TSCA Modernization Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2576, the TSCA Modernization Act.

Since the 111th Congress, a lot of us have been wrestling very seriously with how to reform the EPA's current regime for reviewing and regulating chemicals. Everyone agrees that the statute has been broken for most of the decades that it has been in effect. Devising a new program, though, that would both enable the EPA to take meaningful action on the chemicals that truly need regulation and that will protect the health of our citizens was an uphill battle in deeply partisan times; yet what we have come up with is a true compromise. We have focused on the aspects of current law that really need to be addressed, and we have developed language that will move the ball forward.

As all of the other speakers have said, our work is not done after the vote later today. The Senate, in working its own will, has come up with a reform bill that takes a distinctly different approach. We have a lot to reconcile. It is important that legislation makes it to the President's desk that will equip the EPA to protect us from toxic chemicals over the long term. Ultimately, we will be judged by how well the new law works, not only over the next few years, but over the coming decade.

I want to add my thanks, Mr. Speaker, to Congressman Frank Pallone, Congressman Shimkus, Congressman Tonko, Congressman Gene Green, all of our staffs, and, in particular, to my legislative director, Eleanor Bastian, who has been working on this bill ever since we really started seriously negotiating.

One last thing--and I think it is important--is that Congresswoman Capps mentioned that this bill will not preempt State law and that it will not preempt Proposition 65. This was an important provision, and I want to thank Congressman Shimkus and his staff for working on it with us because it is important that we have these kinds of protections that we need.

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