960 HISTORY OF THI ( OMMH III- ON S< IEN< I AND TECHNOLOGY 



Under our present system the burden of proof rests with those proposing change. 

 They.. ividence sometimes conclusive evidence 



that proposed new regulations are indeed needed in the interest of the public health 

 and welfare. 



let's get the facts 



As critics challenged EPA's inrrusion into new areas of activity 

 to protect the public health and welfare, Brown calmly responded: 

 "We're only crying to get the facts, to replace emotional arguments." 

 It was difficult to challenge that kind of logic, even though more 

 money to get the facts frequently resulted in producing data to chal- 

 lenge polluters. 



Brown's subcommittee also pioneered in another unheard-of 

 practice, publishing the verbatim transcripts of all markup sessions — 

 those informal conferences where decisions were made on how or 

 whether specific programs would be supported. The markup sessions, 

 once secret, were open to the public. Yet few subcommittees dared 

 to bare the complete transcript in print, with all the various stages 

 of mental undress which characterize legislators groping toward a 

 conclusion. 



One of the most significant amendments adopted in the subcom- 

 mittee was a proposal by Hayes to require EPA to submit a 5-year 

 research plan. This proved to be an excellent foresight and management 

 tool in future years. 



Before the Brown subcommittee took its bill to the full committee 

 for final markup on May 15, 1975, Brown booked six days of "en- 

 vironmental posture hearings" at the end of April. The purpose of the 

 hearings was to determine the nature and scope of environmental 

 R. & D. programs throughout the Federal Government, in a dozen 

 or so mission-oriented agencies which were spending between $1.3 

 and $1.4 billion annually on environmental R. & D. With EPA 

 responsible for only 20 percent of the annual budget for all environ- 

 mental R. & D., the subcommittee was concerned with what was 

 being accomplished in other agencies and how it could be coordinated 

 in the national interest. 



depletion of the ozone layer 



Brown had signal success in presenting his subcommittee report 

 to the full committee. Not only did the full committee unanimously 

 support an increased authorization for EPA, but also voted 15-13 for 

 an amendment by Blouin to add $2 million additional for research 

 in noise control. The total increase of $28.5 million voted by the 

 committee included increases which had originally been denied by 

 OMB in these areas: hazardous air pollutants, depletion of the ozone 



