No IRIS Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1415
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Environmental Protection
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-18: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-29T08:07:02Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The No Industrial Restrictions in Secret Act of 2025 (No IRIS Act of 2025) aims to restrict the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from relying on scientific risk assessments produced by its own Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) program. IRIS is an EPA tool that evaluates potential health risks from exposure to chemicals and other environmental hazards. The bill seeks to prevent these assessments from influencing EPA decisions on regulations or enforcement.
Key Provisions
- Prohibition on Use of IRIS Assessments: The EPA Administrator is barred from using any IRIS-generated assessment for:
- Developing, finalizing, or issuing rules or regulations (e.g., standards to limit pollution).
- Conducting regulatory, enforcement, or permitting actions (e.g., fining violators or approving industrial permits).
- Informing air toxics assessments or tools for mapping and screening environmental risks (e.g., identifying hazardous areas).
- Scope and Enforcement: This ban applies regardless of other laws, effectively overriding existing authorities that allow EPA to incorporate IRIS data.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Previously, EPA could freely use IRIS assessments as a scientific basis for environmental rules under laws like the Clean Air Act or Toxic Substances Control Act.
- This bill introduces a blanket prohibition, removing IRIS as a tool for EPA decision-making and potentially requiring the agency to seek alternative data sources for risk evaluations.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The EPA would face limitations in creating evidence-based regulations, possibly slowing or altering environmental protection efforts. Other agencies relying on EPA data (e.g., for public health or worker safety) might need new methods for risk analysis.
- On Citizens: Could reduce protections against chemical exposures, potentially increasing health risks from pollutants if regulations are weakened or delayed. Public access to IRIS-based screening tools for local hazards might be curtailed.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, but it could affect U.S. alignment with global environmental standards (e.g., those from the World Health Organization) that use similar risk assessment approaches.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Directly restricted in its operations and regulatory authority.
- Industries and Businesses: Likely benefit from reduced regulatory burdens, especially chemical, manufacturing, and energy sectors that might face fewer restrictions based on IRIS data.
- Environmental and Public Health Groups: Adversely affected, as they often advocate for stronger protections using IRIS science.
- General Public: Indirectly impacted through changes in air and water quality standards, with potential long-term effects on community health in polluted areas.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill's "notwithstanding any other provision of law" clause could lead to court challenges over whether it unconstitutionally limits Congress's delegation of authority to agencies or interferes with established environmental statutes. It might also prompt lawsuits from states or advocacy groups arguing it undermines public health protections.
- Constitutional: Raises questions about separation of powers, as it micromanages an executive agency's scientific processes without providing alternatives, potentially conflicting with the Administrative Procedure Act's requirements for reasoned decision-making.
- Political: Highlights debates over the role of government science in regulation; supporters may view it as curbing overreach, while critics could see it as prioritizing industry interests over evidence-based policy. As an introduced bill (H.R. 1415, 119th Congress), its passage would signal shifts in environmental governance priorities.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (25)
Rep. Ellzey, Jake [R-TX-6], Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3], Rep. Letlow, Julia [R-LA-5], Rep. Westerman, Bruce [R-AR-4], Rep. Cloud, Michael [R-TX-27], Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2], Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Pfluger, August [R-TX-11], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Goldman, Craig A. [R-TX-12], Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5], Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7], Rep. Balderson, Troy [R-OH-12], Rep. Finstad, Brad [R-MN-1], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1], Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15], Rep. Franklin, Scott [R-FL-18], Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2], Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17], Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25], Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2], Rep. Bergman, Jack [R-MI-1], Rep. Fitzgerald, Scott [R-WI-5], Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3]
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-18: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
- 2025-02-18: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-02-18: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-02-18: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-02-18: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-18: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- No Industrial Restrictions in Secret Act of 2025 — issued 2025-02-18 — PDF (2 pages)