How a New House Bill Could Gut State Protections From Harmful Chemicals

State bans on toxic chemicals – including cancer-causing formaldehyde in children’s products and the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS in clothing and other consumer products  – are under threat from a House bill.

The legislation, recently introduced by Republicans, would overhaul the nation’s chemical safety law, the Toxic Substances Control Act, or TSCA. The changes could allow federal officials to override stronger state protections by reviewing and regulating chemicals themselves. If the officials claim a chemical poses less risk than some states claim, state rules could be quashed.

If this bill becomes law, it would effectively gut Congress’ bipartisan compromise from 2016 that strengthened TSCA to better protect families and workers from hazardous substances. In place of those reforms, undertested chemicals could then be clear to flood American homes, schools and workplaces.

These sweeping changes to TSCA would undermine federal regulation of the toxic chemicals used in consumer and industrial products and could restrict states from taking action.