Representative Laurel Lee (R-FL) discussed the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) purpose and goal with Administrator Lee Zeldin in a recent House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing, commending his commitment to ensuring the protection of the environment without hampering economic growth.
Rep. Lee noted that "basing regulatory decisions on sound science is essential," yet "We have seen repeated reliance on the Integrated Risk Information System, or IRIS, a program that has long been criticized for a lack of transparency and scientific rigor."
As a result, she asked Zeldin, "Can you speak to how you intend to restore confidence in the EPA's chemical assessments and ensure greater transparency for those who are engaging with the agency?"
"It is important to follow the science, to follow sound science, and to consider all science in making the best decision possible," Zeldin answered.
Rep. Lee then turned to the issue of interagency coordination "so that people who are engaged in that process do not go through years of review only to then get to the end and encounter a different government agency. Share with us a little bit more about how you are working on that and why you think it is important."
Zeldin explained how "there are equities that different agencies have in a permitting process, and it would be a much better idea going forward when Congress is considering possible ways to do it legislatively, or agencies are figuring out ways to do it in the meantime to work with those who are applying for the permit in a simultaneous, efficient process."
He described a scenario in which a European company does 70% of its business with China precisely because the permitting process in the United States is so long. Thus, "if there is more certainty, less time, and less cost, that decision for that business in Europe will be to come to bring their dollars here."
Finally, the Florida Congresswoman said, "One of the things that is of great interest to many of us here in Congress is ensuring that the United States does remain the artificial intelligence capital of the world. I would love to hear more about your perspective on how the EPA can be part of ensuring that we achieve that objective."
"For one, it is going to require more base locality," Zeldin began, describing how many members of Congress were privately "agreeing that we are going to need a lot more power in order to be able to do that."
