Testimony, Comments and Letters to Agencies

The Member Scholars of the Center for Progressive Reform frequently testify before congressional committees on a range of topics related to the organization’s core issues.  In addition, Member Scholars often communicate with federal agencies, filing comments on proposed regulations, or bringing important matters to their attention. 

Browse Testimony or Letters and Comments.

• Bill Buzbee's April 16, 2008 testimony before the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on the Rapanos and SWANCC decisions and the Clean Water Restoration Act. And the news release.
• Sidney Shapiro's April 2, 2008 testimony before the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census and National Archives of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, on the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 2008.

2007

• Rena Steinzor’s October 17, 2007 testimony before the Subcommittee on Superfund and Environmental Health of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, on the Bush Administration’s failure to pursue Superfund cleanups.
• David Vladeck’s September 12, 2007 testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee on the Bush Administration’s push for agency preemption of state tort laws.
• David Vladeck’s February 13, 2007 testimony on EO 13422 before the Committee on Science and Technology Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, U.S. House of Representatives.

2006

• William Buzbee’s August 1, 2006 testimony before the Fisheries, Wildlife and Water subcommittee of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, on the implications of the Supreme Court’s decision in the Rapanos case for efforts to protect America’s waterways from polluters.

2005

• Robert R.M. Verchick’s November 17, 2005 testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works on how preliminary findings on the failure of New Orleans’ levees should be incorporated into future plans for hurricane protection.
• Tom McGarity’s November 10, 2005 testimony to Congress on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
• Robert R.M. Verchick’s September 29, 2005 testimony before the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials of the House Committee on Energy & Commerce on what went wrong before, during and immediately after Hurricane Katrina.
• Sidney Shapiro’s July 20, 2005 testimony before the Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs of the House Government Reform Committee on the Information Quality Act.
• Sidney Shapiro’s April 12, 2005 congressional testimony on OMB’s regulatory “hit list” before the House Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs of the Committee on Government Reform.

2004

• Catherine O’Neill’s November 17, 2004 testimony to the Subcommittee on Energy Policy, Natural Resources, and Regulatory Affairs of the House Government Reform Committee on mercury pollution credit-trading proposals.
• Robert R.M. Verchick’s February 25, 2004 testimony before the Subcomittee on Energy Policy, Natural Resources and Regulatory Affairs of the House Committee on Government Reform, on the Office of Management and Budget’s Draft 2004 Report to Congress on the Costs and Benefits of Federal Regulation.

2003

• Rena Steinzor’s September 16, 2003 testimony to Congress on the Bush EPA’s poor enforcement record, September 16, 2003.
• Rena Steinzor’s June 6, 2003 testimony before the Subcommittee on Energy Policy, Natural Resources, and Regulatory Affairs of the Committee on Government Reform on proposals to elevate EPA to Cabinet status.
• Lisa Heinzerling’s March 11, 2003 testimony on OMB’s Draft 2003 Report to Congress on the Costs and Benefits of Federal Regulation.

2002

• Rena Steinzor’s June 13, 2002 testimony to the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment on Water Quality Trading Policy.