April, 29 2009, 12:00am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Elliott Negin,Media Director,enegin@ucsusa.org
First 100 -- Obama Gets High Marks on Scientific Integrity
Statement by Francesca Grifo, Scientific Integrity Program Director, Union of Concerned Scientists
WASHINGTON
On the occasion of President Barack Obama's first 100 days in office, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) gave the president high marks on fulfilling his campaign promise to restore scientific integrity to federal policymaking. But without a long-term plan and the commitment to see it through, UCS warned that history could repeat itself.
Below is a statement by Francesca Grifo, senior scientist and director of UCS's Scientific Integrity Program:
"We are thrilled that President Obama has taken a personal interest in depoliticizing the federal government's use of science and is taking steps to address this challenge. Scientists are heartened by commitments from officials at all levels to improve transparency, strengthen protections for scientists, and seriously consider the science when crafting regulations that protect the public.
"The seeds have been planted, but they must be nurtured. President Obama has directed his science advisor to develop a plan for restoring scientific integrity to federal policymaking. The president has said the plan must make government decision making more transparent and protect the rights of scientists so they're able to do their jobs without interference. This plan should be both meaningful and practical, and the Office of Science and Technology must be empowered to carry it out.
"That said, no one could right the wrongs of the previous administration in only 100 days. Fundamentally changing how the government works is unimaginably complex. We recognize that restoring scientific integrity to federal policymaking will take time and persistence.
"Fundamental scientific integrity reform is critical to protecting our health, safety and environment. Because science is ever more essential to our nation's most pressing policy decisions, it is increasingly subject to political spin and manipulation. The special interests that so successfully convinced the Bush administration to misuse scientific information have not gone away.
"In the meantime, there are issues that need immediate attention, including fully restoring science to Endangered Species Act decisions. And there are decisions that will have to be made over the next several months, such as how to update air quality standards. I'm pleased President Obama has signaled that scientific integrity is a high priority and we intend to ensure it stays on his administration's punch list."
The Union of Concerned Scientists is the leading science-based nonprofit working for a healthy environment and a safer world. UCS combines independent scientific research and citizen action to develop innovative, practical solutions and to secure responsible changes in government policy, corporate practices, and consumer choices.
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Save this for the next time you hear that the Israeli military does everything possible to avoid harming civilians, and that the level of civilian harm in Gaza is less that other comparable conflicts… gaza-patterns-harm.airwars.org
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— Huwaida Arraf (@huwaida.bsky.social) December 13, 2024 at 9:27 AM
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