00:00Now, Secretary Kennedy was here a couple of weeks ago, and when he was asked about glyphosate
00:07and the rollbacks against protections against toxic chemicals, he said that we would, quote,
00:12have to ask Lee Zeldin about that.
00:15So, you're here before us today.
00:19Administrator Zeldin, have you ever participated in a meeting with Bayer where you discussed
00:25the legal or litigation issues that the company was facing?
00:29No, I never did.
00:30Okay.
00:31I have some-
00:32My meeting with them was very brief, and that topic did not come up.
00:35All right.
00:36I do- Are you aware of any outreach that they would have in your agency about this?
00:41I could say that I directly had a brief meeting, but it was a brief meet and greet, and that
00:48topic did not come up.
00:49Thank you.
00:50Mr. Chair, I'd like to submit EPA visitor logs from July 7th, 2025 to the committee.
01:00Without objection, so ordered.
01:01And you're certain they didn't bring up anything regarding your work?
01:06I'm telling you, 100%, absolutely.
01:10Maybe there was some brainstorming that was done beforehand of potential topics.
01:14Are you aware of any-
01:15That topic was not brought up.
01:16Are you aware of anything brought up to any members of your staff or your team?
01:22Your senior team?
01:22I am not aware of that, no.
01:24Okay.
01:25I would like to submit to the record some internal emails from the EPA that I have acquired via
01:33a Freedom of Information Act submission.
01:37Without objection, so ordered.
01:38We have documentation here, emails from your senior advisor for Agricultural and Rural Affairs
01:47saying that you were meeting with the Bayer CEO last year.
01:53He said in these emails that they will be bringing up some legal slash judicial issues.
01:58More specifically, in this internal email in your EPA, it says that Bayer was specifically seeking
02:07and discussing Supreme Court action.
02:10They will want an update on EPA's regulatory review.
02:14And that, interestingly, Bayer will provide a small thanks for updating the glyphosate webpage
02:21from the EPA and work on Maha.
02:25Do you have any idea what they might have been referring to in this email?
02:29Well, first off, as I mentioned a few minutes ago, it's possible that the team was doing
02:34brainstorming of potential topics.
02:36Okay.
02:36As somebody who actually attended the meeting.
02:37Thank you.
02:38I'm sorry.
02:38I just have 40 seconds.
02:39I'm not trying to be rude.
02:41This glyphosate update that they're referring to seems to be correlated to the EPA agency
02:46withdrawing its support for California's cancer warning on glyphosate.
02:51Now, this is important because five days after the EPO this year, Bayer filed their opening
02:56brief to the Supreme Court, citing the Trump's executive order and hinging their case on
03:03the EPA's warnings or lack thereof of glyphosate.
03:06So we have internal emails from your agency saying that Bayer wanted to thank you and your
03:14agency for removing support for California's warning because their case before the Supreme
03:22Court right now hinges on you not warning the American people and withdrawing your support
03:28on glyphosate.
03:29Do you understand the conflict of interest that is before the American people right now,
03:34Mr. Secretary?
03:35I understand.
03:35The gentlelady's time has.
03:36You mind if I respond?
03:37Thank you.
03:38The gentleman may respond.
03:40Okay.
03:40So right now, EPA is completing an assessment due in 2026.
03:49And I understand this is a very important topic for many people in this country.
03:55This review that the EPA is being conducted, my guidance to dedicated career staffers, and
04:01then we have people who have been there for 20, 30 years, is that I don't want to preach.
04:05It's taking a while, Secretary Zeldin, because the Supreme Court is going to be making decisions
04:09this week, and Congress is voting this week on legal immunity.
04:13Okay, but you made your point.
04:14Now, I'm asking, do you mind if I answer?
04:16This is an important part of this, and I'm sure you also care about.
04:18And I think the timing is also very important, Secretary Zeldin.
04:22The gentlelady's time has expired.
04:24Thank you.
04:24Should I complete my answer or no?
04:26Mr. Administrator, you can respond in writing.
04:28Sure.
04:29Okay.
04:31Chair now recognizes.
Comentarios