. "That means research should be transparent, independently verifiable and repeatable, with conflicts of interest disclosed and the full weight of the available evidence considered. This bill puts safeguards in place at EPA to help restore public confidence that decisions affecting our economy, communities and families are grounded in a scientific process the American people can trust."

At the center of the legislation are new standards for EPA's Science Advisory Board, which provides independent scientific advice to the agency. The bill would strengthen conflict-of-interest and disclosure requirements, require the Board to consider the full weight of scientific evidence and ensure different and dissenting scientific viewpoints are considered as part of the advisory process. Those provisions track the substantive safeguards described in the original release.

The legislation also codifies key provisions of President Trump's May 2025 Restoring Gold Standard Science executive order at EPA, including greater transparency, consideration of the weight of scientific evidence, open scientific debate and safeguards against conflicts of interest. The executive order established government-wide standards intended to improve the transparency, rigor and reliability of federally conducted and funded science.

The bill builds on Franklin's work as Chairman of the Environment Subcommittee overseeing federal science policy. During a July House Science Committee hearing with White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios, Franklin discussed strengthening public confidence in federal scientific advisory processes and ensuring policymakers have reliable evidence to inform their decisions.

"Federal decisions should be informed by credible, reliable, and impartial scientific evidence," said Congressman Jay Obernolte (CA-23). "The Establishing Gold Standard Science Act will help ensure the EPA follows rigorous, transparent scientific practices, acknowledges uncertainty, and considers the full weight of the available evidence."

"Americans deserve to know that decisions made by their government are based on science, not politics," said Congressman Mike Haridopolos (FL-08). "The Establishing Gold Standard Science Act will strengthen transparency and accountability at the EPA by ensuring its scientific advice is based on reliable evidence, free from conflicts of interest, and open to rigorous debate. I'm proud to support this legislation and help restore trust in the scientific process."

"Washington has gotten far too comfortable telling Americans to 'trust the science' while asking them not to look too closely at who funded it, who influenced it, or what evidence was left out," said Congressman Harrigan (NC-10). "I'm cosponsoring the Establishing Gold Standard Science Act because trust is earned through transparency. Put the financial interests on the table, keep paid lobbyists out of decisions they stand to benefit from, make room for dissenting evidence, and let the strongest science win. When federal decisions can reshape entire industries and hit families directly, 'trust us' isn't good enough."

"Americans deserve to know that when decisions are made, they're based on sound science," said Rep. Weber (TX-14). "The Establishing Gold Standard Science Act brings much-needed transparency and accountability to the science behind EPA's decisions by shining a light on conflicts of interest. Good science starts with honest discussion and rigorous scrutiny. I'm proud to join Rep. Franklin in setting the gold standard and making informed decisions that help American families thrive."

"I am proud to cosponsor Rep. Scott Franklin's Establishing Gold Standard Science Act, which will hold those conducting scientific reviews within the federal government to a higher standard of accountability," said Rep. Van Epps (TN-07). "In the past, we've seen the federal government weaponize so-called scientific findings against Americans and stifle American innovation. This legislation will help ensure government policy is grounded in rigorous, credible science-not unproven theories or political agendas."

"As Chairman of the Environment Subcommittee, Congressman Franklin has been a consistent advocate for using Gold Standard Science to develop regulations," said Chris Jahn, President and CEO of the American Chemistry Council. "We appreciate his leadership and work on legislation that will promote scientific transparency and accountability at the EPA. The end result will be better policy that helps protect the environment and public health while ensuring the competitiveness of American manufacturers."

"There have long been significant problems with the use and dissemination of science at the EPA," said Daren Bakst, Director of the Center for Energy and Environment and Senior Fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. "Too often, there is little transparency and sound science is rejected in favor of achieving desired policy outcomes. Rep. Franklin should be commended for introducing important legislation that will help address and shed light on science integrity problems at the agency and will lay the foundation for even more reforms in the future."

Specifically, the Establishing Gold Standard Science Act would:

• Require EPA's Science Advisory Board to consider the full weight of scientific evidence in its advice and recommendations.
• Promote the open exchange of ideas and consideration of different and dissenting scientific viewpoints.
• Prohibit federally registered lobbyists from serving on the Science Advisory Board.
• Strengthen conflict-of-interest and recusal requirements for members whose work, financial interests or affiliations are directly involved in matters before the Board.
• Require members to disclose relevant financial relationships, government grants, professional activities and other potential conflicts and keep those disclosures updated.
• Require EPA to report relevant Science Advisory Board membership and disclosure information to Congress.
• Establish a process for investigating scientific misconduct and removing members found responsible.
• Require EPA to establish a scientific-integrity training program for agency employees.

Franklin serves as Chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee's Environment Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over environmental research and development.

Original cosponsors include: Reps. Jay Obernolte (CA-23), Darrell Issa (CA-48), Mike Haridopolos (FL-08), Keith Self (TX-03), Randy Weber (TX-14), Daniel Webster (FL-11), Rich McCormick (GA-07), Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03), Jake Ellzey (TX-06), Matt Van Epps (TN-07), Pat Harrigan (NC-10) and Jim Baird (IN-04).

Supporting organizations include: Competitive Enterprise Institute and American Chemistry Council

Read the full bill text here.

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