Over the past few years our organization has been working with our industry and allied trade organizations to prepare for the modernization of the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, our nation’s chemical regulatory law.
As we have successfully done on many important public policy issues in the past, we have reached out to discuss our positions surrounding TSCA with other stakeholders, including many in the environmental community. We have sought to better understand their concerns and priorities for TSCA implementation and, we believe, have found areas of common ground where we can and do agree. Productive discussions such as these require open minds, trust and mutual respect. We have approached these discussions with that in mind.
Yet, our companies continue to find themselves on the receiving end of harsh criticism from these very groups. Most recently, a cartoon video released by the Safer Chemicals Healthy Families coalition, in effect, asserts that industry participation in TSCA modernization is disingenuous and deceitful. It would seem to further conclude that companies who are regulated under TSCA—and the hundreds of thousands of workers across America who are employed by them—are dishonest in the research, development, manufacture and sale of the products they make. It is an insult to our companies and our workforce and something that we cannot ignore.
We need to dedicate our creativity and energy into an honest effort to address the health and safety of chemicals in commerce—and not waste it on cartoons that mock industry efforts to communicate our concerns to Congress and the public. Taking cheap shots at industry isn’t going to help the process along but rather further divide the stakeholders and strain the dialogue. And that’s not good for anyone.
Chris Cathcart, CSPA President
It’s really glad to hear that your organization has successfully done on many important public policy issues in the past.