Toxic Substances Control Act reformation passed by Congress
The United States Senate, on June 7, passed by unanimous consent the bipartisan Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, legislation to reform the nation’s 40 year-old primary chemical management law, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
The law, originally passed by the US Congress in 1976, is administered by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It regulates the introduction and use of new as well as existing chemicals.
President and CEO of American Chemistry Council, Cal Dooley, issued the following statement:
“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.
“The path to more modern chemical regulation has been decades in the making and it’s been over three years since work to achieve TSCA reform began in earnest. The introduction of the first bipartisan bill to reform TSCA by Senators Frank Lautenberg and David Vitter in May, 2013, was the initial step in what has been a long and arduous journey. We are extremely grateful to Senators Inhofe, Vitter and Udall and their staffs for their unwavering dedication and countless hours of hard work, without which the realization of TSCA reform would not have been possible. We look forward to the enactment of H.R. 2576 by President Obama in the coming days.”
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) represents the leading companies engaged in the business of chemistry. ACC members apply the science of chemistry to make innovative products and services that make people’s lives better, healthier and safer.The business of chemistry is an US$801 billion enterprise and a key element of the nation’s economy. It is the nation’s largest exporter, accounting for fourteen percent of all US exports. Chemistry companies are among the largest investors in research and development. Safety and security have always been primary concerns of ACC members, and they have intensified their efforts, working closely with government agencies to improve security and to defend against any threat to the nation’s critical infrastructure.