SOCMA: Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14, 2008

For More Information:
Gregory Minchak
Manager, Public Relations & Communications
(202) 721-4182
minchakg@socma.com   

Washington, D.C. - Joseph Acker, President and CEO of the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association (SOCMA), released the following statement in support of legislation sponsored by Senators Snowe and Pryor to give the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Advocacy its own line-item in the federal budget and make federal agencies give more consideration to small business concerns when making rules.

"SOCMA supports the efforts to enact the Independent Office of Advocacy and Small Business Regulatory Reform Act of 2008.  The Office of Advocacy is an important office within SBA that is extremely effective at listening to small business concerns and attempting to make the government more accountable to small business needs.  By requiring rulemaking agencies to directly consider points raised by the Office of Advocacy, the proposed law would make agencies more responsive to small businesses and give small business a stronger voice in the machinations of the political process.  Additionally, the proposed law provides greater transparency within the rulemaking process which should be welcome by all.

“Giving the agency line-item authority within the federal budget would not only strengthen the Office’s efforts, it would also ensure the Office’s independence and provide it with a fairly secure funding stream.  This act is an important one to the chemical manufacturing industry, and we encourage the Senate and the House to pass it."

# # #

SOCMA is the leading trade association, serving the specialty-batch and custom chemical industry since 1921. SOCMA’s nearly 300 members employ more than 100,000 workers across the country and produce 50,000 products valued at $60 billion annually. For more information please visit www.socma.com.

ChemStewards® is SOCMA’s flagship environmental, health, safety and security (EHS&S) continuous performance improvement program.  ChemStewards was created from industry’s commitment to reducing the environmental footprint left by member’s facilities.  Industry created ChemStewards to meet the unique needs of the batch, custom, and specialty chemical industry. As a mandatory requirement for SOCMA members engaged in the manufacturing or handling of synthetic and organic chemicals, ChemStewards is helping participants reach for superior EHS&S performance.  To learn more visit www.chemstewards.org.