SOCMA: Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 25, 2012

Contact:
Christine Sanchez
Senior Manager, Public Relations & Media
(202) 721-4182
sanchezc@socma.com

Washington, DC – The Society of Chemical Manufactures and Affiliates (SOCMA) today commended members of a key Senate environmental panel for addressing shortcomings in the nation’s chemical control law, while expressing concern over advancing legislation in the middle of bipartisan negotiations.

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works voted to approve an amendment from Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) to the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 (S. 847), thereby ending what appeared to be a constructive bipartisan process to draft legislation on a clean slate.

“Senator Lautenberg says he wants a bipartisan bill, but today’s markup says otherwise,” said Bill Allmond, Vice President of Government and Public Relations. “Progress was being made by both sides toward a workable approach, only to snatch defeat from the jaws of a bipartisan victory.” 

Allmond added that the amended legislation is an improvement over the previous version and does address some key provisions of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), such as separating the inventory of chemicals into an active and inactive list. It also has more targeted information requirements, and includes processor reporting and puts more emphasis on utilizing existing information. The amended version also requires prioritization and improves the treatment of U.S. intellectual property and new chemicals, both of which are essential areas of a modernized TSCA.

Despite today’s partisan vote, SOCMA remains committed to continuing the progress made this year working with Democrats and Republicans to update our nation’s chemical control law.

For facts on how industrial chemicals are regulated, visit www.chemicalsincommerce.com. For more information on SOCMA perspectives of what TSCA reform should and should not include, click here.

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About SOCMA
SOCMA is the only U.S.-based trade association dedicated solely to the batch, custom and specialty chemical industry. Since 1921, we have represented a diverse membership of small, medium and large chemical companies, making us the leading authority on this sector. SOCMA has a global membership of 220 companies, which employ more than 46,000 workers in the U.S. alone. The value of the products and services provided by SOCMA members is $24 billion, and the industry’s impact on the U.S. GDP is upwards of $2.9 trillion.