Members of Congress cite political pressure by Republicans to erase climate guidance
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Representative Donald S. Beyer Jr., Va.-08, today said they are leading their bicameral colleagues in pushing the Federal Judicial Center (FJC) to reverse course on its decision to rescind critical judicial guidance on climate science following politically-motivated pressure by Republicans.
“After facing political pressure from Republican attorneys general and conservative organizations, you made the decision to eliminate the entire chapter on climate science from the FJC Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence,” the lawmakers wrote to FJC Director, Judge Robin Rosenberg. “We vehemently oppose this decision and are writing to understand why, after publishing, the FJC made the decision to delete this chapter. The decision to censor this information recklessly disregards scientific consensus and the work of experts in a critical field of science.”
As part of its responsibilities, the FJC publishes a more-than-1,000 page reference manual for judicial use in partnership with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. This manual, entitled the Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence, provides “impartial and reliable primary reference source on science for judges” and is written and reviewed by dozens of leading scientific experts.
Pulling this guidance leaves judges without the resources they need to make important rulings on climate-related lawsuits. Republicans have long voiced opposition to the inclusion of climate-related guidance, arguing that it is skewed against oil and gas producers.
In addition to their request that the FJC rescind its guidance, Wyden, Beyer, and their colleagues also requested that the FJC answer the following questions:
- Describe in detail how the decision was made to remove this chapter.
- What review processes did this chapter undergo prior to initial publication?
- Were the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine consulted prior to the removal of this chapter?
- What steps, if any, are you taking to eliminate partisan influence in the work of the FJC?
Wyden and Beyer were joined by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Richard Durbin, D-Ill., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Representatives Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., Nydia M. Velázquez, D-N.Y., Paul D. Tonko, D-N.Y., Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., Mike Thompson, D-Calif., Maxwell Alejandro Frost, D-Fl., Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., Mike Quigley, D-Ill., and Shri Thanedar, D-Mich.
The text of the letter is here.
A web version of this release is here.
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