Breakthrough! National toxics reform

This week, Congress reformed the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act, changing the way our nation manages toxic chemicals. It’s a major overhaul of the only bedrock environmental law that has never been amended. Champions like Senator Merkley are to be commended for standing up to industry interests to defend public health provisions.

We still need to address flaws in the new law that undermine its effectiveness. And it will take vigilance and funding to ensure that the this reform is implemented in ways that truly protect public health and protect our most vulnerable.

States like Oregon, and a broad network of advocates including Oregon Environmental Council, will continue to work to fix these flaws and defend public health.

In Oregon, for instance, we will keep working to protect kids by setting the 2015 Toxic Free Kids Act in motion. A time may come in the future when federal law trumps some parts of Oregon’s groundbreaking toxics law. But Oregonians can be sure that our state will be protecting children for years to come. We will keep find ways to hold chemical manufacturers responsible for meeting the health standards we all deserve.

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