This bill, the State Standing Committee Act, establishes a new State Standing Committee (SSC) within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The primary purpose of this Committee is to provide scientific and technical advice to the EPA Administrator and the existing Science Advisory Board (SAB) on a wide range of environmental issues. This aims to incorporate state, territorial, and tribal perspectives directly into EPA's decision-making processes. The SSC will be composed of one member from each State, Federal district, Federal territory, and Federally recognized Tribe. Members must reside in their represented entity, be an employee of a relevant environmental, natural resource, or agricultural agency, and possess qualifications in scientific or technical information. They are appointed by the EPA Administrator and the SAB through a merit-based process, serving without pay on a voluntary basis. The Committee, or individual members, may offer advice, including majority and minority views, on matters related to major environmental laws such as the Clean Air Act, Federal Water Pollution Control Act, and Toxic Substances Control Act, among others. All advice provided by the Committee or its members must be made publicly available on the EPA website within 30 days. Notably, the Committee is exempt from the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The bill also amends the existing provisions for the Science Advisory Board, expanding the scope of environmental acts it advises on and allowing it to advise appropriate committees of Congress. Furthermore, it mandates that the Administrator submit an annual report to Congress detailing the membership, activities, and advice provided by both the Science Advisory Board and the newly created State Standing Committee.
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Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
State Standing Committee Act
USA119th CongressHR-9663| House
| Updated: 7/14/2026
This bill, the State Standing Committee Act, establishes a new State Standing Committee (SSC) within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The primary purpose of this Committee is to provide scientific and technical advice to the EPA Administrator and the existing Science Advisory Board (SAB) on a wide range of environmental issues. This aims to incorporate state, territorial, and tribal perspectives directly into EPA's decision-making processes. The SSC will be composed of one member from each State, Federal district, Federal territory, and Federally recognized Tribe. Members must reside in their represented entity, be an employee of a relevant environmental, natural resource, or agricultural agency, and possess qualifications in scientific or technical information. They are appointed by the EPA Administrator and the SAB through a merit-based process, serving without pay on a voluntary basis. The Committee, or individual members, may offer advice, including majority and minority views, on matters related to major environmental laws such as the Clean Air Act, Federal Water Pollution Control Act, and Toxic Substances Control Act, among others. All advice provided by the Committee or its members must be made publicly available on the EPA website within 30 days. Notably, the Committee is exempt from the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The bill also amends the existing provisions for the Science Advisory Board, expanding the scope of environmental acts it advises on and allowing it to advise appropriate committees of Congress. Furthermore, it mandates that the Administrator submit an annual report to Congress detailing the membership, activities, and advice provided by both the Science Advisory Board and the newly created State Standing Committee.