June 14, 2006 Contact: Leslie Phillips (202) 224-2627 LIEBERMAN CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION OF THE APPEARANCE OF WIDESPREAD CENSORSHIP BY THE ADMINISTRATION ON CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH   Senator Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) Wednesday called for an investigation into allegations that four federal agencies have sought to cover-up or edit scientific information related to climate change, suggesting that top Administration officials may have asked for the information to be suppressed. Writing to Dr. John Marburger III, White House Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, Lieberman raised the possibility of a concerted effort by the Administration to restrict openness on climate change research at multiple executive branch agencies. “Allegations that four federal agencies have sought to withhold climate change research are deeply disturbing and suggest an Administration-wide attempt to restrict scientific openness on climate change. These allegations need to be addressed urgently,” Lieberman said. “Climate change is a grave problem facing our country, and it is imperative that our top scientists and researchers are sharing information, not hiding it.” Citing recent allegations of climate science censorship at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Lieberman asked Marburger to investigate whether any official or unofficial “request or guidance” had been made to these agencies to restrict public dissemination of climate change findings. If no such request or guidance was discovered, Lieberman asked Marburger to determine why the suppression of scientists’ climate change findings occurred simultaneously across four agencies. Lieberman also wrote to Vice Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher, the Administrator of NOAA, calling on him to take action on recent reports that NOAA officials have been discouraging agency scientists from sharing their findings on climate change. He called on Lautenbacher to develop an agency policy for releasing scientific findings to ensure that future research is not withheld. He also asked for an investigation into whether any official guidance was provided to prompt NOAA officials to restrict openness on research related to climate change. Lieberman’s request comes after an admission from NASA Administrator Dr. Michael Griffin last week that his agency had wrongly prevented a climate scientist from speaking to reporters. The Senator’s letters may be read at: http://hsgac.senate.gov/_files/Dem_Files/060613Lautenbacher.pdf and http://hsgac.senate.gov/_files/Dem_Files/060613Marburger.pdf   ###   Printable Version   « previous Press Release next Press Release »   1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 June 2006 Press Releases   June 30 - Collins, Lieberman Seek to Address Government Fraud   June 29 - Dodd, Lieberman Help Secure Additional $4 Million for Coast Guard Research and Development Lab   June 29 - Lieberman Says DHS Infrastructure Protection Plan Not Enough   June 28 - Lieberman Speaks on Introduction of Bill to Reinvent FEMA   June 27 - Collins, Lieberman Seek Greater Funding To Protect Transit, Rail and Ports   June 27 - Lieberman Says Appeals Court Decision Reaffirms Opposition To DHS Personnel Changes   June 23 - Lieberman Demands Greater Information Security For DHS Trusted Traveler Programs   June 20 - Lieberman Welcomes Reversal of FEMA Trailer Evictions   June 20 - Democrats Seek Oversight of Iraqi Reconstruction Contracts   June 19 - Lieberman Says Federal Efforts to Ensure Diversity Must Improve   June 16 - Lieberman Says NRP Conclusion is Not Surprising   June 16 - Senators Collins, Lieberman, Coleman and Murray Call on Chertoff to Issue Transporation and Port Security Grant Guidance   June 15 - Senate Homeland SEcurity Committee Unanimously Passes Collins-Lieberman Chemical Security Legislation   June 15 - Lieberman Heralds Advancement Of Chemical Security Bill   June 14 - Lieberman Leads Defeat of Industry's Preemption Amendment to the Chemical Security Bill   June 14 - Lieberman Says Disaster Aid Abuse Underscores Need For A Reinvented FEMA   June 14 current Press Release   June 9 - Some Katrina Victims Get a Break on Unemployment Benefits   June 9 - NASA Admits Wrongdoing in Not Allowing Top Scientist to Discuss Climate Change Research   June 8 - Senate Homeland Security Committee Holds Hearing on Where FEMA Belongs   June 8 - Lieberman Calls for Reinvention, Strengthening of FEMA   June 6 - Lieberman Assails GOP for Refusing to Extend Unemployment Benefits for 2005 Hurricane Victims
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