OFFICIAL LETTER TO JAMES SENSENBRENNER, 
CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
IN SUPPORT OF "NO FEAR" BILL

 November 7, 2000

 The Honorable James Sensenbrenner, Jr.
Attn: Ms. Beth Sokul
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congressman Sensenbrenner:

The Executive Board of Chapter 280 of the National Treasury Employees Union which represents EPA HQ scientists, engineers, and attorneys voted unanimously today to endorse the “No Fear” Bill.  Our Union Chapter (formerly NFFE Local 2050) was founded on the principle of fostering good science at EPA.  While political winds may blow this way or that, we feel this should have no influence on science.  Thus if the toxicologist determines Chemical A to be a carcinogen, the administration in power may decide to cancel it or to keep it on based on its economic importance.  This is their privilege.  However, when an administration says “change the scientifically derived conclusions”, this is where we draw the line and fight.

While politicians and EPA Administrators may tout EPA as being a world-class science organization, we know better.  We know that the scientists in this agency are kept in a subordinate caste and prevented from advancement, especially if they fail to change their conclusions due to management pressure.  The EPA is a world-class plantation.   

While there has been some limited improvement, preselection determines merit promotions and hiring.  It is not how talented, educated, or hard-working you are: if you belong to the “in-crowd” you get ahead, if you do not, you rot in place, and if you speak up, you are retaliated against.  The plantation mentality is particularly hard on African, Native, and Asian Americans.  What is worse, is that somehow it is reasoned that if an African-American manager retaliates against an African-American employee, it doesn’t count! 

Which brings me to my final point.  Dr. Marsha Coleman-Adebayo has been the catalyst for positive change here at EPA.  Currently she is in an assignment which is retaliatory in nature.  She is unqualified to perform epidemiology, yet this is the basis of her assignment.  I fear that she is being set up for firing.  Indeed, I was a witness when they first started taking away another assignment which she was performing in an outstanding manner.  Further, her health is rapidly deteriorating.  But all of this appears fine and dandy with the EPA Administrator: since the Program Director is an African-American, it can’t be discrimination, right?  Wrong.  And despite being made aware of this situation, the EPA Administrator continues to express support and confidence in this manager. 

We feel HR 5516 will do much to improve Agency accountability, however, it must be accompanied by Congressional oversight.  No matter what laws you pass, these people will find ways around them.

 

Sincerely,

 Dwight A. Welch

Executive Vice President

 

cc: Cong. Sheila Jackson-Lee