House GOP Lawmaker Renews Push for Changes to Chemical Regs
House Republicans plan to tackle changes to state chemical regulations in the next six months, but the legislation is likely to be far simpler than the Chemicals in Commerce Act floated last Congress, said that draft bill’s author John Shimkus, R-Ill., in comments to reporters on Jan. 14. Shimkus, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy, pushed hard to move forward on the Chemicals in Commerce Act in the early part of 2014, but some committee Democrats opposed that effort (see 14043003).
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Industry representatives also urged members of Congress to pass legislation on the chemical regulations, currently covered in the Toxic Substances Control Act, in a Jan. 13 letter to both chambers. “Updating TSCA so the law ensures the safe use of chemicals, encourages the development of new products, and protects American jobs continues to be a top priority for our associations,” said the letter, signed by the American Apparel and Footwear Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and dozens of other groups. “Thanks to growing bipartisan support and the significant progress to date, we believe the new Congress presents a strong opportunity to finally make meaningful changes to TSCA.”
But Shimkus said Democrats in the last Congress took advantage of Republicans in “good-faith negotiations” on the Chemicals in Commerce Act, so he won’t risk as much this time around. “We’ll try to run that hoop again, maybe not as extensive, but at least try and get some buy in from members who were actively involved last Congress,” said Shimkus. “We’re not willing to do a six-month kabuki dance and then have [Democrats] walk away. That’s kind of the difference.” The full committee's ranking member in the last Congress, now-retired Henry Waxman, obstructed bipartisan compromise, said Shimkus.
The Chemicals in Commerce Act would not have made real changes to import regulations, industry lawyers said at the time of the debate, but the bill would ease the chemical review process and shipments among U.S. states, said its supporters (see 14043003). The Environmental Protection Agency hasn’t been able to review tens of thousands of chemicals in recent decades, say observers (see 14040401).
An update of TSCA is one of the primary items on the subcommittee’s agenda, said Shimkus on Jan. 14. He pledged to incorporate Democrats into the process of crafting a new bill. Senior committee member Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., wants to help with a bill, as does Sen. David Vitter, R-La. But Vitter is still battling with Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., on possible changes, said Shimkus. Boxer proposed her own version of legislative changes in October (see 14100717">14100717).
Email ITTNews@warren-news.com for a copy of the industry letter.