From the AIBS Legislative Action Center:
Legislation is pending in the House of Representatives that would
require the public release of sensitive information regarding peer
review of federal grants.
As it is currently drafted, the Grant Reform and New Transparency
(GRANT) Act, HR 3433, would require that the government publish
online grant proposals funded by federal agencies. Unlike the current
government practice of releasing abstracts, this new requirement
would include potentially propriety intellectual information related
to the applicant's hypotheses, novel methodology, and preliminary
research findings.
Moreover, the GRANT Act would require the public disclosure of the
names of the peer reviewers for each federally funded grant. Removing
the anonymity of peer review would open the process to real or
perceived fear of repercussions for reviewers, and could result in
self-censoring by reviewers.
Please stand up for the integrity of the scientific process by asking
your Representative to voice his/her disapproval of these provisions
in the GRANT Act by signing a Dear Colleague letter being circulated
by Representatives Rush Holt (D-NJ) and David Price (D-NC). The
Holt-Price letter urges Speaker Boehner and Minority Leader Pelosi to
remove these provisions from the GRANT Act before it is further
considered in the House.
<http://capwiz.com/aibs/utr/1/EKDARDHMOS/HXIJRDHNZJ/7787146406>Write
to your Representative today! The deadline for members of Congress to
sign the letter is Friday, 13 January 2012.
