Senate Approves Bill to Overhaul Chemicals Oversight
June 07 2016 - 8:00PM
Dow Jones News
By Alexandra Berzon and Amy Harder
WASHINGTON -- The Senate on Tuesday approved legislation aimed
at overhauling federal regulations governing thousands of chemicals
businesses and consumers use every day, setting up the bill for
President Barack Obama's signature in the coming days.
The Senate's approval on a voice vote comes after the House
overwhelmingly approved the bill, 403 to 12, and it represents a
rare bipartisan action in a year Congress has been largely focused
on presidential politics.
The bill is the first significant update to U.S. chemicals
safety law in 40 years and would expand the federal government's
power over chemical companies.
"The fact that Congress in a bipartisan and bicameral way has
arrived at a solution that will provide the industry greater
certainty and consumers greater public health protections is an
enormous step forward, " Brian Deese, senior adviser to Mr. Obama,
said in a recent interview. "I am hopeful that we will see this
bill soon."
Trade groups representing Dow Chemical Co., DuPont Co. and
others pushed for the legislation because the companies preferred
one federal standard over a patchwork of state and corporate
policies by large retailers, such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc., and
because they saw consumers becoming increasingly concerned about
the safety of everyday products such as household cleaners.
The legislation is the product of months of bipartisan
negotiations with Sen. James Inhofe (R., Okla.), and Sen. Tom Udall
(D., N.M.) playing key roles in the Senate negotiations.
The bill gives the Environmental Protection Agency the authority
to evaluate and impose restrictions on chemicals used in everything
from dry-cleaning to grease removal to paint thinners. In most
cases, that authority pre-empts states from passing laws to
regulate a chemical while the EPA is making its determination.
Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.), temporarily held up the bill, arguing
it gives EPA unduly power to regulate business. He ultimately
dropped his objection to the bill, allowing it to proceed.
Write to Alexandra Berzon at alexandra.berzon@wsj.com and Amy
Harder at amy.harder@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
June 07, 2016 19:45 ET (23:45 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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