The hearing is focused on evaluation of the bipartisan TSCA reform bill introduced earlier this year in the Senate by the late Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and David Vitter (R-LA). Called the Chemical Safety Improvement Act (CSIA), the Senate bill is likely to be the basis for any House bill offered in this Congress.
Background documents are available on the House committee website. Currently scheduled witnesses include Senators Vitter (R-LA) and Udall (D-NM), who are working together to bring the Senate bill to fruition. Udall stepped in for original sponsor Frank Lautenberg upon his death and as surrogate for Committee Chair Barbara Boxer (D-CA). Also, in a change from past hearings, Assistant Administrator Jim Jones will present EPA's thoughts on the bill.
In a far-reaching effort to get different viewpoints, other witnesses include some from industry and from NGOs: Cal Dooley of the American Chemistry Council, Richard Denison of the Environmental Defense Fund, Ernie Rosenberg of the American Cleaning Institute, and Andy Igrejas of Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, as well as Wendy Wagner of the University of Texas School of Law and Richard Goss of the Information Technology Industry Council. Other witnesses may also be called. Most notably missing is Ken Cook of the Environmental Working Group, which is one of the NGOs who are not quite as on board with the bill as ACC and EDF.
The fact that the House has moved from initial forays into how TSCA works in general to evaluation of a specific bill suggests that the House is willing to actually pass legislation at least close to what the bipartisan CSIA offers. That's likely a good thing as there really isn't any other opportunity for a TSCA reform bill other than the CSIA getting through Congress, and all parties agree that TSCA is severely outdated and must be reformed. That said, there are only a handful of legislative days left before Congress takes yet another break, so it's just unreasonable to think that a bill will be passed before next year.
Of course, next year is a mid-term election year, which creates a new dynamic. Whether that dynamic increases or decreases the likelihood of passage will be the topic of a future post.
For updates and more information on the hearing go to the hearing website.
Witnesses:
Panel I:
The Honorable David Vitter
The Honorable David Vitter
- Member
- United States Senate
- Member
- United States Senate
Witnesses:
Panel I:
The Honorable David Vitter
The Honorable Jim Jones
Calvin M. Dooley
The Honorable David Vitter
- Member
- United States Senate
- Member
- United States Senate
The Honorable Jim Jones
- Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Washington, D.C.
- Witness Testimony (Truth in Testimony and CV)
Calvin M. Dooley
- President and CEO
- American Chemistry Council
- Witness Testimony (Truth in Testimony and CV)
- Senior Scientist
- Environmental Defense Fund
- Witness Testimony (Truth in Testimony and CV)
- President and CEO
- American Cleaning Institute
- Witness Testimony (Truth in Testimony and CV)
- National Campaign Director
- Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families
- Witness Testimony (Truth in Testimony and CV)
- Joe A. Worsham Centennial Professor
- The University of Texas School of Law
- Witness Testimony (Truth in Testimony and CV)
- Vice President, Environment and Sustainability
- Information Technology Industry Council
- Witness Testimony (Truth in Testimony and CV)
Witnesses:
Panel I:
