Chamber Welcomes Call for Peer Reviewed Science-Calls OMB Guideline a Step in the Right

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Chamber of Commerce applauded the Office of Management and Budget's proposed bulletin and supplemental guideline that address the peer review of science disseminated by the federal government.

"Sound science must be at the heart of all regulatory decisions," said William L. Kovacs, Chamber vice president for environment, technology and regulatory affairs. "And sound science is based on research that is subject to the most rigorous and dependable scrutiny possible."

To ensure that major government decisions are based on sound science all underlying research should be supported by a transparent peer review process, according to the Chamber. The peer review proposal is part of an ongoing effort to improve the quality, objectivity, utility and integrity of information disseminated by the federal government to the public. The Chamber will submit comments on the Office of Management and Budget proposal and will offer constructive advice.

"This is an important and beneficial step toward enhancing the quality of peer review of scientific information by government agencies," Kovacs said. "The more that we insist on completely transparent, open peer reviews of all government research, the more we will be able to assure the credibility of such work."

The United States Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

###

03-135