Protection agency Michael Regan testified on use of science and technology in epas regulatory decisionmaking process before the house science, space and technology committee. He also spoke with a potential Government Shutdown could impede the epas work including protecting vulnerable communities from pollutants. This event is just under three hours. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] the committee will come to order. Without objection, that shares authorized to declare recesses of the community at any time. Opening statements, before mcveigh say but i would also like to request minimus consent to submit chairman lucas Opening Statement for the record. T i now recognize myself for five minutes when Opening Statement. I would like to welcome everyone to this mornings here in size and technology of Environmental Protection agency. I am pleased to welcome epa administrator Michael Regan for the very first time in front of the Science Committee. In fact, this is a first time in epa administrator has testified since 2019 so we certainly have a lot to discuss so thank you for coming. While appreciate you joining us today i had to see her testimony was sent to the committee unacceptably late and we require witnesses to share the written testimony no less than 48 hours ahead of ourur hearings. This isnt an arbitrary deadline. Our members need time to review yourto statement so we can fully prepare for these discussions and ask thoughtful and informed questions. We invited you to the spot in july so you plenty of time to meet this deadline. While a know you have an internal review process, previously administration witnesses have no problem getting as the testimony on time. Given the importance of science its my hope and chairman lucas that the administrator will come before this committee regularly in the future so expect the next time you will join us will have her testimony ahead of time so we can have the most productive discussion possible. I anticipate that much of todays conversation will focus on the use of science and technology in epas regulatory and when necessary the regulatory agenda. And although its been an while since weve heard it, every epa administrator that is come before our committee has stressed the need for scientific integrity at the epa and importance of relying on the expertise of career staff and scientists when crafting the regulations and policies of the agency. That relies on site is especially important today given the fact the biden administrations epa has promulgated 1083 rules to date, nearly 55 rulesti a month since the president took office. There isal the industry and exet from the wide range of topics that these rules cover. From pesticides and agriculture to emissions from power plants, to chemicals in manufacturing regulations have the potential to hamstring our economy if not achievable and based on science. Epa has set very ambitious goals, reducing emissions from power sector by 80 of having to third on the car be zero emission and nearly eliminating all nothing emissions in the country just to name a few. Admirable as those may be, we simply cannot set goals without analyzing the economic and social costs to achieve them. We cant just flip the switch off domestic also for production of the script reliable and affordable replacements. Otherwise hospital and military bases would go dark, families would struggle to make ends meet, businesses would close and life would be lost. We need to be realistic about what these goals required from the people we serve. Additionally todays hearing is an opportunity to get an update from the administrator on a 100 billion influx of influx of funding the agency is received through the iija and ira. No matter what side of the political spectrum you sit on, this case the spin is undeniably vulnerable to the waste, fraud, and abuse. This funding has set the potential tost positively impact crucial sectors of our economy but also has a potential to fund wasteful projects that line the pockets of select environmental groups at prop up technologies that will never achieve success on their own in the market. We must carefully examined the agencies processes to set up new programs, get money out the door and monitorse the progress well into the future. I want to thank the administrator for being here today and am in with the sentiment. Testified as a lot like a doctors appointment. While we are purposely looking for things that are wrong and you their criticisms on how things look, its because want to prevent actions of turning into an unfixable problem. Everyone here once an effective smell the running Environmental Protection agency antedate is an assistant to ensure that. I hope wee can Work Together to ensure epas doing things for people and not to people. I now would like to recognize the Ranking Member, the gentleman from california for Opening Statement. Thank you very much, and thank you administrator regan for being here with us today. Before saying anything else i just wante to say how delightei am to see chairman lucas back here. Mr. Lucas, on behalf of all members and staff on the side of the aisle we are wishing you continued success on your recovery. We stand ready to do whatever we can to assist, and its just really terrific to see you back. I also want to discuss the epas research and development work. The epa has a a unique and rey an important mission, to put human and Environmental Health at the centeri of everything ty do. The office of research and development serves a crucial role in that mission. The office drives the signs that the regulatory offices depend