Bill Nelson says any attempt to intimidate scientists ‘must be stopped’

in 2017 by

In its first week in office, the Trump administrationĀ frozeĀ new scientific grantsĀ at the Environmental Protection Agency. That fueled concerns amongst some in the scientific community that it will be a rough four years in Washington.

Since the presidential election,Ā more thanĀ 5,000 scientists, including many Nobel Prize winners, have signed an openĀ letterĀ urgingĀ President TrumpĀ and Congress to preserve scientific integrity. and there may be a major “March for Science”Ā taking place on Earth Day in Washington later this spring.

Now, U.S. SenatorĀ Bill NelsonĀ and a number of his Democratic colleaguesĀ are weighing in, withĀ a billĀ aimedĀ atĀ protecting government scientists from political interference.

“Few things are more un-American than censorship, especially when it would keep the public in the dark on vital public health and safety information, such as climate change and sea level rise,ā€ said Nelson, who serves as the top Democrat on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. Ā ā€œAny attempt to intimidate or muzzle scientists must be stopped.ā€

Some of the provisions of the bill include:

  • Reaffirm the principle of open communication of scientific findings and prevent the suppression of scientific findings;
  • Ensure that scientists are allowed to communicate their findings with the public, press, and Congress;
  • Direct federal agencies to develop scientific integrity policies that include whistleblower protections; and,
  • Require scientific integrity policies to be posted online and given to all new hires

At least 27 other Democratic senators have signed on to the proposal.

Mitch Perry has been a reporter with Extensive Enterprises since November of 2014. Previously, he served as five years as the political editor of the alternative newsweekly Creative Loafing. He also was the assistant news director with WMNF 88.5 FM in Tampa from 2000-2009, and currently hosts MidPoint, a weekly talk show, on WMNF on Thursday afternoons. He began his reporting career at KPFA radio in Berkeley. He's a San Francisco native who has now lived in Tampa for 15 years and can be reached at [email protected].