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119-hr-9277119th Congress

To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide that judicial review under the Administrative Procedure Act does not include any evidence that the court determines is not the product of reliable scientific principles and methods.

Sponsored By: Representative Hageman, Harriet M. [R-WY-At Large]

Introduced

Summary

Gives courts a clear new ground to reject agency actions supported by scientific evidence that courts find unreliable. This bill would add a new subparagraph (G) to Section 706(2) of title 5, the Administrative Procedure Act, allowing judicial review when evidence is not produced using reliable scientific principles and methods or is not a reliable application of those methods.

Show full summary
  • Federal agencies would face tighter scrutiny when they rely on scientific studies for rules. Courts could overturn agency decisions if the underlying science or its application is judged unreliable.
  • Judges would get an explicit statutory basis to evaluate the scientific reliability of evidence during APA review. That shifts part of the debate from administrative deference to a factual reliability check.
  • Businesses, advocacy groups, and individuals could more easily challenge rules by arguing the agency's scientific support fails the new reliability test.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Courts can exclude unreliable science

If enacted, this bill would change how courts review federal agencies under the Administrative Procedure Act. It would add a rule letting courts exclude scientific evidence they find was not produced by reliable scientific methods or not reliably applied. This would make it easier to challenge rules that rely on disputed or low-quality science. It would also risk reducing the science agencies use for health, safety, or environmental protections.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Hageman, Harriet M. [R-WY-At Large]

WY • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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