On June 23, 2015, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bipartisan bill that would update the nation’s chemicals regulations for the first time in almost 40-years. While the House bill takes a much narrower approach than a competing bill in the Senate, it does bring Congress a baby step closer to making making much needed reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). But that step is not enough for public health safety.
While Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC) has long been calling for a much needed overhaul to the TSCA, we continue to caution that not all change is for the good of the public. When TSCA was passed in 1976, over 65,000 chemicals were “grandfathered in” and remained on the market without full safety testing. Today, out of over 84,000 chemicals registered for use, only about 200 have been adequately tested. MBCC wants a reformed, strengthened and enforced TSCA so we can move forward with safer manufacturing and safer choices. We want a future where public health, ecosystem health, and the health of future generations are a priority.
Read more about the House bill here.