EDF Welcomes Inhofe–Boxer Agreement On TSCA Reform

Today Senators Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) announced an agreement that appears to help to clear a path to enacting chemical safety legislation to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). They are the Chair and Ranking Member, respectively, on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, the Senate committee of jurisdiction. The agreement relates to “key sticking points” in The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (Lautenberg Act).  

“We welcome the announcement that Senators Inhofe and Boxer have found common ground on chemical safety reform legislation,” said Dr. Richard Denison, EDF lead senior scientist. “We look forward to seeing the details and are more hopeful than ever that Congress will be able to move quickly to pass comprehensive, health-protective reform legislation and send it to the president’s desk.”    

The House passed a streamlined TSCA reform bill in June of 2015 by a vote of 398-1, while the Senate passed broader legislation by unanimous voice vote in December 2015. Negotiators from the two chambers have been meeting since then to reconcile the bills.