Bill 119 hr 1415, also known as the "IRIS Act," aims to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from utilizing assessments produced by the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) for the purpose of creating new rules and regulations. The IRIS system is a program within the EPA that evaluates the potential health risks associated with exposure to various chemicals and substances.
The bill argues that the assessments generated by the IRIS system are not reliable or scientifically sound enough to be used as the basis for regulatory actions by the EPA. Supporters of the bill believe that the EPA should rely on more robust and transparent scientific methods when making decisions about environmental regulations.
If passed, the IRIS Act would require the EPA to seek out alternative sources of information and data when developing new rules and regulations. This could potentially impact the way the EPA approaches issues related to public health and environmental protection.
Overall, the IRIS Act raises important questions about the role of scientific assessments in the regulatory process and the best practices for ensuring that environmental regulations are based on sound science. The bill is currently under consideration in Congress and has sparked debate among lawmakers and stakeholders in the environmental policy community.