Tsca Modernization Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 2576, the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act.

This legislation would combine the policy priorities from H.R. 2576 and S. 697 into a bipartisan bill that would modernize the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976.

Recognizing the need to ensure that chemicals are safely made and used, Congress passed the Toxic Substances Control Act 40 years ago. This law made protecting human health and the environment a priority in the chemical manufacturing process. However, the Toxic Substances Control Act has not been updated since its inception, and is in dire need of reform. Policies based on this 40-year-old law are disjointed, confusing, and often contradictory for both manufacturers and consumers.

Modernizing the Toxic Substances Control Act would allow for adoption of uniform, science-based chemical safety policies. Manufacturers will have the regulatory certainty they need to develop new and safe products, and consumers can shop with confidence.

This version of the bill also protects intellectual property rights of chemical manufacturers, many of which have invested millions of dollars in research and development.

I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill that greatly improves a landmark consumer and environmental protection law.

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