on to ensure they are Setting Health protective standards. It puts out stateoftheart assessments that state, local, and tribal governments rely on to protect the residents pep laboratories across the country monitor air for pollutants, soil for contaminants like pfas, and water to track viruses including covid19. All americans whether they knowo it or not depend on epa to deliver on its clear mandate to Prioritize Health and safety above all else. Now under your leadership this epa has made incredible efforts to bring this mission to Environmental Justice communities. These communities have been on the front lines of really devastating pollution by industry and sometimes by the federal government itself. Some bear an incredibly high risk of cancer due to unfettered dumping by chemical companies. Others worry that environmental contaminants and anemic government responses will have irreversible impact on their childrens development. They have been neglected in programs that have prioritize clean water, energy efficiency, and Climate Resilience and other better resourced areas. Epas office ofle Environmental Justice and external civil rights is an important step in addressing these needs and connecting these communities with much needed information and resources. I amne proud of the work we didn the last congress to fund this effort. The Inflation Reduction Act provided 41 billion to the agency to advance Environmental Justice, and the bipartisan infrastructure long included 50 billion to improve Water Infrastructure and quality. I look forward to hearing how congress can continue to support this important work. Now i would be remiss not to note the larger context of this meeting today, were hurtling towards the Government Shutdown. Theres infighting taking priority over the functioning of our government, and by extension the health and wellbeing of all americans. Administrator regan is a a pet witness to put this into perspective. This year we have seen at least 23 whether and climate related disasters with losses exceeding 1 billion. In the thick of Hurricane Season how epa determine its safe to drink the water following the next devastating storm . Epa provides Rapid Response to manmade disasters as well. What if there is another catastrophic Train Derailment like we saw earlier this year in ohio . Epa cant effectively respond and informed evacuation orders if the hands are tied by this manufactured crisis. I hope your testimony, mr. Reagan,ra can inform the larger body of just how many serious consequences of the shutdown that we face would exist. As you know, from my previous comments i also want to raise thewe issue of the last leaded fuel in transportation, and that is leaded fuel in general aviation airlines. We have a situation where children are being poisoned by the lead in these fuels. We had a study out of my own county showing that the airborne particles from emissions in small planes have actually elevated the lead in the blood level of children near the airport to rival flint, michigan. We need to do something soon and aggressive about thisfr health problem, and im hoping you can talk further about that as this hearing goes on. With that, mr. Chairman, i look forward to our witness testimony and our opportunity to ask questions. I yield back. Thankwi you to the Ranking Member. I would now like to introduce the chairman of the full committee mr. Lucas for Opening Statement. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I know my opening official Opening Statement has been entered into the record. But it would like to take a moment to thank the Ranking Member and all the subcommittee chairman who have handled the hearings while i have been gone. For that matter the membership on both sides of the room. This committee is a very productive committee. We are very focused. Your ability to accomplish things in my absence i am very appreciative of him and while i may move a little slower for a little bit longer, i have Great Expectations about what were going to accomplish in the rest of the session. And again thank you to all my colleagues. You have been wonderful. Yield back, mr. Chairmans mark thank you, mr. Chairman. I would delegate mechanize the gentleman from North Carolina ms. Ross to introduce our witness. Thank you, mr. Chairman, and again its wonderful to see chairman lucas back. We have missed him and just been such a great leader of this committee. It isrt a privilege to introdue my friend and fellow north carolinians, administrator Michael Regan. Administrator regan is distinguished service of the North Carolina department of Environmental Quality set a strong example for other states around the country. And now we are showing him with the whole country. He has been a real chip in addressing pfas contamination in particular. My North Carolina colleague congressman browser and ive seen the worldclass water to the facility on the river and our state and local governments would not of gotten to this point without administrator reagans outstanding work in this area. Now at the epa he and his staff are working tirelessly to tackle the pfas contamination problem, and many others. He recognizes that we have a duty at the federal level to protect the health and safety of our people, our communities and ourre environment. In order to move this country forward. Thank you for yourr leadership, administrator regan, and i look forward to reading your testimony. Thank you, mr. Chairman and i yield back. Thank you. Administrator regan, you are now recognized for five minutes to present your testimony. Good morning, everyone and chairman lucas