WASHINGTON, DC - House Energy and Commerce Environment and the Economy Subcommittee Chairman John Shimkus (R-IL) today unveiled draft legislation to modernize the regulation of chemicals in commerce. The Chemicals in Commerce Act (CICA) keys off a bipartisan bill introduced in the Senate and provides a solution to improve public confidence in the safety of chemicals produced and used in the United States and to encourage innovation and job creation.
The draft legislation would provide much-needed updates and improvements to the current law regulating the management of U.S. chemicals - the decades-old Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). It reforms the law to ensure a transparent, workable, and risk-based process for chemical review and regulation. It would create a commonsense prioritization and evaluation program for all existing chemicals in commerce and establish a uniform federal standard to help better facilitate interstate commerce in chemicals and other downstream U.S. manufactured goods. The bill would also broaden access to specific chemical information while maintaining protection of intellectual property.
“Over the past year, our subcommittee has set out on a comprehensive review of chemical regulation. We held a total of five hearings examining what has worked in the current law and what can be improved. Through our evaluation, we determined that in order to have a system that works best for public safety and our economy, we must modernize the regulatory process," said Shimkus. “This discussion draft begins the legislative phase of the committee’s work and I am hopeful we can get something across the finish line with strong bipartisan support. It is a win-win solution that will improve safety protections while promoting innovation and economic growth across multiple sectors of our economy. Let’s continue our manufacturing renaissance."
