Senate Dems Push TSCA Reform Bill as Ranks of Cosponsors Swell
Two Senate Democrats held a press conference Oct. 6 to urge passage of legislation to reform the “broken” Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), said a press release from Chris Coons, D-Del (here) and Tom Carper, D-Del. They said already-strong bipartisan support for the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act is growing, with 60 cosponsors now lined up in the Senate.
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Despite a recent lack of bipartisanship, Democrats and Republicans in the Senate have come together “to improve a failed law that doesn’t work for consumers and doesn’t work for businesses,” said Carper at the press conference, according to the release. “Today, we are closer than we’ve ever gotten to reforming our toxics law because both sides have compromised on policy without compromising their principles. We must now show the American people we can do what’s right for this country and move this bill across the finish line.”
The TSCA reform bill (here) would strengthen deadlines for the Environmental Protection Agency to evaluate chemicals, including tens of thousands of existing chemicals haven’t yet been screened since TSCA took effect in 1976 (see 1503110024). The bill would also add new requirements for “confidential business information claims” and prevent manufacture until the EPA approves the chemical, but still grandfathers in state chemical regulations that went into effect before 2015.