thank you for personally inviting me in april of House Agriculture Committee to join you today. Im glad to be here. Ranking member lofgren, a was of the committee, appreciate the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss the role of science at Environmental Protection agency. Protecting Public Health and environment as epas privilege and greatest responsibility. As a side space agency found a reliable science is centralal to all of our work. Epa continues to uphold the bidenharris administrations commitment to rely on science to address Public Health and environmental challenges like pfas, the Climate Crisis, lead, air quality, Water Quality, wildfires, threats to childrens health, and many others. As we do this important work we are guided byl the fundamental belief that the health of people of our environment and our economy go handinhand. We have a golden opportunity that only to make a healthier and safer but to deliver lifechangingof programs in thee communities that can catalyze local Economic Growth in goodpaying jobs that were committed to scientific integrity to help us achieve our ambitious climate and economic goals. Our dedicated and talented staff work of so many Critical Issues and im looking forward to sharing some of our work with you today. Over the past two years weve taken strides to ensure all people have access to clean and safe Drinking Water. Far too long communities across the United States have been exposed to harmful pfas. Thats why in october 2021 epa released its pfas strategic roadmap, a core Data Strategy to protect the public and environment from this deadly chemical compound. As a science continues to develop, we know more now than ever about pfas and how it can cause Adverse Health impacts that canan devastate entire communities. Earlier this year the epa proposed the first ever legal limitde for pfas, informed by te hard work and analysis of epa scientists. We expect to issue a final Drinking Water rule in the coming months. While scientists has told us mixing of your progress we still a lot of work to do. To increase our understanding of pfas. Our scientiststo a focus on methods to detect and measure pfas and understand the risk pfas has her help and it ecosystems and ways we can reduce pfas that already in our environment. Epa will continue making progress by working close collaboration with tribes, states, communities and other stakeholders including congress to enact into about pfas solutions that follow the signs and you stand the test of time. Science isnt just about finding problems. Its about fixing them. Thats what im grateful to congress for providing 10 billion for mama person for such a law to address emerging contaminants which we have begun distributing. Im hopeful and optimistic epas sites science would lead to a cleaner and healthier future for all. Epa is also using science to address many of the issues wildfires present presed work environment. Over the past 20 years the numbers of acres burned annually due to wildfire in the United States has doubled. Wildfires are a major source of air pollution, and emissions can travel thousands of miles impacting the health of millions. This past summer we saw the smoke from wildfires in canada bring dangerous air pollution to the midwest and east coast. Last month we saw how wildfire in that we were unimaginable loss to families, homes and businesses. Epa scientists are developing new waysre to model and monitor those emissions and are working to understand what additional toxins might be present in the smoke, particularly from wildfires across into urban areas and burn manmade structures. Lastly, i would like to speak but the were our agency is done in involving lead exposure. The site is clear. Theres no safe level of exposure to lead, period. Epa is and has been a leader in president bidens whole of government approach to protecting families and children from lead exposure. To date this administration has cited the removal of over 100,000 lead Service Lines and that never will significantly increase angst to the bipartisan infrastructure law. Our site is will continue to research and develop new ways to reduce lead exposure until we meet president beit scope of replacing whenever of lead Service Lines. Epa is committed to taking actions that are backed by sound, quality and peerreviewed science. From our action to address and cleanup pfas to providing information that helps peoples doing wildfires come to decisions decision that protect our nation striking and recreation waters, science is the backbone of all we do at epa. While im proud of the foundation relayed it is still much more work to do to ensure that all of our children have safe, Healthy Places to live, learn and play. So thank you all for the opportunity to be a today i just met testimony for the record. I look forward to our continued partnership and to achieve these ambitious yet necessary goals, and welcome all questions. Thank you. I think the administrator for his testimony. Thank you again. The chair recognizes himself for five minutes. Chemistry copies in ohio generate roughly around 3. 5 billion in earnings and 1. 3 billion in taxes and exports from the production plants, exceed 6. 5 billion. Thats what im concerned but epas proposed update to the new chemicals regulation under to the new chemicals regulation under the toxic substance control act. Gs known as tsca, particularly as relates to pfas and the manufacture semiconductors. The Semiconductor Industry association with us for a saying this proposed action would have a devastating effect on u. S. Competitiveness and would resul