What is TSCA? 

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), first enacted in 1976, is the central law governing the production and import, sale, use, and disposal of chemicals in the United States. The law gives EPA more direct power over American business and manufacturing supply chains than any other agency or statute, and it’s in need of reform.  

What’s not working? 

After TSCA was last amended in 2016, a few problems have come to light: 

• A massive backlog of TSCA applications, meaning critical innovations could be waiting in limbo 
• Sharp declines in American innovators seeking to bring new chemicals to market 
• Record TSCA over-regulation, including unnecessary and excessive restrictions on U.S. manufacturing 

Congress must fix it, here’s how. 

EPA gets 25 percent of its TSCA budget from user fees paid by companies subject to TSCA. This year the fees expire, and Congress needs to reauthorize EPA’s ability to collect them. Congress should take this opportunity to make essential reforms. 

TSCA must be retooled to support American manufacturers and their ability to innovate and compete.