•June 1, 2016•

Legislation introduced by Congressman John Shimkus (R, Illinois-15) to update the way the United States assesses and manages the risks posed by chemicals and the products that contain them passed the House.

The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (H.R. 2576), is the culmination of a multi-year, multi-Congress effort to enact the first consequential update of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) in 40 years. The bipartisan legislation is expected to pass the Senate this week and the White House has said President Obama will sign it into law.

“There is a widespread acknowledgement and understandable concern that nobody is well served by the current law,” Shimkus said in his remarks opening debate on the bill. “The legislation before us today is a vast improvement over current law and a careful compromise that is good for consumers, good for jobs and good for the environment.”

The legislation has broad support from industry and environmental groups alike, including a number of chemical manufacturers and distributers with ties to southern Illinois.     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.