Federal Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Reauthorization

There’s been a lot of press recently about toxic chemicals in everything from children’s toys and baby bottles to canned tomatoes. The question many people are asking is: “Why are there toxic chemicals in stuff we use every day?” Part of the answer is that the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), which was enacted in 1976 to regulate the safety of industrial chemicals, needs to be strengthened.

When Congress passed TSCA, some 62,000 chemicals already on the market were grandfathered in, thereby avoiding government regulation. Since then, over 20,000 new chemicals have been introduced to the market. Under TSCA, though, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has only tested 200 chemicals for safety and only 5 classes of chemicals have been banned.

Lawmakers plan to consider legislation later this year to reauthorize TSCA. Texas Impact supports toxic substance regulatory reform that achieves the following goals:

• The EPA will be given the authority to ban chemicals that are found to be unsafe for children;
• Chemicals already on the market will be tested for safety and environmental impacts;
• New chemicals will be tested before going to the market; and
• A classification and labeling system will be put into place to alert consumers to known toxins.

Action Opportunity from the National Council of Churches

Endorse the National Council of Churches' letter to Congress, “Christian Principles for a Healthy Body and Spirit”