FROM: Kaisernetwork.org Daily Reports.
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=13584
Follow -up to earlier report on changes made to Scientific Advisory
Committees by Bush administration.
Linda
"CAPITOL HILL WATCH
Sens. Kennedy, Clinton Send Letter to HHS Secretary Thompson Regarding
Reorganization of Scientific Advisory Committees
In response to the Bush administration's plan to restructure scientific
advisory committees that guide HHS on a wide range of health issues,
Sens. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass) and Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) sent an "angry
letter" to HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson, asking him to explain the
"wholesale replacement" of experts on the panels, CongressDaily/AM
reports (CongressDaily/AM, 9/20).
Earlier this week, the Washington Post reported that the committees,
which operate in near anonymity, are "important because their
interpretation of scientific data can sway an agency's approach to health
risk and regulation." However, in recent weeks, the administration
eliminated two committees with views seemingly "at odds with the
president's views" and replaced almost all the members of a third
committee with "handpicked choices" who have strong ties to the
industries about which they will be advising (Kaiser Daily Health Policy
Report, 9/17).
In the letter to Thompson, the senators said they are "deeply concerned
by allegations that the changes underway are driven more by ideology than
by science," adding that Thompson should "reconsider these decisions and
... continue to appoint" experts who will "truly serve in the public
interest." Kennedy and Clinton also asked Thompson to provide a report
explaining his plans for the scientific advisory committees
(CongressDaily/AM, 9/20)."
-- Kaisernetwork.org, is a free service of the Kaiser Family Foundation
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