Rounds Joins Senate EPW Republicans in Taking a Stand for Academic Freedom

U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, today joined all other EPW Republicans in a letter promoting scientific discovery and academic freedom. The letter was sent to the same 107 recipients of letters sent earlier this week by Congressional Democrats to universities, private companies, trade groups, and non-profit organizations, asking for detailed information on funding climate science. As explained in the EPW Republican letter sent today, there is a real concern the Democrats inquiry may impose a chilling effect on scientific inquiry and free speech.

"Rather than empower scientists and researchers to expand the public discourse on climate science and other environmental topics, the [Democrats] letter could be viewed as an attempt to silence legitimate intellectual and scientific inquiry," wrote the Senators in today's letter.

There has been a public outcry in response to the Democrats letters. Noted climate scientist, Dr. Michael Mann spoke of the letters calling them "heavy handed and overly aggressive." Earlier today the American Meteorological Society warned that the letters sent by Congressional Democrats send a "chilling message to all academic researchers."

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