TSCA reform passes U.S. Senate

Written on: June 8, 2016 by SprayTM

On June 7, 2016,  Congress passed the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, which will modernize the nation’s chemicals management policy for the first time in 40 years. The legislation, which is a product of bi-partisan negotiation, will assure consumers that chemicals in household and institutional products have been evaluated and found to meet a risk-based safety standard by scientists at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency(EPA), according to the Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA), which represents companies manufacturing and marketing products to consumers and institutions.

“We are proud of the role we have played in the process of TSCA modernization over the past eight years,” said Chris Cathcart, President and CEO of the Consumer Specialty Products Association.  “When the late Senator Frank Lautenberg began this effort to reform TSCA, CSPA committed to working in good faith with everyone in the House and Senate and with stakeholders on all sides of the issue.  We have stood by our commitment throughout the process, and the final legislation reflects CSPA’s input on behalf of our members and the input of NGOs and allied trade associations.” 

CSPA appreciates the leadership of Chairman of the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee James Inhofe, Ranking Member Barbara Boxer and Senator Tom Udall and Chairman of the House Energy & Commerce Committee Fred Upton, Subcommittee Chairman John Shimkus, Ranking Member Frank Pallone and Representatives Diana DeGette and Gene Green.\

The American Cleaning Institute (ACI) released the following statement from Ernie Rosenberg, ACI President & CEO:

“The Senate’s passage of this legislation paves the way for modernizing our outdated chemical safety regulations. This is an exceptional bipartisan achievement in a time otherwise marked by extreme partisanship. We greatly appreciate the hard work done by so many leaders in the Senate, on both sides of the aisle, to get this legislation passed.

 “The American Cleaning Institute was happy to be able to contribute to the passage of the first update to TSCA in 40 years.

 “This bill – the top legislative priority for ACI and our members – will further enable our industry’s ongoing work to develop and innovate more sustainable cleaning products.

 “As the Environmental Protection Agency prepares to implement the new law, ACI will be thoroughly engaged in the regulatory process on behalf of our member companies.”