Safer Chemicals, Healthy FamiliesA national effort to protect families from toxic chemicals.

Tag Archive:
TSCA reform
Victory! EPA nominee Michael Dourson withdraws

In a year like 2017, it’s more important than ever to celebrate the victories. This week we learned that Michael Dourson has withdrawn from consideration for Assistant Administrator of the EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. This great news followed a persistent campaign to defeat his nomination by numerous environmental health organizations and […]
EPA must finish the job on toxic solvents

Almost a year ago, using its authority under the newly reformed Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the EPA proposed banning certain uses of three solvent chemicals—methylene chloride (MC or DCM) and N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) for paint and coating removal and trichloroethylene (TCE) for spot removal in dry cleaning and industrial vapor degreasing. Nearly a year later, the agency still hasn’t finalized these protections.
Chemical romance: EPA Valentine’s Day meeting

This year, a great group of public health advocates and chemical industry lobbyists were thanked for spending our Valentine’s Day talking about chemicals with the EPA staff.
EPA Tackles Five of the Worst Chemicals Under the Lautenberg Act

Today EPA identified five chemicals that will receive “expedited action” under the new Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act.
Key Takeaways from the Passage of TSCA Reform

Now that the final Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) reform bill is on the President’s desk, it is a good time to reflect on what it represents and what’s next.
Senate TSCA Vote Postponed
As you may have seen, the Senate did not vote on TSCA reform yesterday after all. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky objected to the procedure for a quick vote (known as “unanimous consent”). Because the Senate is in recess through next week, the maneuver delays a vote until at least the week of June 6. […]
Memo to House: Stand Firm on States’ Rights
As you may know, staff from both chambers of Congress have nearly completed work reconciling different versions of chemical safety reform legislation (TSCA reform) that passed last year. (H.R. 2576 and S. 697 respectively.) Reportedly, there is at least one major sticking point remaining: should states be blocked for up to 4 years from taking action against a toxic chemical while EPA studies the chemical?
Broad coalition lays out “best of both” vision for TSCA reform

Today, more than 125 organizations sent a letter to House and Senate committee leaders spelling out in detail how the “best of both” TSCA bills emerging from the House and Senate could be combined. The groups said they would support a final bill that reflected the recommendations in the letter.
TSCA Reform: The Most Important Work Comes Next

Last night, the Senate passed its bill to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). This is a milestone that we have worked toward for years, but it also comes with some big red flags.