Toxic Substances Control Act A ‘Major Chemical Safety Overhaul’

‘The Most Far-Reaching And Influential Environmental Statute Passed By Congress Since The Body Updated The Clean Air Act In 1990’
SEN. JIM INHOFE (R-OK), Environment And Public Works Committee Chairman: “This historic piece of environmental regulatory reform is a great example of the Republican-led Congress working for the American people by enacting meaningful and commonsense legislation... This soon-to-be law will protect and support millions of domestic jobs and spur economic growth for decades to come by providing regulatory certainty to encourage new manufacturing investment here at home, on American soil. It will safeguard interstate commerce while also protecting public health; it will strengthen transparency and oversight – holding EPA accountable to Congress and the American people – while also protecting small business from bureaucratic hurdles and burdensome mandates. The Lautenberg Act is long overdue, as it is the first major environmental reform to be enacted in over a quarter century.” (U.S. Senate Committee On Environment & Public Works, Press Release, 6/07/2016)

SEN. BARBARA BOXER (D-CA): “This bill has been the most complicated, difficult and emotional journey that I have ever had in the United States Senate, and the fact that we have reached agreement, a vast, vast majority of us… We have scored a significant step forward for the American people.” (Sen. Boxer, Floor Remarks, 5/26/16)

BONNIE LAUTENBERG: ‘I am proud that this landmark bill, the most important environmental legislation in a generation, has been named in Frank’s honor’ “I know Frank would have been proud last week as I stood with a bipartisan group of his former colleagues – including some of the leading environmental champions in the Senate – to announce a deal to finally fix our broken system. And I am proud that this landmark bill, the most important environmental legislation in a generation, has been named in Frank’s honor: The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act.” (“Honor Frank Lautenberg By Protecting Our Kids,” The Hill, 5/25/16)

TSCA ‘A Major Overhaul Of The Nation’s Primary Chemical Safety Law’
“The Senate on Tuesday gave final approval to an overhaul of the nation’s 40-year-old law governing the use of toxic chemicals in homes and businesses, sending the bill to President Obama for his expected signature. The Senate passed the measure on a voice vote; the House approved it last month, 403 to 12.” (“Senate Approves Update of Toxic-Chemical Regulations,” The New York Times, 6/7/16)

“Public Confidence: In a rare moment of bipartisan comity, the measure sailed through the Senate last night, after earlier passing the House, 403-12. It now heads to Obama for his signature.” (“With Chemical Safety Law, Congress Hands Epa Herculean Task,” Bloomberg, 6/8/16)

“The bipartisan accord represents the most sweeping environmental measure to pass Congress in a quarter-century. The bill, which drew support from the chemical industry, trial lawyers and many public health and environmental groups, updates a 40-year-old law long criticized as ineffective.” (“Sweeping Overhaul Of Nation’s Chemical-Safety Laws Clears Final Legislative Hurdle,” The Washington Post, 6/7/16)

“…a major overhaul of the nation’s primary chemical safety law—marking one of the last steps in a decades-long reform effort.” (“United States Poised To Approve Major Chemical Safety Overhaul,” Science Magazine, 5/25/16)

• “The measure—H.R. 2576, named for the late Senator Frank Lautenberg (D–NJ), a longtime TSCA reform champion—is perhaps the most far-reaching and influential environmental statute passed by Congress since the body updated the Clean Air Act in 1990.” (“United States Poised To Approve Major Chemical Safety Overhaul,” Science Magazine, 5/25/16)

“The wide-ranging bill was more than three years in the making and had support from a broad coalition, ranging from environmental and public health groups to the chemical industry and the National Association of Manufacturers.” (“Congress Sends Obama Bill To Regulate Toxic Chemicals,” AP, 6/7/16)

• “The bill would set new safety standards for asbestos and other dangerous chemicals, including formaldehyde, styrene and Bisphenol A, better known as BPA, that have gone unregulated for decades. The rules will impact an $800-billion-a-year industry.” (“Congress Sends Obama Bill To Regulate Toxic Chemicals,” AP, 6/7/16)
• “The measure would update the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act to require the Environmental Protection Agency to evaluate new and existing chemicals against a new, risk-based safety standard that includes considerations for particularly vulnerable people such as children and pregnant women.” (“Congress Sends Obama Bill To Regulate Toxic Chemicals,” AP, 6/7/16)

‘Many Previous Efforts To Overhaul TSCA Failed … The Current Effort Succeeded’ With The Support Of ‘A Wide Range Of Stakeholders’
“The TSCA reform bill is the result of years of negotiations involving lawmakers in both parties and a wide range of stakeholders. Many previous efforts to overhaul TSCA failed after lawmakers couldn’t strike a consensus among competing interest groups, such as chemical companies and environmental groups. The current effort succeeded…” (“United States Poised To Approve Major Chemical Safety Overhaul,” Science Magazine, 5/25/16)

• NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MANUFACTURERS: “After years of uncertainty and nearly a decade of drawn-out work and debate in Congress, manufacturers have secured a much-needed overhaul of our nation’s chemical laws. Manufacturers have long advocated these reforms and are encouraged by the work done by leaders in both the House and Senate to finally get this accomplished.” (National Association Of Manufacturers, Press Release, 6/7/16)
• AMERICAN CHEMISTRY COUNCIL: “Today’s passage of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act is truly historic. This legislation is significant not only because it is the first major environmental law passed since 1990, but because TSCA reform will have lasting and meaningful benefits for all American manufacturers, all American families and for our nation’s standing as the world’s leading innovator.” (American Chemistry Council, Press Release, 6/7/16)
• NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION: “The bill … presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enhance the protection of human health, the environment, and wildlife.” (National Wildlife Federation, Press Release, 5/16)
• AMERICAN ALLIANCE FOR INNOVATION: “We are writing on behalf of the American Alliance for Innovation (AAI) to urge you to vote for the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21^st Century Act (FRL-21), a comprehensive bill to reform the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). FRL-21 is an historic opportunity for Congress to update a major environmental law… Updating TSCA so the law ensures the safe use of chemicals, encourages the development of new products, and protects American jobs is a top priority for our associations.” (American Alliance For Innovation, Letter To U.S. Senators, 5/24/16)
• DOW CHEMICAL: “This landmark legislation will fundamentally reform our nation’s chemical regulatory program, restore confidence in the safety of chemicals and provide companies like Dow with the regulatory certainty necessary to drive investment… Dow commends Senators Inhofe, Udall and Vitter and Congressmen Upton and Shimkus on their strong leadership and unwavering dedication to pass bipartisan legislation that allows U.S. manufacturers to continue to provide innovative solutions made possible today through advanced chemistry.” (DOW Chemical, Press Release, 6/8/16)
• NORTH AMERICA'S BUILDING TRADES UNIONS: “The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act is a commonsense compromise the will amend the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and provide significant improvements to the federal regulation of chemicals in commerce. It … will go a long way to protect workers who are exposed to potentially dangerous chemicals on the job. Now is the time to move these critical reforms. North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU) strongly urges you to support this compromise package and send it to the President for his signature.” (Letter To Congress, North America's Building Trades Unions, 5/25/16)
• AMERICAN APPAREL & FOOTWEAR ASSOCIATION: “The U.S. apparel and footwear industries support the bi-partisan efforts in Congress to reform the federal Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). We believe this legislation would create a uniform national chemical management standard that both protects consumers and provides regulatory predictability for businesses.”  (“Key Vote ‘Yes,’” American Apparel & Footwear Association, 5/25/16)

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