Senate Republicans Seek to Weaken Nation’s Toxic Chemical Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Republicans put forward proposed legislation to rewrite the nation’s most important law protecting the public from toxic chemicals in the Environment and Public Works Committee hearing held today. Weakening the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) would erode chemical safety and dismantle the key health protections enacted a decade ago in the law’s popular bipartisan reforms. The proposal leaves the public at greater risk while greenlighting undue industry influence to allow harmful chemicals to come to market without needed safeguards to protect against cancer, birth defects, infertility and other illnesses and disease.
The following is a statement by Katie Hobbs, director of federal affairs for NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):
“The chemical industry, which has filled our world with chemicals linked to cancer, infertility, and other diseases, has the most to gain by weakening the law restricting toxic chemicals – at the expense of our health. That is why this Senate Republican proposal must be soundly rejected. Senators should act in the best interest of every American and prioritize public health protections by rejecting provisions that would unleash even more chemicals into our homes, our food, and even children’s toys.”
The new proposal would:
- Allow more dangerous chemicals onto the market without meaningful EPA review and approval.
- Give the chemical industry more power to override independent science and health protections for families, workers and communities.
- Allow loopholes for toxic chemicals.
-
Undermine the ability of states to protect their residents, drinking water and food from toxic chemicals.
NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).