Pallone Applauds President Obama as he Signs TSCA Reform Legislation into Law

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-6), the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, proudly stood with President Obama as he signed the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act into law. Over the last year, Pallone worked with Democrats and Republicans alike to pass the first major overhaul of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to pass either chamber in nearly 40 years and also worked to reconcile differences between the House and Senate passed bills.

“I applaud President Obama for signing this historic legislation into law,” said Pallone. “Senator Frank R. Lautenberg worked tirelessly to remove toxic chemicals from the products millions of American families use every day and we honor his memory with this bipartisan legislation. It is a long-overdue step forward to protect families and communities from toxic substances.”

The bill updates the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act that has failed to keep up with the risks presented by existing chemicals used in U.S. manufacturing. Today’s marketplace, with industry advancements and increased interstate commerce, has demonstrated the need for modernizing the law to facilitate U.S. manufacturing and improve protections for public health and the environment.

The legislation will strengthen the ability of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to protect the American people and the environment from harmful existing and new chemical substances. Under the bill, EPA has new and long-needed authority to evaluate chemicals against a risk-based health safety standard that includes explicit considerations for vulnerable populations, such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. It also increases access to chemical product information to better-regulate chemicals in commerce.