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Grumet: Congress Should Capitalize on Success of TSCA Reform

Washington, D.C. – Bipartisan Policy Center President Jason Grumet issued the following statement today after the Senate passed the landmark update to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA):

“Today’s adoption of an improved process to regulate toxic chemicals is an important accomplishment for public health. Far too many chemicals are not subject to sufficient testing under the existing 40-year-old regulations. This legislation will protect Americans by requiring thousands of everyday household chemicals to undergo additional evaluation.

“Both chambers’ overwhelming support for sweeping TSCA overhaul demonstrates that Congress maintains the ability to debate, deliberate, and resolve complex issues even in an election year. After more than a year of tough negotiations, Congress should be commended for completing the first significant update of a major environmental statute in decades. I applaud Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Tom Udall (D-NM), and David Vitter (R-LA), for persevering despite organized opposition from interest groups on the left and right. Their determination and resilience demonstrates the importance of working through the committee process and continued negotiations to reconcile competing ideas and positions.

“Congress should capitalize on this success and seek additional opportunities to engage, debate, and improve an array of critically important environmental statutes.”

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