ROBERT B. ADERHOLT COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS 4TH DISTRICT, ALABAMA CHAIRMAN, AGRICULTURE 235 CANNON HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 20515 TELEPHONE: (202) 225-4876 WEB PAGE: www.house.gov/aderholt VICE-CHAIRMAN, COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE (t[:ongre~~ of tbe Wntteb ~tate~ l!}ougt of l\tpregentatibtg Dasbtngton, j]BC!J: DEFENSE June 7, 2016 Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D. Director National Institutes of Health 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, Maryland 20892 Dear Dr. Collins: The recent controversy regarding an International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) report entitled, "Evaluation of Five Organophosphate Insecticides and Herbicides" (IARC Monographs, Volume 112. 20 March. 2015) has elevated my awareness of this agency and the support it receives from the United States government. According to a Reuters' investigative news report, this study concludes that glyphosate, an herbicide, is a 'probable' human carcinogen. It is my understanding that the report findings contradict other U.S. government agency studies on the safety of glyphosate, the most commonly used herbicide in the world. In fact, the National Academies of Science just released a comprehensive report on genetically engineered crops ("Genetically Engineered Crops: Experiences and Prospects") in May 2016 and the report notes that several comprehensive international studies delink the connection between glyphosate and cancer, including the EPA's 2013 study that reaffirmed the agency's stance by saying "glyphosate is not expected to pose a cancer risk to humans." Additionally, some in academia have raised questions about the quality of the science and the transparency ofthe process. Any study by IARC, regardless of its credibility, benefits from association with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and its reputation as a premier research organization. The IARC study conclusions appear to be the result of a significantly flawed process; unfortunately, because the study was funded through the NIH, the conclusions will be taken more seriously than they might have been. Millions of farmers throughout the world rely on this uniquely effective herbicide. Given the impact that diminished confidence in the use of this common and widely-used herbicide 247 CARL ELLIOTT BUILDING 1710 ALABAMA AVENUE JASPER, AL 35501 TELEPHONE: (205) 221-2310 205 FOURTH AVENUE NE SUITE 104 CULLMAN, Al 35055 TELEPHONE: (256) 734-6043 107 FEDERAL BUILDING 600 BROAD STREET GADSDEN, Al 35901 TELEPHONE: (256) 546-0201 1011 GEORGE WALLACE BOULEVARD SUITE 146 TUSCUMBIA, Al 35674 TELEPHONE: (256) 381-3450 could have on agriculture, I am writing to request a briefing on the IARC study and the standards that NIH places on research funded by the U.S. taxpayers. Jennifer Groover is the contact person for my office for this issue, and she can be reached at Jennifer .groover@mail.house. gov. Member of Congress