In a major move, seven scientific organizations came together today to send a message to the Chair of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Lamar Smith (R-Tex.). Smith is investigating the NOAA climate scientists behind a study that concluded we’ve seen slightly more surface warming since 1998 than previously thought. That organization's message? “Grave concern” about Rep. Smith’s subpoena of internal communications among NOAA scientists and staff.

The letter comes from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Chemical Society, the American Geophysical Union, the American Meteorological Society, the American Statistical Association, the Ecological Society of America, and the Geological Society of America.

The letter highlights the fact that all the data and methodology of the study “have been publicly shared and discussed directly with the committee staff,” and that there is no evidence of misconduct. The study has gone through the usual peer-review process, as other research relevant to the topic has in the past and will in the future.

“Scientists should not be subjected to fraud investigations or harassment simply for providing scientific results that some may see as politically controversial,” the letter reads. “Science cannot thrive when policymakers—regardless of party affiliation—use policy disagreements as a pretext to attack scientific conclusions without public evidence.”

While emphasizing that the organizations “recognize the oversight responsibility of Congress,” they argue that this isn’t the right way to fulfill that responsibility. “We encourage the committee to utilize other avenues, such as the National Academies, for assessing the science and distilling technical matters to assist policymakers,” the letter concludes.

In a separate development, NOAA Administrator Kathryn Sullivan sent a response to Rep. Smith’s recent letters. Sent on Friday on behalf of NOAA and Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, the letter lays out all the actions NOAA has taken since mid-July to answer Rep. Smith’s questions about the NOAA study. It argues that Rep. Smith has all the information he needs. “If the Committee doubts the integrity of the study, it has the tools it needs to commission a competing scientific assessment,” Sullivan wrote.

“Nevertheless, we take any whistleblower allegations seriously and stand ready to work with the Committee, the Inspector General, or the NOAA scientific integrity review process to respond and evaluate these allegations appropriately,” the letter also states.

Sullivan—a geologist and former astronaut—also responds to Rep. Smith’s accusations of collusion with the Obama administration, writing, “I proudly serve President Obama, as I proudly served President Reagan, President Bush, President Clinton, and President Bush before him. I am a life-long public servant profoundly dedicated to using science to inform decision-making in the best interests of the nation. I have not and will not allow anyone to manipulate the science or coerce the scientists who work for me.”