Democratic Representative Paul Tonko of New York: ‘It’s a thinly veiled campaign to limit research … that supports critical regulatory action.’
Credit: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

Democratic lawmakers joined scientists, health and environmental officials and activists on Tuesday in denouncing a proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), backed by industry, that could limit dramatically what kind of science the agency considers when making regulations.

One lawmaker called the Trump administration proposal a “thinly veiled campaign to limit research” that “supports critical regulatory action”.

The rule was introduced by the agency’s administrator, Scott Pruitt, before his resignation this month amid ethics scandals. Tuesday’s public hearing drew opponents and a much smaller number of industry and trade groups backing it.

If adopted, the rule would allow an EPA administrator to reject study results in making decisions about pollutants and other health risks if […]