President Obama signs bipartisan TSCA reform, historic environmental legislation

June 28, 2016

On June 22, President Barack Obama signed the bipartisan Frank R Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, legislation to reform the nation's 40 year-old chemical management law, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), into law.

Representatives of the US chemical industry applauded the signing and what it means for the industry. American Chemistry Council President and CEO Cal Dooley said: "The Frank R Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act is a historic bipartisan achievement at a time when such achievements are increasingly rare. It is the first major environmental law passed since 1990. Under it, chemical evaluation and regulation will meet new 21st century standards, which will improve the lives of American families, support American manufacturing and bolster US economic growth.

"Reforming TSCA has been ACC's top priority since 2008. For the past three years, ACC and our coalition partners, the American Alliance for Innovation (AAI), have worked together to support bipartisan efforts to modernize TSCA in a way that ensures smart, effective chemical regulation. We applaud President Obama for signing this legislation into law, and we are incredibly grateful for the tireless work and unwavering commitment from Senators Inhofe, Vitter, Udall, and Markey and Congressmen Shimkus and Pallone to bipartisan TSCA reform."

Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates (SOCMA) member Beth Bosley, president of Boron Specialties, who has been a champion of TSCA reform and testified numerous times before congress on behalf of small chemical manufacturers, was on hand for the signing at the White House.

SOCMA has been a major stakeholder in the TSCA reform effort and now looks forward to working with EPA as it begins implementation. SOCMA is hopeful the new law will be implemented in a way that keeps US specialty chemical manufacturers, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), at the forefront of chemical innovation. Reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976 has been a longstanding effort that some thought would never happen.

"Today, that has all changed," said SOCMA President and CEO Lawrence D Sloan. "Enactment of TSCA reform legislation is a culmination of many years of hard work, and nothing short of remarkable, especially given the broad support it has mustered. It is an obvious improvement over the status quo, and I am thrilled to be around for this truly historic moment."