Press Releases

Congressman Scott Franklin (FL-18), Chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Environment, joined House Science, Space and Technology Committee Chairman Brian Babin and Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight Chairman Rich McCormick in leading two oversight letters to Dr. Marcia McNutt, President of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), seeking answers regarding transparency, conflicts of interest, committee balance, and the integrity of taxpayer-supported scientific advisory work.

The first letter requests records and information regarding NASEM’s fast-tracked report on greenhouse gas emissions, including whether private funding, internal policies, and committee composition influenced findings presented to federal policymakers. The second letter raises concerns about the NASEM Committee on Attribution of Extreme Weather and Climate Events and Their Impacts, including whether committee members’ outside affiliations may create conflicts of interest or undermine public confidence in the objectivity of its work.

As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, Franklin has prioritized oversight of how federal agencies use scientific analysis, environmental modeling, and risk assessments to make decisions affecting taxpayers, energy policy, disaster preparedness, and economic growth.

“Taxpayer-funded science should be rooted in facts, transparency, and the highest standards of integrity,” said Chairman Scott Franklin. “When federal agencies rely on findings developed by the National Academies and other advisory bodies to support costly regulations, Americans deserve to know those findings were developed objectively and without political bias or special-interest influence. These letters are about restoring accountability and ensuring science serves the public, not an agenda.”

The letters request documents and responses related to NASEM’s conflict-of-interest policies, committee member selection, funding sources, transparency practices, and safeguards to ensure a balanced range of viewpoints on issues with major public policy consequences.

Click here to read the greenhouse gas letter.
Click here to read the attribution science letter.

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