The Toy Industry Association (TIA) is urging support for a new bill before the U.S. Senate, the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, which would modernize the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976. The TSCA empowers the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address chemical safety, require testing, and establish regulations on chemicals used in products sold in the U.S.
The TIA reviewed and provided feedback on the bill, which includes preemptive language and many of the sound science provisions that TIA has been advocating for in TSCA reform over the past few years. The new compromise legislation involved input from EPA, trial lawyers, industry, and public health and environmental groups. A Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing is scheduled for the bill on March 18.
TIA is calling on members to show their support in the following ways:
• Participate in an all-day phone campaign on March 11, urging local senators to join as original co-sponsors of the bill. TIA members can dial a toll-free number, (855) 350-5951, and provide their zip code in order to be connected to their senator’s office.
• Visit the American Chemistry Council’s webpage to send a pre-written letter to their local senator asking them to support the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act.
Questions on this topic may be directed to Rachel Derby at (202) 459-0351, TIA director of federal government affairs.
