letter-to-congress-defending-epa-ord-iris-3-21-25-de7c6daaefa004c6.pdf

A coalition of 123 organizations argues that dismantling the EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) and the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) would undermine the scientific basis for protecting public health from toxic chemicals. The letter specifically opposes H.R. 1415 and S. 623, asserting that IRIS provides essential, peer-reviewed toxicity evaluations used for Superfund cleanups, air toxics standards, and drinking water safeguards. The authors warn that removing these scientific resources would increase risks of cancer and birth defects, particularly in industrial areas like Geismar, Louisiana, and Houston, Texas.

• The Office of Research and Development (ORD) provides essential scientific research for the EPA, including the Homeland Security National Research Program for disaster and chemical response, and investigations into PFAS contamination and remedial technologies.
• The Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) program develops science-based toxicity evaluations that serve as the foundation for critical health protections, such as drinking water safeguards, air toxics standards, and Superfund site cleanup levels.
• Proposed legislation (H.R. 1415 and S. 623) and plans to dissolve the ORD and fire over 1,000 scientists would leave the EPA unable to rely on the best available science to prevent cancer and other health impacts from toxic chemicals.
• Dismantling the ORD and IRIS would specifically harm communities with high industrial pollution and cancer risks, including locations in Louisiana, Texas, West Virginia, Delaware, Kentucky, Puerto Rico, and Illinois.
• The IRIS program is recognized as a rigorous and impartial source of toxicity information by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the National Academies of Sciences (NAS), though it currently lacks sufficient resources to meet high demand.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2025). letter-to-congress-defending-epa-ord-iris-3-21-25-de7c6daaefa004c6.pdf. https://ucs-documents.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/science-and-democracy/Letter-to-Congress-defending-EPA-ORD-IRIS-3-21-25.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. letter-to-congress-defending-epa-ord-iris-3-21-25-de7c6daaefa004c6.pdf. 2025. https://ucs-documents.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/science-and-democracy/Letter-to-Congress-defending-EPA-ORD-IRIS-3-21-25.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=letter-to-congress-defending-epa-ord-iris-3-21-25-de7c6daaefa004c6.pdf |date=21 March 2025 |url=https://ucs-documents.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/science-and-democracy/Letter-to-Congress-defending-EPA-ORD-IRIS-3-21-25.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{unionofconcernedscientists2025lettertocongressdefendingepaordiris32125de7c6daaefa004c6pdf, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{letter-to-congress-defending-epa-ord-iris-3-21-25-de7c6daaefa004c6.pdf}}, publisher = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2025}, month = mar, url = {https://ucs-documents.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/science-and-democracy/Letter-to-Congress-defending-EPA-ORD-IRIS-3-21-25.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }